Secrets of · Scavenger hunt
Secrets of Manchester Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour
1.5–2 hours · 1–4 players per team · no app€19.95 per team
Sherlock Holmes · Murder mystery
Manchester Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game
- 1.5–2 hours
- 1–4 players per team
- In the free Loquiz app on your phone
- Start any time within 12 months
- Free cancellation until you start
Follow a detective murder mystery on foot through central Manchester, from Albert Square to the cathedral, at your own pace.
The Balthasar case is open in Manchester, and it stays open until somebody walks the route and reads it properly.
Think of it as a detective game the size of a city. The murder mystery runs on your phone while Manchester supplies the evidence: witnesses to question, codes to crack, photographs to take, and one name to hand in when you are sure. Nobody guides you and nothing starts at a fixed hour.
The case takes you past Manchester Town Hall, IWM North and Manchester Cathedral.
Where the Case Takes You in Manchester
So do John Rylands Library and Science. The route runs 3 to 4 km and rewards the people who look up rather than the people who walk fast.
How the Murder Mystery Game Works in Manchester
Walking is the mechanism. Between locations the witnesses come to you, each with a puzzle, a code or a photo task standing between you and what they know. Most groups need 1.5 to 2 hours for the 3 to 4 km, and a long pause costs nothing at all. The habit is the one the Sherlock Holmes stories are built on: notice the thing nobody else bothered to look at, then say out loud what it means.
For Families, Friends and Teams in Manchester
With friends. Four people, one phone, one case. Somebody will back the wrong suspect early and refuse to let it go, and that is the part everyone remembers.
With your team. Split into fours, buy a ticket each, and send them off on the same murder. Team building without a facilitator, a venue or a start time - anyone can begin whenever they like.
With kids. Eight and up manage it comfortably. Children are usually quickest on the photo tasks, and teenagers who have stopped being impressed by old buildings get competitive about the puzzles instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the murder mystery game work?
Everything sits in the Loquiz app. Start it wherever you like in Manchester, follow what the case tells you, solve what each location puts in front of you, and hand in a name when you are sure.
How long does it take?
Between one and a half and two hours for most groups, across 3 to 4 km. Slower is free: nothing is timed and nothing expires while you are having lunch.
How many people can play on one ticket?
Four people per ticket, one phone between them, €19.95. A group of ten takes three tickets and turns into three teams, which is more fun than crowding one screen.
Do we need to book a time?
Just a date. When you start is up to you, because nobody is standing anywhere in Manchester expecting you - no meeting point, no guide, no group.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from about eight. The difficulty is easy, the walking is gentle, and children tend to be the fastest in the group at the photo tasks.
What happens if it rains?
Rain is an interruption, not a problem: you choose the moment to start and you can stop as long as you like. Plenty of groups split the case over a morning and an afternoon.
Is this a detective game or a walking tour of Manchester?
You get the walk either way. The difference is that you arrive at each place with a question, and a question makes people look at a building far harder than a plaque ever does.
What else is there to do in Manchester?
You can play more than one: other city games in Manchester use the same streets for another case, and the rest of the United Kingdom is one list away.
Also in the city: Secrets of Manchester · Edinburgh Murder Mystery · city games across the United Kingdom
- Manchester Town HallAlbert Square, M2 5DB
- IWM NorthTrafford Wharf Road, M17 1TZ Manchester
- Manchester CathedralVictoria Street, M3 1SX Manchester
- John Rylands LibraryDeansgate 150, M3 3EH Manchester
- ScienceLiverpool Road, M3 4JP Manchester
- Manchester Art GalleryMosley Street, M2 3JL Manchester
- The LowryThe Quays 8, M50 3AZ Manchester
- Old TraffordM16 0RA Manchester
Show all 9 stops
- Etihad StadiumM11 3FF Manchester
How it works
- BookYour ticket arrives by email.
- Go to the startThe start point is in your email. Any day within 12 months.
- PlayOpen the link on one phone per team and press start.
What players in other cities say
- ★★★★★
Wir (Mein Mann, unsere 9-jährige Tochter und ich) haben heute ganz spontan das Spiel "Moordmysterie Düsseldorf" gebucht und gespielt. Die Buchung verlief schnell und reibungslos. Es hat super viel Spaß gemacht! Die Story, die Rätsel, das Konzept, die Route, die Gestaltung der App... richtig gut!!! Das Spiel würde ich vor allem Familien mit Kindern empfehlen. Für Erwachsene waren die Rätsel (meiner Meinung nach) zu einfach. Aber trotzdem wegen der schönen Route durch Düsseldorf, der Story, den lustigen Anweisungen zwischendurch eine schöne Aktion, die man zusammen machen kann.
Lingling Z.October 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Had great fun playing secrets of Haarlem!
Martin M.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Game in Amsterdam was fun!
Enzo L.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
Had So much fun playing while exploring the city
Philip C.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
I had a fantastic experience with CityGame! The concept is creative, engaging, and a great way to explore a city in a completely new way. The games are well-designed, combining puzzles, storytelling, and adventure so you’re constantly discovering something interesting around every corner. What I especially love is how CityGame turns a normal walk through the city into an interactive experience. It’s perfect for friends, families, or team outings, and it makes sightseeing much more exciting than the usual tours. Everything was easy to use, the challenges were fun and clever, and it really encouraged us to look closer at the city and its hidden details. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a unique and memorable way to explore!
Jessica S.March 2026 · via google - ★★★★★
This is an interesting way to conduct a self-guided Amsterdam city tour. It used the GPS on your phone to guide you to stops on a route. There are mini quizzes once you arrive at the stops on the path. The quizzes draw your attention to features in front of you or to a brief history of the place. In many cases, we visited a spot that would not have been obvious as a regular passer by. The tour as a whole was interesting to us as newcomers, but I would have liked more information on many locations we visited - a few links outside of the app for each place would have been helpful. Beyond that, the interface was a bit clunky and sometimes awkward to navigate. We definitely don't regret trying this out and feel like we got our money's worth on the experience.
JaibhijaiJune 2024 · via google
How we check reviews
These reviews were left by players on Google and other review sites and are copied from there as they are, with their source.
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