HiddenCity: Hunt for the Cheshire Cat, review ★★★★★

Alice in Wonderland's smarmy, grinning Cheshire Cat has landed in Central London to assess if you, like Alice, can puzzle through his riddles and navigate the absurdities of the city.

But in the madness, the Cat has gone missing. Your challenge is to find him.

HiddenCity's newest immersive experience, inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, leads you and your team of up to five eager code-crackers on a madcap hunt through galleries, bookshops, windy backstreets and the darkest nooks and crannies of our city in search of the elusive Cheshire Cat.

It's a wonderfully imaginative interpretation of Carroll's much loved story, and one tailored specifically for adults. But don't panic if you're not clued up on the ins and outs of the plot as the hunt does not follow a linear narrative in any way shape or form.

The aim of the game is to solve a series of mind-bending cryptic clues – sent as text messages to your mobile by the Cat himself – that will lead you closer and closer to the elusive missing beast. As soon as you have cracked a clue, send your answer to the Cat, and he will decide whether you can continue your quest or not. He suffers no fools, trust us.

Charles Peale, Charles Waterton (detail), 1824 © National Portrait Gallery

During this three-hour trail, which is predominantly outside and navigated on foot, you will encounter the strange, surreal and absurd. Starting at the National Portrait Gallery, prepare to scour the archives of Piccadilly's most famous bookshop, to scurry through dark cellar vaults, and race through the backstreets of St James' to sip tea with the Queen (of Hearts, that is).

The clues and riddles are mysterious at times, and always complex, so prepare for a challenge; this is most definitely not a kiddy-like treasure hunt. To complete the trail, abandon all preconceptions, and have your wits about you. Speed is of the essence, here, for the clock is ticking and the Cat is waiting.

Now, the question is, do you want to go alone or pledge allegiance to the Queen of Hearts?

Practical Information:

Hunt of the Cheshire Cat is designed for adults but supervised children are welcome.