Escape in Time! (Secret Studio London) - "Escape from the Golden Hinde"

Cici Cao
6 hours ago
3 min read

LOCATION:  London, United Kingdom

Photo above is property of Escape in Time!

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Escape from the Golden Hinde
📅 DATE PLAYED: May 21, 2025
🎬 GENRE: Pirate, Adventure
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): /10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 3-12 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 90 Mins.
💰 PRICE: £33/ pp (Ages 10+)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

Embark on a thrilling live interactive adventure aboard a historic 16th-century galleon in the heart of London! The Golden Hinde, an exact replica of the ship Sir Francis Drake used to circumnavigate the globe in the 1570s, stands ready for your exploration. This remarkable vessel also completed its own global journey in the 1970s. Rumored to be haunted by spirits from both voyages, it offers an intriguing mix of ghosts—akin to a bold Rum Mojito, which legend attributes to Drake himself. You'll be locked on the ship with these spirits for 60 minutes, challenging you to escape while immersing yourself in fascinating historical insights.

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

The historical ship being a natural set design provided an exciting starting point. We were happy to be invited aboard, while those on the dock watched us with envy.
Escape in Time brilliantly utilized the ship's features to craft inventive puzzles. During the day, it's a museum, so certain elements remain unchanged, but by night, they transform into engaging puzzle props.
We felt "disoriented" (in a good way) on the ship, unable to discern how we moved from one room or deck to another, eventually finding ourselves back at the top.
The live actors excelled in their roles throughout the game. Their passion for their characters is evident, especially as they remain "below" the decks for extended periods of time.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

If you have back issues or difficulty crouching or kneeling throughout the game, this experience may not be ideal for you.
The GMs excelled in their character portrayals, though there were moments, particularly during the "transportation" to another era, where the storyline left us momentarily confused.
Uncovering a key piece of information through a live actor was intriguing, though its purpose was initially unclear. We later understood it was a pre-set clue for the next area, which left us questioning our actions on that deck floor.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

Escape in Time made excellent use of the space that's available to them. Playing an escape room on a ship, particularly one with such rich history, is always an exciting experience. However, we occasionally felt uncertain about the seamlessness of the gameplay. There were moments when we questioned the relevance of certain elements. By refining the storyline to better connect with the puzzle components, the experience could be even more cohesive. Nonetheless, simply being on the ship, reenacting history with live actors, and exploring the interior was an adventure in itself!

ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO

Live actors
The area is filled with numerous bars and restaurants. Being on the ship is a delightful experience as the view is truly a sight to behold!
If possible, please use public transportation since parking in the local area is very limited. The Golden Hinde is located within the congestion charge zone. Parking is available at Kipling Street, London Bridge. The nearest accessible parking bays for Blue Badge Holders are at London Bridge station.
Regrettably, there are no toilets on site. However, restrooms can be found nearby in Borough Market.
The ship features steep stairs, low ceilings, confined spaces, trip hazards, and dim lighting in some areas, making it inaccessible for wheelchair users. To solve the mysteries, at least one crew member should have reasonably good hearing, and one or two team members will need to kneel or crouch a few times.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

BOOK NOW

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Escape in Time! (Secret Studio London) for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.