Race Across the World: The Experience is an experience for everyone, but participating with younger players comes with some extra considerations.
No matter where you play, as a team, you have to get from the start to the finish with only teamwork, a virtual budget and your powers of puzzle-solving skills, no public transport allowed.
Who you choose to compete in the experience with is entirely up to you, so if you’re considering recruiting your kids as teammates or you fancy a fun family day out, we’ve put this family guide together to help you know what to expect.
Is Race Across the World: The Experience Family-Friendly?
Families are very welcome to participate in the race, but Race Across the World: The Experience has been designed with an adult audience in mind.
The physical puzzles, clues and deciphering directions are moderately challenging for adults; children will need guidance and support from adults to solve them. For this reason, children under the age of 10 accompany paying adults for free.
Selecting the "Family-Friendly" option at setup doesn’t alter the race’s difficulty, but it does ensure your checkpoint stops are suitable for families. If you need to bring a pram, consider selecting the step-free route so you have easier access to checkpoints.
The minimum age to purchase tickets for the experience is 18+. All players under 18 must have a paying adult accompanying them on the race.
How Easy/Difficult is Race Across the World: The Experience for Families?
How easy or difficult you’ll find Race Across the World: The Experience depends on so many things, it’s impossible to give a blanket answer that works for everyone. Here’s why!
Just as no two families are alike, no two Race Across the World Experiences are alike. The physical puzzles, clues, character guides and routes are different wherever you play the race, although the rules and game mechanics stay the same.
No matter where you take on the race, however, the key mechanics of the game remain the same: you will be offered two guides at the start of each leg (one easier, one more difficult), you will solve three physical, escape room-style puzzles, and the races end with your team signing the coveted guest book once you’ve unlocked it.
If your family are keen puzzle-solvers who like nothing better than a cryptic clue or pondering conundrums, you’ll likely thrive during the race. Like we mentioned earlier, the puzzles have been designed to moderately challenge adults, so children will need to be guided by accompanying grown-ups.
Remember, you can always use in-game prompts to get a helping hand. Sending “HINT” or “LOST” will cost your team virtual currency, but it will take you on to the next step in the race.
Walking and Completion Times for Families in Race Across the World: The Experience
Race Across the World: The Experience is a foot race, so expect to be on your feet for 2-3 hours at the very least. If one or more of your players uses mobility aids or requires step-free access to buildings, select “step-free” when setting up your race.
Allow more time (3-4 hours) to make good use of rest stops at checkpoints so your team can rest their feet and enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. Satiated racers are happier racers, no matter their age!
Family-Friendly Requirements and Checkpoints
When setting up your race, you’ll notice there’s an option labelled “family-friendly”.
Selecting this checkbox doesn’t change the physical puzzles or overall difficulty of the clues, but it does ensure that your team will be directed to checkpoints that allow children in the premises.
Please note that many of the checkpoint venues are pubs where alcohol is served.
Racing Essentials: What to Bring for a Seamless Family Day Out
We’ve put together an extensive packing list for what you might need to bring with you on Race Across the World: The Experience, but here’s an overview of the basics:
- Two Mobile Phones: We recommend assigning two phone numbers to your booking even though just one per team needs to answer clues/instructions. If anybody’s battery doesn’t survive the journey, you’ll have a backup!
Clues are delivered through WhatsApp which requires data, so make sure you have plenty available. - A Power Bank or Spare Charger: Similar to above, you never know when you need to give your phone an energy boost.
- Comfortable, Weather-Proof Clothing: You’ll be outside for the majority of the race so wrap up warm or pack your sun cream. Comfortable shoes are a good idea no matter the weather!
- Snacks: Families with younger players typically take a little longer to complete the race, so make sure everyone’s fed and watered along the way.
- Pocket Money: You don’t need to spend an extra penny during the race if you don’t want to, but many checkpoints offer exclusive discounts on food and/or drinks to teams, so make the most of them!
Need More Information? Ask Us!
We’re very proud of our average 4.89 out of 5 stars rating, and we work continuously to make each race better all the time.
We’re always happy to hear from players, before, during and after their race to find out what we could do better. So if you have any questions or you need a hand, send us an email.
All 6 of the experiences take place in real time on real city streets, so things like unexpected road closures or scaffolding can occasionally occur.
If you’re on the race and you spot something, tell us about it by sending us a message on WhatsApp (the link is provided to you at the beginning of the race). We’ll find a solution and get you moving again!
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Ready to Race?
Race Across the World: The Experience is available in the City of London, London’s West End, Manchester, York, Edinburgh and Bristol.
If you’re ready to race, book your tickets now from our website.
Select your city to be taken to the relevant booking page. Ticketing is handled by Fever, but if you need to make adjustments to your booking, please email us.
Check out our FAQs for answers to any questions you may have or feel free to contact us. See you on the leaderboard!