London turns into a puzzle.

This self-guided treasure hunt is a fun way to learn Central London on foot at your own pace, with 15 clue steps that keep you moving from Piccadilly Circus eastward. I like that it’s flexible (start whenever you want within the rules) and team-friendly, and I like the halfway reward near Covent Garden with a Dickens link. One thing to consider: some clue steps can feel hard or the phone setup can be glitchy, so you’ll want a workable mobile connection and patience.

It also has enough challenge to be satisfying. The route covers about 4.5 km with a difficulty rated 3/5, and the typical time lands around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. With an overall rating of 4.4 from 43 reviews, the idea is clearly landing for lots of people, especially pairs and families.

Here’s the big picture: you follow a cryptic trail, get phone prompts for each location, solve the answer, then move to the next spot—then (yes) you pass pubs along the way. If you want structure without being stuck on a rigid schedule, this is a clever choice.

Key things to know before you start

• Mobile clue trail: each step is sent to your phone, and you reply with the correct answer to continue
• Pick your start time: you can play at any time without start time restrictions
• Optional competition: your progress can be timed and ranked on a leaderboard
• Halfway pub break near Covent Garden: a tucked-away tavern with a Dickens connection
• Route is short but dense: about 4.5 km with 15 clues and a 3/5 difficulty level
• Help exists if you get stuck: hints and a lost command are available

Why this London treasure hunt feels different than a normal walk

This isn’t a guided tour where a person talks while you drift. It’s a solve-and-walk experience. You’ll work in sync with your team, read the clue, figure out the answer, and then go find the next location on foot. The best part is the pacing: you’re not stuck waiting for someone else’s questions, and you’re not forced to sprint.

I also like that the route is built around real Central London neighborhoods you’ll actually recognize. You begin at Piccadilly Circus, then you move east through areas that connect the vibe from theatre-adjacent streets to the Covent Garden world, and then toward Seven Dials and Soho.

The only catch is that “cryptic” means different things to different people. Some folks love the puzzle angle. Others find the clues obscure or the instructions confusing—especially if the phone setup doesn’t go smoothly. That’s why I recommend treating it like a challenge, not like a casual stroll.

Entering at Piccadilly Circus: the hunt starts fast

Your starting point is Piccadilly Circus, and the whole activity runs on a loop back to that same meeting point. The structure is simple: you start, you get your first clue on your mobile, you solve, and you walk your way to the next waypoint. With 15 clues total, you should feel a steady rhythm rather than one long mystery marathon.

Expect quick transitions at the beginning. Piccadilly is active, so you’ll likely feel the momentum right away—people moving, buses rolling through, the usual London commotion. It’s a good place to start because it gives you immediate navigation cues: you can look around, orient yourself, then focus on the next step once the clue arrives.

Practical tip: start with everyone on the same page. If you’ve got a phone that’s ready to receive messages and you’re not sharing the answering screen across multiple devices, you’ll avoid the common timing issues that come from sending answers out of sync.

The walk from Piccadilly to Seven Dials: 4.5 km of clue-to-clue momentum

The route distance is about 4.5 km. That’s not far by London standards, but it’s long enough to feel like an actual walk, not a quick stop-and-go scavenger trail. The difficulty is rated 3/5, which usually means: easy enough to complete for many people, but not so easy that you can coast without thinking.

You’re not just walking “from landmark to landmark.” You’re walking between clue locations. That matters because Central London streets can be stop-start: you’ll cross roads, deal with corners, and sometimes have to look around a bit more than you’d expect. On a warm day, this can feel like a real effort. One review specifically called out getting too hot to finish after reaching the halfway point.

Here’s what that means for planning:

• Bring comfortable shoes. Even short London routes can punish tired feet.
• Assume you’ll spend some time scanning signs and street details, not just walking.
• If you’re doing this with kids or anyone who hates puzzle pressure, agree on roles (reader, solver, navigator) before you start.

The payoff is that you’ll see streets and storefronts in a way a standard sightseeing day usually skips. You’re paying attention to the city’s details because the clues demand it.

Halfway stop near Covent Garden: a Dickens-haunted tavern break

Halfway through the hunt, you can enjoy a tucked-away tavern near Covent Garden. The big detail here is the Dickens connection: it’s described as a former haunt of Charles Dickens. Whether you’re a Dickens fan or just like the idea of writers roaming the same streets you’re walking, this stop gives the trail a sense of place.

This is also where you can reset. Even if you don’t plan a long break, you’ll feel the value of having a built-in moment in the middle. The route is short, but the puzzle-solving plus walking can add up.

One practical consideration: this activity doesn’t include food or drinks. So budget for a drink or snack if you want it, and don’t count on the timing being perfectly aligned with your hunger levels. Plan to use the break for water and a quick sit, then get back into the clue flow.

From Seven Dials to Soho: finishing with another pub reward

After the Covent Garden midpoint, the trail continues onward through Seven Dials as you make your way to the heart of Soho. This portion keeps the pace moving. You’ll be solving, walking, and checking your answers as you go, with another top-notch pub waiting at the end of the trail.

This is one of the reasons the hunt works. You get that satisfying “finish line” feeling—plus a real-world location where you can relax and decompress. It’s not just a puzzle ending in a random square.

Also, because the hunt ends back at the meeting point (again, Piccadilly Circus), you’re essentially doing a full loop: start, work your way east, push through Soho, then return. That makes it better for planning a day around it: you can structure your other activities around the hunt window instead of wondering how it all connects.

How the phone clues work (and how not to lose time)

The mechanics are straightforward:

1. Each clue is sent to your mobile phone.
2. You solve the clue by finding the answer at the location.
3. You reply with the correct answer to move to the next step.
4. If you’re stuck, you can use hints.
5. If you get lost, there’s a lost command to help you recover.

If you choose the competitive mode, your progress is timed and ranked on a leaderboard. If you don’t want that pressure, you can take as long as you like.

That flexibility is a big value point. You can treat this like a shared puzzle project. Or you can turn it into a race with friends. Either way, you control the vibe.

One thing to watch: a couple of low-rated experiences complained about app or link issues. In one support response, CityDays said most customers are set up within about 5 minutes and suggested emailing [email protected] if setup fails. Another issue was not receiving the link to start, plus customer support not responding fast enough in one case.

So, what should you do to avoid that headache?

• Before you begin, make sure you can receive the messages needed for the clues.
• Keep the phone charged.
• Have one person be responsible for submitting answers so you don’t create an accidental timing mess.

Difficulty and timing: 2.5 to 3.5 hours, but plan for real life

Average duration is 2.5 to 3.5 hours (with typical completion around 2–3 hours for many people who keep reasonable breaks). Since the route is about 4.5 km, the time is driven more by puzzle-solving than pure walking distance.

A sensible way to plan your day is to treat it like a half-day activity. That gives you margin for:

• a slower clue step,
• a quick “where are we?” moment,
• a short sit-down at the Covent Garden stop.

Walking happens on pavement, and Central London can be uneven in feel depending on crowds and traffic flow. Reviews that praised the experience also pointed out the importance of a comfortable pair of shoes. If it’s hot, add water and consider taking longer breaks because the trail doesn’t stop just because your body does.

Competing on the leaderboard: fun pressure, not a must

The treasure hunt can be competitive. If you want a race, your progress is timed and ranked. That makes the hunt feel more game-like, especially for groups who like friendly pressure.

But the more important thing is that competition is optional in practice. Even with timed ranking, you can still choose your pace—take breaks, solve at your speed, and still finish.

If you’re traveling with a teen, this can be a win. One positive account described doing it with a teenage son and finding the challenge just right—not so hard it became frustrating, and not so easy it felt pointless. That’s a strong sign the difficulty level can work across ages when you have a team that’s willing to collaborate.

Price and value: $20.57 for a 4.5 km city puzzle

At $20.57 per person, you’re paying for three things:

• the mobile clue system (so you don’t need to buy a guidebook for a puzzle route),
• the structured walking path across Central London,
• and the option to race on a leaderboard or go at your own rhythm.

Compared with traditional paid walking tours, this price feels like value if you actually enjoy self-led problem-solving. You’re not paying for someone’s narration; you’re paying for the game format and the route logic.

The value drops a bit if:

• your phone setup fails and you lose time,
• you dislike clue puzzles or cryptic-style prompts,
• or your group wants a fully guided, explanation-heavy experience.

The good news: the provider says they offer a full money back guarantee for those who don’t enjoy the trail. So if you’re on the fence, don’t treat it as a gamble you must “power through.”

Who should book this treasure hunt in Central London?

This is a good fit if you want:

• a self-guided activity with built-in waypoints,
• a fun team challenge that doesn’t require deep London knowledge,
• and the chance to see areas around Covent Garden, Seven Dials, and Soho in a way that feels different from the usual photo spots.

It’s especially strong for:

• families with older kids (teens and up often do well with clue-solving),
• couples who enjoy puzzles and walking together,
• small groups of friends who want a structured activity without a guide leading every step.

If your group hates puzzles or gets irritated when clues are tough, you might find the cryptic style stressful. If you’re prone to getting flustered when a phone isn’t cooperating, have a backup plan: pause, use hints, and email support if you truly can’t start.

Common snags I’d plan for (so your day stays fun)

A few problems came up in separate accounts:

• setup or app/link issues,
• confusing or too-obscure clues,
• answers not submitting right away, which can create sync issues and time penalties in timed mode,
• and heat causing people to stop before finishing.

You can reduce these risks with basic prep and the right mindset:

• Pick shoes you can walk in for a couple hours.
• Charge your phone fully.
• Assign one person to handle the puzzle input.
• If you get stuck, use hints rather than burning time.
• If you’re lost, use the lost command.
• If setup truly fails, contact [email protected] and be ready to explain what went wrong.

That way you keep the day about the city, not about troubleshooting.

Should you book Central London’s Secrets treasure hunt?

I think it’s worth booking if you like interactive walking, word-puzzle energy, and the idea of earning your route step-by-step. It’s good value for a 2.5–3.5 hour game-format stroll through central neighborhoods you’ll likely visit anyway.

Skip it (or be cautious) if your group wants a classic guided explanation tour, hates cryptic clues, or you know you’ll be stressed by phone-based tasks. Also consider the season: on very hot days, the walking plus puzzle pressure can wear you down fast.

If you go in expecting a playful challenge, you’ll likely come out feeling like you actually learned the city—without a single lecture.

FAQ

How long does the Central London treasure hunt take?

It usually takes about 2 hours 30 minutes (around 2.5 to 3.5 hours on average).

Where does the treasure hunt start and where does it end?

It starts at Piccadilly Circus in London and ends back at the same meeting point.

Do I need to choose a specific start time?

No. It can be played at any time without start time restrictions, and you can pick a start time that works for you.

How do the clues work on your phone?

Each clue is sent to your mobile phone. Solve the clue, find the answer at the location, and reply with the correct answer to get the next step. Hints are available, and there’s also a lost command if you need help.

Is the hunt timed or competitive?

You can compete if you want. Your progress can be timed and ranked on a leaderboard, but you can also take as long as you like.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.

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