I had an opportunity to observe an original birthday party – a scavenger hunt around London! It was a joint birthday too (two friends who celebrated their birthdays together). Let me tell you about it.

I didn’t participate in the hunt itself (I came around later in the evening), thus I didn’t see how the teams fulfilled their tasks. What you see here then is my deduction – comparing the list of tasks with pictures.

But first, what is a scavenger hunt?

Typically, a team building scavenger hunt requires participants to find a series of items or places or complete a series of challenges. These can be completed in any order and a winner is determined by how many items were found or collected and/or how quickly everything on the list has been completed.

The idea for the hunt was crafted by A. (the birthday girl)

“Hi everyone,
For those who are coming for the scavenger hunt, we’re meeting tomorrow 12:50 pm at St Pancras Station by the entrance.
Those who aren’t coming can join us later in the Greene Man Euston pub from 6 pm onwards (we’ll most likely be in the basement :))
Super excited to see you all tomorrow 😃”

The plan:

Pop on your party hats and let the hunt begin. Don’t forget to read the extras on the checklist – don’t want to miss before it’s too late. P.S no obligation to purchase things, but if you don’t, take a photo as proof you went there). Also, blank birthday card for strangers to fill. And before the teams part ways, spin the colour wheel (on my phone) – whatever colour you land on, take photos of anything that colour along the way).

How it played out:

Colors: A’s Team – pink, K’s Team – greenish blue

– First, head towards Granary Square via rainbow tunnel

– Find the photo booth (in Coal Drops Yard). How many people can fit in one booth?!

– Head to Angel St to ride the longest escalator on TfL.

– Head to Camden Passage. This is where our two groups split up for a bit of friendly competition.

– Weirdest item you can find in the antiques market.

– Browse the shops and find an object beginning with the first letter of your team leader’s name.

– Blind date with a book- you won’t know the title til you unwrap the package (upper street bookstore).

– British Patagonia bakery (vegan to please an entire crowd)

– Now to find the most unassuming art gallery. Set inside an iconic London structure (telephone boxes!), not far from the British Museum. (Russell Square)(Visionary Brit Museum)

– Now off to another unusual piece of art. Worldwide theme tucked besides the campus of LSE (Holborn). (The World Turned Upside Down). Portugal St.

– What’s the weirdest chocolate flavour you can find in Lindt’s flagship store? (Piccadilly circus). Not obliged to buy anything though.

– Next underground stop is named after an ABBA song (Waterloo). Here, look for a giant mural of London’s favourite bear.

– Head underground to find a tunnel full of legal graffiti (Leake Street Arches)

– Borough Market if peckish. Either way, be at the final meeting point for 5.25pm – an old haunt and hangout of Shakespeare’s to soak up the food with a drink. At the Greene Man Pub Euston

Extra points:

– Take a photo outside a pub named after a famous British figure (eg monarch, prime minister etc).

– Take a photo outside of London’s resident animal (the pigeon!)

– Take a selfie in front of a tube stop starting with the same letter as the team leader’s name (A and K)

***

In Greene Man Pub in Euston after the hunt:

***

Some of the enthusiastic comments after the Scavenger Hunt:

really great day A & K 🩷💚
brilliant day yesterday- thanks all for the fun & happy birthday A & K!
mutual Birthday Party!🥳🥳
It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all wonderful people!
So lovely to meet you