Immersive London: pop-ups and secret adventures in the city

The world’s first escape room game based on the universally popular Sherlock stories is opening in London. In groups of four to six, you’ll have 90 minutes to solve puzzles, challenges and mysteries against the clock. The game has been co-scripted with Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, plus the experience will feature specially-recorded audio and video footage from original cast members.

When: From October 2018

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Learn the art of lucid dreaming in Somnai, a big, bold new experience. Over 90 minutes – across a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse space – live performance, multi-sensory elements and immersive technologies merge. The result is a cryptic experience that sounds like an episode of Charlie Brooker's satirical sitcom Black Mirror. During the 'appointment' you delve deep into your psyche and learn to control thoughts and make dreams come true.

When: from 1 March in Clerkenwell

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Immerse yourself in the fantastical world of Walt Disney's Fantasia as the classic cartoon is re-imagined in a multi-media theatrical experience at The Vaults. Sounds and Sorcery combines world-class classical music, majestic installations and drama to transport audience members into an ethereal realm, filled with strange creatures.

When: 3 July - 30 September

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Fancy taking a relaxing ‘boat’ trip down London’s canals as you soak in a 38-degree wood-fired hot tub? For a total of £225, you and seven others can rent a HotTug to enjoy 75 minutes of pure tranquillity as you pass through the city’s landscape. This self-driven electric hot tub is the first of its kind. Throw in an extra £15 per person for a VIP upgrade that includes robe and towel rental, ice for drinks, and most importantly, sailor hats!

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Enjoy a three-course meal served by Britain’s two favourite hotel owners and their clumsy employee. This interactive evening hosted by the Radisson Blu Hotel promises theatrical and comedic-filled performances. Faulty Tower fans won't want to miss out on this experience that seamlessly translates TV to reality.

When: 2 March - 16 December

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There’s no such thing as being too early. Secret Cinema, who fuse movies, theatre and art to create some of London’s finest immersive shows, are taking on classic dystopian sci-fi thriller Blade Runner so you can experience the future now. The 1982 film, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, is a stylised neo-noir thriller and a true cult classic: a dark vision of futuristic urban landscapes that has inspired so much of the sci fi we see today. A follow-up starring Ryan Gosling, Blade Runner: 2049, opened last year to incredible acclaim from devoted fans and critics alike, so now is the perfect time to revisit the original in style. Brace yourself for full scale immersion into the future as Ridley Scott's world comes to life in an undisclosed London location.

When: 21 March - 8 July

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HiddenCity's newest immersive experience, inspired by Lewis Carol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, leads you and your team of up to five eager code-crackers on a madcap hunt through galleries, bookshops, windy backstreets and the darkest nooks and crannies of our city in search of the elusive Cheshire Cat.

When: until 22 July

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Jay Gatsby is hosting the party to end all parties – and you're invited. Step into the roaring Twenties of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel with this immersive theatre production of The Great Gatsby. Event company Guild of Misrule set the scene with slick professionalism: sparkle, champagne, gin and copious opportunities to show of your Charleston skills. Meet Nick Carraway, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Jordan Baker and even the elusive Mr Gatsby himself as you step through a drugstore into a world of riches, mystery and bootleg liquor. It's not enough just to attend the party; you have to dress the part. Drop waists, pearls and dancing shoes are de rigueur and drinking is encouraged.

When: until 29 July

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Have you always dreamed of receiving the Paul Hollywood Handshake? Become star baker with The Big London Bake.

First the Great British Bake Off moved to Channel 4, now it's headed for Tooting. Or it might as well be with The Big London Bake offering London's first GBBO immersive experience – pastel-interiored marquee and all. While the organisers can’t offer you Noel Fielding lurking in the fridge, or Mary Berry to judge your soggy bottoms, they do promise a fantastic 90 minute session for ten teams of two. Bring a friend or a date and drizzle, knead and ice yourselves to success as you receive guidance from an expert baker. Prepare for some heated competition.

When: until 31 August 2018 ^at The Castle, Tooting, 8:30pm.

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Gingerline stage multi-course dining adventures, across multiple rooms of buildings that have been re-imagined to fit a certain theme. This time, it's an ode to the humble juniper berry, hosted in collaboration with Sipsmith Gin, and decorated with detail and pomp as an ornate country manor. The 'gin infused dining experience' features four courses, four complementary cocktails and four distinct spaces, with plenty of actors and interactions along the way.

Click here for more information about Juniper Manor

Click here for more information about Chambers of Flavour

If Gingerline doesn't quite quench your thirst, don't worry. Gin journey will whisk you to top notch distilleries and secret bars whilst sipping on premium gins and delicious cocktails. After their success in Shoreditch, Gin Journey take the tour to Bermondsey replete with expert knowledge and many a beverage.

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Ever wondered what life was like in America's most famous prison? Well now you don't even have to commit a crime to be sentenced to a boozy hour and forty five minutes at this, erm, arresting new cocktail bar. You bring your own booze, which must be smuggled past the warden, before it can be transformed into made-to-order contraband concoctions by mixologists. All Alcatraz 'inmates' are given a regulation orange jumpsuit with a prison number. You sit in cells and drink from scrubbed out old tins and buddy up with guards. But beware of the warden; any deviants will be sent to solitary confinement. Though be warned, at £33.99 per person (not including however much you spent on the booze you brought with you), serving your time makes for an expensive night.

When: until 13 July, 212 Brick Lane

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A rich woman is found dead. Her younger lover and only heir, Leonard Vole, is on trial for the murder. Agatha Christie's classic crime drama gets an immersive twist as audiences watch from the public gallery of the County Hall's Chamber courtroom. With Jazz-era glamour, the shadow of the first world war, and an especially slippery key witness, it offers plenty of intrigue and atmosphere for director Lucy Bailey (Titus Andronicus, The Globe).

When: until 16 September, The Chamber, County Hall

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Think you could outwit the hunters from the hit Channel 4 TV show Hunted? If so, this immersive new London experience will be just up your street. The Hunted Experience is a condensed 90-minute version of the TV show, so you can experience the thrill of the chase without leaving London (or sacrificing a month of your life). Dropped at a secret location in East London with nothing except your phone and the clothes on your back, you'll be given a series of clues to solve as you rush to find the extraction point before the hunters find you. Your only help will come from your designated contact, and even then you must earn their trust. For teams of up to three, this promises to be quite the adrenaline rush.

When: 19 May - 2 September, a secret location in East London

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