In London, Sherlock Holmes isn’t just a character on the page – he’s your host in a live detective adventure that anyone can join.
The Sherlock Holmes Official Live Experience (also known as Sherlock: The Official Live Game) combines an escape room, interactive theater, and a themed Victorian pub into one thrilling outing.
It’s a 100-minute adventure where you and your teammates become Sherlock’s protégés, solving a brand-new mystery. The experience is story-driven and richly immersive: you explore iconic sets from the Sherlock TV series (think 221B Baker Street or shady warehouses), hunt for clues, and unravel puzzles under time pressure.
Along the way, you encounter recorded video messages from the show’s cast – yes, Benedict Cumberbatch may drop in with a hint – and interact with actors in character as Mycroft or Inspector Lestrade. It’s like stepping inside an episode of a Sherlock Holmes drama, with you in the starring role as the detective. The creators smartly added a social element too: the venue features “The Mind Palace,” a Sherlock-themed bar where participants can celebrate their victory (or console their defeat) with Holmes-inspired cocktails. This live game has been hugely popular, showing how beloved literature/TV can turn into an interactive playground for fans.
Escape Rooms in London
London offers more Holmes-inspired experiences as well. Enter the world of Sherlock, with escape rooms from the makers of the hit BBC show. These unique adventures combine immersive experiences, with Sherlock Holmes escape rooms, and a fully themed secret Sherlock speakeasy, bar, which can only be accessed through the disguised entrance of Doyle’s Opticians.
There’s a Sherlock Holmes Mystery Cocktail Experience where guests in a speakeasy bar must solve a crime while enjoying crafted drinks, guided by actors playing Holmes and Watson. Another event pairs afternoon tea with a mini-mystery game for families. The enduring appeal is clear: people love to role-play as detectives, and with a bit of theatrical staging, any space can become a crime scene to investigate. These experiences use themed environments (Victorian decor, secret envelopes with clues, atmospheric lighting and sound effects of London fog) and plenty of audience participation. Guests interview suspects (played by staff), decipher ciphers, and ultimately catch the “culprit.” It’s immersive tourism at its best – not just sightseeing, but story-doing.
Source sherlockescaperooms.com and sherlockshow.com
Practical Ideas from UPLIFT for Small Venues
You might be thinking, “Great for London, but can my small museum or town do something like this?” Absolutely! You don’t need Hollywood sets or famous IPs to create a thrilling mystery for your visitors. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Host a Mystery Night: Transform your historic house, museum, or even library into the scene of a “whodunit.” You can write a simple murder mystery script related to your local history – perhaps a famous resident’s disappearance or a missing artifact – and have visitors play detective. Involve staff or community theater volunteers as characters/suspects in costume. With dimmed lights and maybe a few flickering “gaslight” lanterns (battery-operated), you’ve set the stage for intrigue. A guided mystery tour after hours can turn a quiet venue into an adventurous puzzle.
- Interactive Clue Hunt: Take inspiration from escape rooms by creating a series of puzzles or clues hidden around your space. These can be low-tech (paper clues, locked boxes that open with codes, riddles that lead to the next station) or augmented by simple tech (QR codes that reveal video clues or an augmented reality overlay when scanned). Challenge visitors to work as a team to solve all clues and uncover a final answer. For example, a small heritage museum might hide letters that form a code to unlock a “secret diary” of a historical figure, tying the game into real history.
- Role-Playing and Theming: Encourage a bit of role-play to ignite visitors’ imaginations. Provide simple props or costumes – detective badges, vintage hats, suspect name tags – so participants feel part of the story. Themed background audio (eerie music or ambient street noise) can enhance the mood. If your venue is cultural (say a Victorian-era mansion), lean into that theme with your mystery plot. Even a walking tour in your town could be turned into a Sherlock-style “case” where each stop yields a clue and the group must discuss theories. People love the chance to pretend and problem-solve, and it’s even better when it connects to your site’s authentic story.
- Keep it Fun and Accessible: Design your mystery experience to suit your audience. Families might enjoy a treasure-hunt style mystery with simpler clues and a fun treasure at the end, while adult audiences might appreciate more complex puzzles or a spooky twist (ghostly mysteries, anyone?). Always have a staff member or guide on hand to nudge players if they get stuck – the goal is for everyone to feel smart and engaged, not frustrated. A well-paced series of small “aha!” moments will keep energy high. Include a break for refreshments if it’s a longer game (perhaps channel the Sherlock bar idea on a smaller scale: offer “investigator’s tea” or local craft beer as a thematic treat).
More UPLIFT Tips: Designing a live action mystery can sound daunting, but this is where UPLIFT’s training and VET support for immersive tourism SMEs comes into play. UPLIFT can help small businesses learn the ropes of experience design – from storytelling fundamentals to practical considerations like safety and crowd management. For instance, UPLIFT workshops and seminars might show you how to storyboard a visitor experience just like you would a play, ensuring there’s a clear beginning (introducing the mystery), middle (interactive investigation), and end (dramatic reveal).
They also introduce technologies that can enhance live experiences: maybe using a simple AR app to hide virtual clues around your site, or leveraging online tools to manage bookings and team assignments.
Importantly, UPLIFT connects you to a network of educators and innovators. You can exchange ideas – perhaps learn how a museum in another country ran a successful detective game as a seasonal event. With UPLIFT’s guidance, even a small heritage venue can offer an exciting “live action mystery tour” that captivates visitors and sets you apart from conventional tours.
It’s all about combining your unique content (your town’s history, your museum’s collection) with immersive storytelling techniques. And who knows – your place could become known as the “Sherlock Holmes of [Your Region]” experience, drawing new audiences eager for adventure!
Written by
Laura Magan
Tourism and EU Project Specialist
Feltech, Ireland
https://feltech.ie/eu-projects/uplift/
