13 Epic Treasure Hunts & Scavenger Hunts in London

What is a Treasure Hunt?

Simply put, a treasure hunt is a more exciting and fun way of exploring your surroundings. 

Instead of just telling you where to go, our London treasure hunts get you outside, interacting with the city, and above all else, having a great time! After all, the likes of Jim Hawkins, Miss Marple, and Sherlock would never have had their adventures committed to paper had it not been for their wit and guile.

So in order to get from A to B, and from B to C,D,E and all the way to Z, you’ll have to unlock clues by correctly solving puzzles and riddles. Don’t worry if that sounds daunting: you can choose to use relaxed clues if you’re not up for a battle of wits. 

We pride ourselves on creating treasure hunts and scavenger hunts that locals and visitors will love. As we’ve grown, so has our selection of trails: you’ll find CityDays treasure hunts, murder mysteries, outdoor escape room games and self-guided walking tours all over the world. 

Ready to commence play? Book your tickets now and get hunting!

Holding off until you’re sure everyone can make it? Don’t worry! Our London treasure hunts are fully flexible, so you can decide when you play, take a break, or even pick the game back up where you left off. 

Your London Treasure Hunt: A Ticket To The Unknown

London is possibly the world’s worst kept secret. A living, breathing, shimmering and sometimes salacious vault with no password, no guards (not anymore, anyway), and with all of its cards held in plain view.

Except…there’s more. Even the secrets have secrets. And those secrets are the gateway to a deeper exploration of London. That’s where we come in. 

CityDays have been crafting treasure hunts in London for over 5 years that take you beyond the tourist traps, into the unknown and on a journey around some of London’s most interesting, bizarre and hidden places. 

We wrap them up neatly into a London treasure hunt for you, each focusing on a different area of the city–but there’s a catch. It’s up to you and your team to unlock the hidden gems, secret sites and historic hotspots, one riddle, challenge and puzzle at a time. 

All you need is a phone, some comfortable walking shoes and a good bunch of people to share your adventure with (and to help you work out the clues!), and we’ll do the rest.

Where To Do Your London Treasure Hunt

Where you want to explore on your London treasure hunt is entirely up to you, but we can help you figure it out if you’re a bit lost. 

The good news is, all of our treasure hunts in London include optional breaks in pubs and/or cafés along the way, so there’s plenty of time for adventure and relaxing. But that’s where the similarities end, we’re afraid.

All of our London scavenger hunts are hand-crafted: we ransack the maps, brush up on our knowledge, scour the streets and write every single clue, challenge and puzzle ourselves. 

Because we’ve been around for so long, we’ve had plenty of time to home in on unique London boroughs and unearth their secrets. The result is we have routes covering Central London, Kensington, Mayfair, Greenwich, Soho and Shoreditch - so there's lots of London treasure hunts to choose from.

If location isn’t a priority for you, we’ve broken down our London treasure hunt trails into handy categories to help you decide what kind of treasure hunt you’re after. Here’s how we sort them: 

Classic: Our original London treasure hunt, where history comes alive as you explore the city's hidden gems. Along the way, you'll discover fascinating stories, enjoy plenty of laughs, and find recommendations for the best pubs, cafés, and bars to unwind in.

Picnic: Combine your love of adventure with gourmet delights on these treasure hunts. As you solve puzzles and uncover local history, you'll make delicious pit stops at local foodie spots, collecting sweet and savoury treats to enjoy throughout your journey (or at the end, if you can bear to wait).

Story: Dive into a London treasure hunt with a twist! Experience a captivating fictional narrative woven with real-life facts as you explore the city. These themed adventures bring characters to life, revealing London’s secrets in a fun, engaging, and sometimes cryptic way.

Corporate Treasure Hunts in London

Looking for team building activities in London that involve some treasure hunting? We want to hear from you!

We’ve provided hundreds of teams with great office days out, and there’s a gap in our schedule with your business’ name on it. Choose from any classic trail, including our picnic and story options, or if you really want to impress your colleagues, you could even go bespoke…

Bespoke: A fully bespoke, handmade trail designed by us in collaboration with you. We’ll start and finish the trail wherever you’d like, and we’ll make sure the route reflects your company values, interests and special requests. Please Note: These are for corporate groups only. 

Who are Our Treasure Hunts For?

In short? Everybody. But, we would say that, wouldn’t we?

Well, it’s true. Curious minds and adventurous spirits are encapsulated in a whole variety of shapes and sizes, and age isn’t something that puts true explorers off, either. 

Our London treasure hunts have been enjoyed by a massive range of people, including (but not limited to): tourists, locals, families, couples, mega corporations, friendly local businesses, dog-owners, cat staff, brides-to-be, spirited stags, university students, film buffs, charity organisations, teachers, nurses and everyone in between.

Seriously, we even had someone propose on a route, once. 

If you have any questions about accessibility for individual London treasure hunt routes, please reach out to us.

London Treasure Hunts Near You

Central London Treasure Hunts

The beating heart of the city and a great place to start your London treasure hunt.

Secrets of the Squares is a route for anybody who wants to discover the hidden stories and iconic sights of Soho and Covent Garden. Starting from Piccadilly Circus, you’ll meander your way to Nelson's Column, passing legendary spots such as Cecil Court and Goodwin's Court - one of the main inspirations for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley!

As a bonus, you’ll also discover which London pub Mozart preferred to patronise… 

The City is our London scavenger hunt that takes you around the original Square Mile. You’ll start at the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral and head east, with a quick detour to Leadenhall Market, home to the Leaky cauldron pub and a magical resident - a Victorian goose named Tom. 

You’ll also discover the absolute gem that is St Dunstan-in-the-East, a quiet oasis of 900 year old church ruins bombed during the blitz of WWII, and step back in time to Roman London and do as the Romans did, touch the London Wall that helped hold back the great fire of London as it spread from Pudding Lane.

London Treasure Hunts in Mayfair

If you fancy something fancier, try a treasure hunt in London's deluxe district of Mayfair.

A Forbidden Fayre takes you on an odyssey through London’s swanky streets, where you’ll visit the covered Burlington Arcade, which once had its own private militia to protect vendors. 

You’ll also discover Brown Hart Gardens, a tucked away sanctuary belonging to the Grosvenor Estate - but beware, there are rules stating you can't practise gymnastics there!

Shoreditch and East London Treasure Hunts

In the mood for a London treasure hunt that takes you out of the ordinary? Head over to Shoreditch and East London. 

Search for Shoreditch is a scavenger hunt that takes in everything from local lore to ghosts that inspired Charles Dickens, an original Banksy artwork and even the birthplace of fish and chips.

You’ll visit Bunhill Fields, a cemetery that houses almost sixty nine thousand Londoners who perished in the plague, as well as Shoreditch High Street where you’ll uncover its dramatic history and iconic street art. The route also passes close to the Barbican, brutalist architecture with an amazing conservatory and courtyard green space.