Escaping from a locked room
Have you had a go at one of those locked room escape adventures? It seemed like a cool thing to add to my 40 x 40, so I did.
What’s the 40 x 40?
Well. Back in the day, I had a 40×40 list, a list of 40 things to do before I was 40. Well, I turned 40 and upgraded the list. One of the things on that new list? Finish the old list!
One of the things on that list? Try out a locked room escape adventure.
Back in February/March 2016, we visited Prague. There is a whole vlog all about it, which is worth an investment of 11 and a half minutes of your life.
(I also really need to write it up. It technically covers the ‘Spend a weekend in a European capital’ and the ‘Train, Boat, Plane’ tasks.)
One of the things I booked for us to do while we were there was to visit a locked room. There is also a vlog for this as well . Which is just as well, as that was 3 years ago and I cannot really remember it!
Suffice it to say that, fun was had by all. It also fueled a desire to try out other locked rooms. Luckily I live in Bristol, so I have since been able to try 7 new different rooms.
The basic premise
Having been to a number of the locked-in escape adventures now, I feel I am in a position to give a bit of background on what the average experience can offer you, without giving too much away.
The rooms are often themed; so far I have been in an alchemists study, a scientists lab, the office of a private detective, an archaeologists warehouse and handcuffed in a hostel.
You generally get an hour to search for clues which will ultimately give you the combination to the lock on the door that is keeping you in the room. Anything can be a clue, and it is good to have a strategy before you go in, so here are my top 5 tips to help you escape in time.
5 tips to take into the locked room
1) Have a plan
Many of the rooms I have completed have involved just 2 people, and we always made a point of deciding who goes in which direction as soon as we get in the room.
Hit the ground running. Go round the room and gather anything you think might be relevant – particularly keys or written codes – and pile them in the middle.
Then go over the bits of the room that the other person did, just in case they missed something, while they go over your section. Take note of where any locks are, and whether they will need codes or keys.
Remember: If it is not nailed down, or you haven’t been told to not touch it, check it. Behind pictures on the walls (found codes on the back of those) in coat pockets hanging on hooks, inside vases, under chair seats or tables. Check everywhere.
2) Read all of the information
Often, as well as instructions that you will receive from the gamemaster, there will be written instructions to start you off. They will give you background and much-needed clues. Don’t make the mistake of putting one person in charge of reading. Let everyone have a look – different people may get different information from the same clue.
It may also help to read it aloud. Note any unusual use of words, mentions of dates or numbers – they may be clues. Are certain words underlined, or letters capitalised? That could be a clue.
3) Use your time wisely
As I mentioned above – anything can be a clue. Conversely, there may be some red herrings. Decent escape rooms shouldn’t have loads of dud clues, but there will be a few just to keep things interesting.
Don’t spend too long on any one clue. If something seems impossible it could be because it is there to throw you off. Don’t get so over absorbed in one puzzle that you don’t complete the whole task.
It may also be the case that you cannot use a particular clue until you have solved another, so remember to keep all of the clues you are working on in one place.
4) Keep notes
While you won’t necessarily want to write anything down, it is worth remembering which clues, codes and keys have already been used. Unless you are told otherwise each key is generally only used once.
It’s always a good idea to leave keys in locks, drawers and cupboards open and to put all the clues you have used in a pile so as not to get confused.
5) Embrace the hints!
All of the rooms I have been in have either had video links or walkie-talkies to the gamemasters. We were then able to ask for hints or clues if we got extra stuck.
One of the rooms had us stumped until we were told to check under a table which revealed a code to help us open a box.
It’s always better to ask for help as soon as you are stuck, rather than struggling for 20 minutes or so.
Also, consider the size of the room; is there a chance there may be a hidden annexe? There are often hidden mini rooms within a room, so keep an eye out for anything that could potentially lead to another space.
Challenge Accepted?
So my challenge was to complete an escape room – which I did, quite a few times, so it is safe to declare this challenge…
Over to you
Is escaping from a Locked Room on your Bucket List?
Have you already visited a locked room? What tips would you offer up to someone trying one out?