FAQs

  • A fully charged smartphone with WhatsApp capability and a team of 2–8 people. Comfortable footwear is mandatory for field agents.


  • Our games run 7 days a week between 10:00 and 16:00 (subject to availability and large public events).

  • HQ is always online. You can ask for a hint via text at any time, though it may result in a time penalty for your final score.

  • Our puzzles are designed for adults and teenagers. While younger children are welcome to tag along, the logic challenges are aimed at those aged 14+.

  • Once your team has assembled at the start location, the Lead Agent begins the mission by sending START on WhatsApp. We recommend arriving around 30 minutes early so everyone is connected and ready before the clock begins.

  • All registered team members can receive the mission messages on WhatsApp. Your Lead Agent coordinates the team, but everyone can follow the story and help solve the clues.

  • All clues are located in publicly accessible outdoor areas. You will never need to pay for entry or trespass to complete a mission. For your safety and out of respect for the environment, please keep to public footpaths.

  • Most Urban Cipher missions take around 2–2.5 hours to complete. The exact time depends on your team size, puzzle-solving speed, and whether you take breaks along the route.

  • Yes. Urban Cipher missions are timed and leaderboard positions are based on how quickly your team completes the route. Time penalties may apply if hints are used.

  • Your booking confirmation will include the start location and start instructions. Most missions begin and end in the same town centre area so you can easily plan food or drinks afterwards. Please make sure you note the start/finish location opening times as this may be important for collecting completion badges.

  • If a message does not appear, simply send REPEAT and the latest mission content will be sent again. This helps if mobile signal drops or WhatsApp delays a message.

  • No. You do not need local knowledge. Everything you need to solve the mission is built into the clues, the environment, and the messages from HQ.

  • The mission still runs regardless of the weather, so please dress appropriately and wear comfortable footwear suitable for walking around town.

  • In most cases, yes, as the majority of the route takes place outdoors in public areas. If a mission includes locations that are not dog-friendly, we will state this in advance.

  • Routes may include uneven pavements, steps, or narrow streets depending on the historic area used. If accessibility is important for your group, please contact us using the form on our page, or social media before booking so we can advise.

  • You can cancel your booking and receive a refund of the ticket face value if you contact us at least 14 days before the event start date. Booking fees, transaction fees, and ticket protection are non-refundable as they cover the initial processing costs. Requests made within 14 days of the event are not eligible for refunds as places cannot usually be resold at short notice.

    Our tickets are flexible, so you can change the date or time of your event up to 1 week before the start time.

    All tickets can be managed on the ticket portal.