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The 7 Best Scavenger and Treasure Hunts in Manchester
Think you’ve done everything you can do in Manchester? Think again, because there are lots of treasures you can find in this city! And by treasures, we mean treasure hunts—or scavenger hunts if you want to call them that.
Believe us, after doing everything on our Manchester to-do list, our team rolled their eyes a bit at the thought of going on what sounded like a kiddie adventure. But these treasure and scavenger hunts had us looking at the city in a different way, and enjoying it in a different way too!
Besides, would you rather get bored out of your mind instead of embarking on what’s possibly an exciting adventure? Well, neither would we. So read on to find out which treasure and scavenger hunts you can try out!
Heart of the Hive
Media from: @citydays.global
Ticket booking
Ticket fee: £15 (per head)
Duration: 1-2 hrs
Distance: 3.2 km/2 mi
Starting location: National Football Museum
End location: Printworks
Contact methods: Whatsapp, [email protected] (email)
Hop on this hunt and learn about Manchester’s lesser-known stories and the people behind them! Through each spot in this hunt and each riddle, you’ll learn different tidbits about figures who don’t get the spotlight a lot when it comes to Manchester’s history!
This hunt will have you going through some of Manchester’s oldest buildings, solving puzzles with the help of clues sent to your phone. So you’ll be venturing through places like Chetham’s Library, Manchester Cathedral, and other hidden gems in the city!
And in between hopping into libraries and museums, you can rest up a bit at the optional break spots in different cafés and pubs. So you can get a good drink while solving riddles!
Pro tip:
While there aren’t any time restrictions for this hunt, it’s best to do it when there’s daylight. It might help you with solving some of the riddles.
Through the Ages
Media from: @CityDays
Ticket booking
Ticket fee: £15 (per person)
Duration: 2.5-3.5 hrs
Distance: 5 km/3.1 mi
Starting location: Deansgate Train Station
End location: Around Canal st.
Contact methods: Whatsapp, [email protected] (email)
If you’re a fan of escape rooms and walking tours, then this is definitely the hunt for you! The paths through this hunt are a mix of indoor and outdoor locations, so there’ll be different kinds of challenges while you’re trying to solve the puzzles on the way.
You’ll be guided through different parts of Manchester’s canals and city centre, but you’ll also see some of the city highlights through the hunt! Expect to go through Castlefield, Spinningfields, and Gay Village, which are all pretty interesting places on their own.
The best part is that you’ll also be learning a lot about the city’s history while you do! So as you progress through the hunt, you’ll feel like you’re also witnessing the progress of Manchester right beside you.
Pro tip:
It’s best to go into this hunt blind, not just because you don’t need any prior knowledge before going on it, but because it’ll enhance the experience more!
The Grand Adventure
Media from: @treasurehunttours
Ticket booking
Demo game
Ticket fee: £9.99 per person
Duration: 2-2 ½ hrs
Distance: roughly 4.8 km/3 mi
Starting location: Piccadilly Station
End location: Lincoln Square, near Town Hall
Contact methods: 0161 375 1271 (cel.), 07380 309380 (SMS), [email protected] (email)
This hunt goes by a pirate theme, with groups being guided by a guide called “Captain Bess,” and even the digital map is styled to look like a treasure map!
Through a WhatsApp-like group chat, you’ll be directed to different parts of the hunt’s map. In each part of the map, you’ll need to solve a cryptic riddle by using and observing your surroundings. So there’s an extra incentive to keep your eyes peeled for the Manchester sights around you!
If you’re looking for a great bonding or team-building exercise, especially with those who are still kids at heart, then this hunt might be the right fit! You can even go in larger groups; the more the merrier!
Pro tip:
You can actually finish this hunt in two different parts. So, if it’s much more convenient for you, you can pause the hunt and then continue it either after lunch or even the following day.
The Great Manchester Bee Scandal
Media from: @treasuretrailsuk
Ticket booking
Ticket fee: £9.99 per person
Duration: 2 hrs or more
Distance: 2.9 km/1.8 mi
Starting/End location (circular): Cenotaph, St. Peter’s Square
Contact methods: 01872 263692 (tel.), Help Desk
Pick up your magnifying glass, because if you like detective mysteries, then this could be the hunt for you! This trail hunt comes with its own storyline involving the iconic Manchester bees.
You’ll be tasked with solving a mystery that’ll lead you through Manchester’s Civic Quarter. Each clue on the trail will have you searching around various areas, from busy shopping centres to historic landmarks.
This hunt’s designed to be kid-friendly, and it’s great if you want to learn more about the city, so it’s the perfect choice for a fun family activity!
Pro tip:
Part of the fun of this trail is that you’ll learn about places in the city that otherwise wouldn’t have crossed your radar. So you could find a new hangout spot while solving the mystery.
Agents Assemble in Manchester!
Media from: @treasuretrailsuk
Ticket booking
Ticket fee: £9.99 per person
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Distance: 1.6 km/1 mi
Starting/End location (circular): Piccadilly Station
Contact methods: 01872 263692 (tel.), Help Desk
Get your inner James Bond out, because this hunt will put you in a spy mission!
The storyline behind this hunt will have you venturing around Manchester’s hidden gems and iconic landmarks. You’ll feel like a real action hero while following the storyline and the clues, and you can get a great pic or two while doing so!
Throughout the hunt, you’ll be solving the clues needed to crack a code. What’s the code for? To save Manchester from chaos! In the storyline, that is.
Pro tip:
If you want to make this more immersive, you can do this spy hunt in a team, and each of you could take up a role you’d usually see in a spy movie!
Colombia’s Finest Manchester
Media from: @streethuntgames
Ticket booking
Ticket fee: £16.50 per person (+£1.65 booking fee)
Duration: 1.5-2 hrs
Starting location: Great Northern Square
End location: Cathedral area in Great Northern Square
Contact methods: [email protected] (email)
You’ll feel like you’re in a noir crime film with Colombia’s Finest Manchester!
Coffee and hard-boiled detective work are at the heart of this mystery hunt, with a storyline that involves solving a mystery about a coffee shop. Investigate shady staff, pick up on clues scattered throughout the city, and find the evidence.
Along the way, you’ll be following different paths through Manchester’s iconic streets, so it’ll also be great for some sightseeing! That is, if you can keep up with the case.
Pro tip:
To top off this experience, after finishing this mystery hunt, you can celebrate and relax with a nice hot steaming cup of coffee! One café near the ending area that we recommend is Z-Café, which even turns into a bar at night.
Will Breaker – Outdoor Escape Room Manchester
Media from: @streethuntgames
Ticket booking
Ticket fee: £16.50 per person (+£1.65 booking fee)
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Starting location: outside the Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Rd
End location: near Chinatown
Contact methods: [email protected] (email)
In this scavenger hunt, it’s up to you to find your uncle’s last will!
A good chunk of this hunt takes place in Manchester’s canals and waterways, which adds to the atmosphere and the escape room feel! While looking around for clues, you’ll also be finding secrets related to the storyline behind this hunt.
And while you progress through this hunt, more things about your uncle will be uncovered. Think you have what it takes to get the inheritance and the truth? Then take on this hunt!
Pro tip:
Even if most of the hunt will take place in well-lit areas, it’s still for the best that you have a flashlight ready! You never know when you’ll need it.
