Just like the TV show it’s based on, Race Across The World: The Experience is all about discovering things that you ordinarily would miss…with some optional time constraints and obstacles thrown in for good measure!
Starting from Liverpool Street Station, teams competing in the first Race Across The World London Experience are tasked with unlocking checkpoints and hidden city secrets that lurk in plain sight.
To prove that there’s always more to discover, we’re going to go behind the scenes and reveal just 6 unexpected things that you might see during the Race Across The World Experience in the City of London.
If you know your London geography well, be warned that there may be some spoilers in here, but only to the very keenest of observers!
This (Iconic) Squirrel Who Lives in Abandoned Blitz Ruins
We’re not entirely sure that the squirrel we see every day in photo submissions is the same one but, let’s just assume it is.
Seriously, not a day goes by that we don’t get to see this little fellow and, judging by the volume of submissions, it seems he’s particularly interested in Race Across The World Experience teams.
Either that, or we’ve discovered the least camera shy rodent in London!
The Outline of Where Londonium’s Roman Amphitheatre Once Stood
We’re trying to keep spoilers to a minimum here, but we can probably get away with telling you that at one point in the race, you’ll receive a photo prompt encouraging you to show us your party trick.
What we don’t tell you is that you receive that prompt pretty much right on top of where gladiators once fought in London.
Once there, if you happen to look down at the cobblestones, you’ll be able to see a curved line that marks the perimeter of what was once Londinium’s amphitheatre!
A Building That Once Had a Cutlery Monopoly in London
Huge chunks of social history are so taken for granted that barely any of us consider the importance of, say, forks…but there was a time where eating implements were hard to come by.
Back in 1622, just one market was granted a monopoly on the sale of cutlery in London, and if your in-game choices lead you there, you’ll visit it!
The good news for people back then is that barely anybody had heard of a fork, let alone knew how to use one, so it wasn’t as bad as it sounds to us.
Dick Whittington & His Cat (& His Rat!)
Going back to the party trick prompt, a lot of teams like to take fun selfies with the busts of famous “Londoners” such as Samuel Pepys and Oliver Cromwell.
However…not too far away from them is a full-length statue of Dick Whittington with his cat pressing against his legs. Take a closer look and see if you can spot a rat’s head poking out the top of a pile of clothes!
A Pub Opened By Charles Dickens’ Grandson
Speaking of famous Londoners, one of the possible checkpoint venues included on the Race Across The World London Experience has a tangible connection to one of Britain’s best-loved authors.
Famously, Dickens was a chap who wasn’t opposed to a pub outing, but we have to admit that he definitely didn’t visit this one (it didn’t exist in a pub form back when he was ordering pints).
However, his great-grandson, Cedric Charles Dickens, formally opened this pub in May 1976 after the entire building was moved 70 metres east of its original location to make room for a new housing development.
A Statue of The Only British Woman in History to Have Won Titles at All Four Majors With a Mammal
Three years earlier than the opening of the pub, more recent history was being made.
A new sculpture was unveiled depicting a girl with a dolphin, and it wasn’t until very recently that we found out who had been the sculptor’s (human) muse.
Just in case tennis players aren’t your strongest subject, we’re talking about Virginia Wade, who was 28 at the time of posing, and had already won the U.S and Australian Opens.
As you can see, this is a popular selfie spot for teams on the Race Across The World London Experience…and who can blame them?!
Ready to Race?
So there you have it! Those are just 6 unexpected things you might see while playing Race Across The World: The Experience in London.
If you’re ready to race, book your tickets now from Fever if you’re playing in London, or directly from our website if you’re playing in Manchester.
Check out our FAQs for answers to any questions you may have or feel free to contact us. See you on the leaderboard!