Best Treasure Hunts in the UK:
Compare Scavenger Hunts & Outdoor Escape Rooms
Fancy a real-world adventure?
Whether you're a family looking for a fun-filled day out, a couple seeking a quirky date idea, or a group of friends wanting to test their puzzle-solving skills, a treasure hunt transforms any location into an exciting challenge.
Treasure hunts that explore real-world locations are often referred to as Outdoor Escape Rooms or Scavenger Hunts - both great ways to describe the experience. Many companies offer similar adventures - solving clues while exploring a location - but which one truly transforms your town into a giant outdoor escape room?
With so many different treasure hunts to choose from, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Do you want a mystery to solve? A thrilling spy mission? A classic treasure quest?
That’s where Treasure Trails comes in.
With over 1,200 Trails across the UK, from tiny villages to bustling cities and scenic coastlines, we provide the biggest and best range of self-guided treasure hunts. Each adventure is fun, flexible, and perfect for all ages -helping you explore new places in a way you never have before.
What Makes a Treasure Hunt Special?
A treasure hunt isn't just about finding clues - it's about the journey, discovery, and the stories behind each location.It’s about seeing familiar streets through fresh eyes, uncovering hidden landmarks, and solving puzzles that bring the adventure to life.
But not all treasure hunts are the same! Here’s a breakdown of some of the best treasure hunts in the UK and what makes Treasure Trails stand out.
Best Treasure Hunts in the UK
Which one is right for you?
No. 1: Treasure Trails – The UK’s Leading Treasure Hunt Company
🚀Perfect for: Families, couples, explorers, and puzzle-lovers of all ages
📍Locations: 1,200+ trails across the UK
⏳Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours per adventure
💰Cost: £9.99 for the whole group/family.
🫱Access to Trail: Digital or printed options available
🙌 Recommendations: Over 5,000 5* reviews from adventurers all over the UK
If you’re looking for a flexible, fun, and truly interactive outdoor experience, Treasure Trails is the ultimate treasure hunt adventure. Whether you want to crack a detective case, embark on a spy mission, or hunt for hidden treasure, each self-guided trail will lead you on an exciting journey of discovery.
What Sets Treasure Trails Apart?
✅Huge variety: Unlike other providers that focus only on city-based mysteries, Treasure Trails cover villages, historic towns, parks, and coastal walks - there’s something for everyone, everywhere.
✅Perfect for all ages: Our trails are designed for families, couples, and groups of friends - they’re not too easy, not too hard, just the right mix of challenge and fun.
✅Start whenever you like: No need to book a time slot - just grab your trail and begin your adventure whenever it suits you.
✅Explore like never before: Forget aimless wandering! Every step is part of a thrilling journey, helping you discover hidden landmarks, fascinating stories, and quirky facts about your chosen location.
✅Spontaneous Adventures: The Treasure Trails app makes your adventure fully interactive, letting you track progress, reveal hints, and input answers in real time. Perfect for spontaneous fun, just download, head to your location, and start exploring - no printing needed! 🚀
💡Real Story Example: “Thoroughly enjoy the well constructed treasure trails which take you to areas of towns that you not normally see. We have done a good few now and whenever we book a few days away in this country we tend to get a treasure trail to enhance the holiday. Would recommend them to anybody.”
🗺️Where Will You Explore?
London: Crack a spy mission around the capital’s most iconic landmarks.
Edinburgh: Uncover ancient secrets hidden in the city’s historic streets.
Cornwall: Follow a pirate’s trail along the stunning coastline.
The Lake District: Solve a detective mystery while surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
🔎 Find your next adventure today with Treasure Trails. 🚀
No. 2: Huntfun - Traditional Treasure Hunts with an App Option
🚀Perfect for: Families, school trips, and sightseeing groups
📍Locations: Mainly city centres and tourist hotspots
⏳Duration: 1 - 2 hours per hunt
💰Cost:£9.99 upwards
🫱Access to Trail:Printed booklets or app-based hunts available
Huntfun offers classic treasure hunts with a choice of printed booklets or an app, guiding you through city streets with clues, trivia, and challenges.
How Does It Compare?
✅Simple and easy-to-follow format - Great for sightseeing with clear directions.
✅App available - A digital option exists for those who prefer an on-the-go experience.
❌Limited locations - Mainly in major cities, so if you're looking for treasure hunts in smaller towns or rural areas, Treasure Trails offers far more variety.
❌Less immersive - Clues and puzzles are more straightforward, whereasTreasure Trails adds interactive elements and engaging storytelling.
❌Lacks unique themes - While Huntfun focuses on general exploration, Treasure Trails offers detective mysteries, spy missions, and treasure hunts for a more varied experience.
💡Final Verdict: If you’re after a simple city-based hunt with a choice of booklet or app, Huntfun is a decent option. But for more locations, richer storytelling, and a truly interactive adventure, Treasure Trails is the way to go!
Source: https://www.huntfun.co.uk
No. 3: Mystery Guides - A Mix of Clue - Solving & History Lesson
🚀Perfect for: History loving adults
📍Locations: Limited to major cities
⏳Duration: Around 2-3 hours per hunt
💰Cost: £20 per hunt
🫱Access to Trail: Printed copies only
Mystery Guides offers a mix of treasure hunt and historical tour, where you follow a story-driven puzzle through big cities like London, York, and Edinburgh. If you love history-heavy experiences and don’t mind a higher price tag, you might enjoy their approach.
How Does It Compare?
✅ Story-driven experience - More like a guided history lesson than an adventure.
❌ Limited locations -Mainly in big cities, so if you want a treasure hunt in a smaller town or countryside, you're out of luck.
❌ Much higher price - At £20 per hunt, it’s much more expensive than a Treasure Trail.
❌ Less flexible - You need their printed guidebook to play, whereas Treasure Trails offers both digital and printed options for convenience.
💡 Final Verdict: If you love a structured escape-room-meets-history tour and don’t mind paying twice the price, Mystery Guides might be for you. But if you want fun, interactive, and budget-friendly adventures with lots of locations, Treasure Trails wins hands down.
Source: https://www.mysteryguides.co.uk
No. 4: GG Treasure Hunts - App-Based Hunts
🚀Perfect for: Tech-savvy adventurers
📍Locations: Major cities and tourist spots
⏳Duration: Varies depending on the app settings
💰Cost:£19.99 - £25.99 for a group of 4
🫱Access to Trail: App or printed
GG Treasure Hunts offers app-based treasure hunts, where you solve clues using your smartphone.
Pros:
✔️ Instant access via app
✔️ Some interesting city-based routes
Cons:
❌ Requires constant phone use - which means less interaction with your surroundings.
❌ Limited flexibility - you must follow the app’s instructions exactly.
💡 If you love digital-only experiences, this could be fun. But if you prefer an immersive, hands-on adventure, Treasure Trails offers a richer and more interactive experience.
Source: https://www.ggtreasurehunts.com
No. 5: Gourmaze - Foodie Treasure Hunts
🚀Perfect for: Food lovers who enjoy a walking tour
📍Locations: London-based
⏳Duration: Pre-set times with bookings required
💰Cost: Higher due to included food stops (starting at £112 for a group of 4)
🫱Access to Trail:App
Gourmaze blends puzzle-solving with food stops, guiding you to hidden restaurants where you sample different dishes.
Pros:
✔️ Great for food lovers
✔️ A fun twist on a walking tour
Cons:
❌ Limited to food-focused experiences (less about puzzles).
❌ Requires booking in advance - no spontaneous adventures.
❌ Only available in select cities.
💡 If you love food more than solving puzzles, this could be fun. But if you're looking for a true treasure hunt, Treasure Trails offers a much richer experience.
Source: https://www.gourmaze.co.uk/
The Verdict: Why Choose Treasure Trails?
Treasure hunts should be about exploring, discovering, and having fun together - whether you’re with family, friends, or on a solo adventure.
🎯Why Treasure Trails Stands Out:
✔️Biggest variety - Over 1,200 locations, not just cities!
✔️For all ages - Fun for kids AND adults.
✔️Flexible & affordable - Start whenever you like, no bookings required.
✔️Different adventure styles - Detective, spy and treasure hunt.
🔎Where will your next adventure take you?
📍Find a Treasure Trail near you today at Treasure Trails!
Happy hunting! 🚀
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