Houdini's Escape Room Experience - Derby — Local services in Great Britain

Game: Creepy Carnival Game master: James Clown: Daniel Booking reference: 168811 Group size: 9

We were welcomed by James in the reception after waiting 30 minutes after our selected time. James was funny and welcoming as we were signing our waivers.

We started the escape room and joked around with the clown as some others started solving the puzzle. We were in a big group so not everyone could solve everything at once. The clown was joking around with us and making us jump and writing funny things on the board.

As we were struggling through out the process, the clown actor seemed to be getting frustrated with us not being able to solve the problems and started getting visibly and audibly frustrated with us. He was mumbling and started swearing as he came in to help and getting fustrated with us struggling.

As we came towards the end of our time, the clown actor was going around resetting the game for the next group as we were trying to complete the game. He took away the item we needed to decipher a code and told us to get out the door. We then proceed to leave through the door by pushing the green exit button as instructed. Half the group came out and the clown came rushing out the other door pulled off his mask and shouted 'what are you doing?' right next to my wifes face. At this point James also came to ask why we had left the room and my wife replied to the clown actor to say "you told us to leave". The clown also shouted at one of the members of the group for playing with some pom poms as he needed to reset for the next group. Telling them to "put them down" and getting more agitated and louder because he had to repeat himself when the member of the group couldn't hear what he had said.

We were really enjoying the escape room at first and were having a great laugh. However the clown actor progressively got ruder and more angry with us and it ruined the whole experience. We just felt awkward and wanted to leave by the end. We 'Completed' it in about 56 minutes, but we were definitely rushed. There was also a clue on one of the items that you had to use twice even though in the brief it said 'each clue is one and done'.

The experience started off poorly with us not being called in to sign our waivers and prepare for the room, despite letting someone know we had arrived 30 minutes before our start time. We had soon forgotten about this once we had started the waivers, and it was off to such a good start once we entered the room. It began as up there with one of the best escape rooms we have ever been in, and then quickly plummeted to the worst experience we have ever had because of the attitude of the actor.

We appreciate that the team were running late on bookings, however our game did not begin until half an hour after our start time which was not our fault, and you don't expect to be shouted and sworn at when you are supposed to be having a...

Hats off to James 184609.... Here we go.......

An Unforgettable Escape into the World of Houdini!

From the moment we stepped into the Houdini Escape Room, we were transported into a world of mystery, magic, and mind-bending puzzles. The atmosphere was incredible—dim lighting, vintage props, and secret compartments that felt like they belonged in Houdini’s own workshop. The attention to detail was astounding, from hidden locks to intricate mechanisms that truly captured the essence of the legendary escape artist.

The puzzles were masterfully designed, challenging yet rewarding, requiring teamwork, creativity, and a touch of Houdini's own daring spirit. Every clue felt purposeful, every challenge immersive, and the surprises along the way kept us on our toes. Just when we thought we had it figured out, another twist left us gasping in amazement.

The game masters were phenomenal—enthusiastic, professional, and fully committed to making the experience unforgettable. They provided just the right balance of hints, ensuring we stayed engaged without giving too much away.

If you’re looking for an escape room that blends history, illusion, and high-stakes adventure, this is it. Whether you're a Houdini fan or simply love a good challenge, this escape room is a must-try. We left feeling exhilarated, accomplished, and already planning our next visit!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A truly...

If you're even remotely considering doing one of these escape room experiences—STOP THINKING and just book it at Derby Tenpin. You won’t regret it.

We did the Creepy Carnival room, and oh boy... I haven't laughed that hard since I tried Zumba while mildly hungover. It was a chaotic masterpiece of overthinking, accidental brilliance, and asking ourselves “Wait, is this part of the game or did we just break something?”

Our host Dan (191847)deserves a medal. Not just for guiding us through the spooky carnival chaos, but for doing it with saint-like patience while we descended into a beautiful spiral of confusion and bad ideas. Honestly, if sarcasm was a currency, Dan would’ve retired after our session.

He somehow kept a straight face while we mistook obvious clues for psychological mind games and spent far too long trying to “outsmart” a clown. Spoiler: the clown won.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Would Dan survive another round with us? That’s between him and his therapist. But if you're looking for laughs, thrills, and a mild existential crisis in a funhouse setting—this is your place.

Derby Tenpin, 10/10. Would...