Clue HQ - The Live Escape Game

You're locked in a room with nothing but puzzles, clues and about an hour to find your way out. Clue HQ is an escape game setup near Swindon where teams of two to six people work together to solve riddles, crack codes and hunt for hidden keys before time runs out. It's the sort of thing that sounds gimmicky until you're actually in there, properly stuck on a logic puzzle, and suddenly it's genuinely tense.

The appeal is straightforward: it forces you to actually talk to each other and think laterally instead of scrolling your phones. Kids aged ten and up tend to crack on with it quite well, though younger ones can get frustrated if they're not the type to stick with a tricky problem. Parents often surprise themselves by being useful - spotting details or making connections the kids miss.

As a standalone afternoon from Park Farm Campsite, it's about five miles away, so easily doable without a trek. Budget ninety minutes all in: briefing, the game itself, and debriefing if you want to know where you went wrong. It's not free, and prices vary by team size and difficulty level, but it's worth checking their website for group deals if you're travelling with another family.

Best suited to anyone who enjoys a puzzle or genuinely wants to do something that forces actual conversation. It's not for people who just want to sit about in a field - you'll be itching and frustrated. But if you've got a keen bunch, it's a proper laugh.