The Hunt, an exciting cat-and-mouse game in Leeds

The chase starts in the city center. The Hunt Leeds turns Commercial Street and the surrounding streets into a live game board, with one team playing criminals and the other playing police officers. I like the clear split between stealth and pursuit, and I like that your own smartphone runs the game rather than a guide leading you from place to place. The main drawback is that you need a moderate level of fitness, and the experience may not suit anyone who prefers a quiet sightseeing walk.

I also like the flexible setup. You can book it for friends, family, or coworkers, and your group plays privately rather than being mixed with strangers. At about $12.21 per person for roughly two hours, it offers a good-value way to spend time in Leeds, though your enjoyment will depend heavily on how much your group likes competition, running around, and making quick decisions.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Criminals search for city-center safes: The criminal team must locate and open several safes during the game.
• Police receive location updates: The police team gets information about where the criminals are and tries to catch them.
• Your smartphone runs the activity: Bring your own phone, since the game itself is included but a device is not.
• Private play for your own group: Only your party takes part, which makes this a useful choice for team events.
• About two hours at Commercial Street: The game starts and ends at Commercial Street in central Leeds.
• Four languages are available: You can play in English, German, French, or Dutch.

How The Hunt Works at Commercial Street

The meeting point is Commercial Street, Leeds LS1. This puts you in the middle of the city, close to public transportation and within easy reach of the main central shopping area. The game both starts and finishes here, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup or find your way back from an unknown ending point.

Once your group is ready, you are divided into two sides: criminals and police. The idea is simple, but the pressure builds quickly. The criminal team must search for and open safes placed around the city center. The police team receives updates about the criminals’ locations and tries to intercept them.

That setup gives each side a different job. If you play as a criminal, you need to think about the safest route, the time needed at each location, and how much risk you are willing to take. If you play as police, you must read the location updates, react quickly, and predict where the other team is going next.

I like this division because it avoids the usual problem with group games, where one confident person takes over. Here, each side needs people who can make plans, watch the clock, and communicate. A fast runner helps, but speed alone will not carry the game. The police need judgment, while the criminals need nerve and caution.

The instructions do not describe a guided walking tour with historical commentary. This is a game first. You will see Leeds as the setting for the chase, but the purpose is to complete objectives and outthink the other side, not to stop at monuments or hear a detailed account of the city.

Two Hours of Strategy, Movement, and Pressure

The advertised duration is about two hours. That is long enough for the game to develop without taking up your entire day in Leeds. You can fit it around a meal, shopping, or another city-center plan, but leave yourself a little breathing room because the exact finish time may vary.

The pace will depend on your role and your group. The criminal team may spend time deciding which safe to target and how to get there. The police may wait for an update, move into position, then change course when new information arrives. This creates a stop-start rhythm rather than one continuous sprint.

That matters if your group has mixed fitness levels. The activity requires a moderate physical fitness level, so you should expect to walk briskly and possibly move at speed during parts of the chase. It is not presented as a gentle stroll. Anyone with mobility concerns should consider carefully if this type of game is suitable before booking.

You do not need to be a serious athlete to enjoy it, but you should be comfortable staying active in a city center for close to two hours. Wear practical shoes. You will get more from the game if you can focus on the chase instead of worrying about uncomfortable footwear or keeping up.

The action also depends on communication. A group that shares updates clearly will have an advantage over a group that scatters without a plan. Before the game begins, agree on how you will communicate and make decisions. That small bit of preparation can save time once the clock is running.

Playing Criminals: Search, Risk, and Quick Decisions

The criminal side has the more openly investigative task. You must find and open safes located around central Leeds. The information provided does not give a fixed list of safe locations, so you should expect the smartphone game to guide the action rather than follow a published route.

This role rewards a group that can divide responsibilities. One person may focus on the phone, another may watch the streets, and others may think through the route. You will need to balance progress against exposure. Moving quickly helps you reach the next objective, but careless movement gives the police a better chance to catch you.

The fun comes from the tension between those choices. You are not simply ticking off locations. You are deciding how much information to reveal, how directly to travel, and when to change course. That gives the criminal role a strong sense of pressure even if your team is not especially competitive.

For some groups, this will be the most entertaining part of the experience. You get a clear mission and an opponent who is actively trying to stop you. For others, the uncertainty may feel frustrating, particularly if your team dislikes making decisions without complete information.

The game is played through your smartphone, so make sure your group has a suitable phone ready. The phone is not supplied as part of the activity. Since the game depends on mobile instructions and updates, it is sensible to arrive with the device charged and ready, although the supplied details do not specify technical requirements or whether every player needs a separate phone.

Playing Police: Tracking the Other Team

The police role works differently. Instead of searching for safes, you receive updates about the criminals’ locations and try to catch them. This side is about reading information quickly and turning it into a useful plan.

A police team can easily lose time by reacting too slowly or splitting up without purpose. You need to discuss where the criminals might go next and decide who should move toward them. The game rewards alertness and teamwork more than simple speed.

I like this format for company groups because it gives people a shared problem to solve. The game creates a reason to talk, listen, and make decisions together. A colleague who is quiet in a normal office setting may have a useful instinct for routes or timing. Someone else may be good at keeping the group organized.

The single review supplied for this experience described it as the most fun company activity that group had done, with strong tension and a desire to play again. That is a useful clue about the experience’s best audience. It is likely to work well for a team that wants something more active and competitive than a meal or a standard indoor activity.

Still, not every work group wants a chase game. If your coworkers have very different fitness levels, or if some people dislike competition, you should check that everyone is comfortable before booking. The private format means your group controls the atmosphere, but it also means your group creates the energy.

Why the Private Format Helps

The Hunt Leeds is a private activity, so only your own group takes part. That gives you more freedom than a shared tour. You do not need to adjust your pace to an unrelated party, and you can set your own level of banter and competition.

This is especially useful for birthdays, family outings, and company events. A private game also removes one common worry: being paired with strangers who have a very different approach to play. Your team can be as serious or relaxed as it likes.

Group discounts are available, though the supplied information does not state the discount amount or the minimum group size. If you are organizing a larger party, check the final price before booking. At the standard listed cost of about $12.21 per person, the experience is already reasonably priced for two hours of organized activity in central Leeds.

The value is strongest when you have a group large enough to make the police-versus-criminal format interesting. A very small party may have less room for different roles and tactics, but no minimum number is provided, so you should confirm the best group size directly when arranging your booking.

Languages, Access, and Practical Details

The game is available in English, German, French, and Dutch. That makes it a practical option for groups that are more comfortable in one of those languages. The supplied details do not explain whether all members must choose the same language, so confirm that point if your group is multilingual.

Service animals are allowed. The activity is also near public transportation, which makes Commercial Street a practical starting point if you are staying elsewhere in Leeds or arriving in the city for the day.

Opening hours are listed from 7:00 AM until 11:59 PM, Monday through Sunday, for the stated operating period from May 27, 2024 through June 17, 2026. Those broad hours give you plenty of choice, but a late booking may feel different from a daytime game. Since the activity takes place in the city center, think about the time of day when planning your group.

You receive confirmation at the time of booking, and mobile ticketing is available. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time, with a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local Leeds time, so check the time carefully if you are booking from another country.

The Price: Good Value for the Right Group

At $12.21 per person, The Hunt Leeds costs less than many guided attractions and most structured team activities. You are paying for a two-hour game, private group participation, and a city-center setting rather than admission to a landmark or a conventional sightseeing tour.

The value depends on your expectations. If you want historical facts, a guide, or a carefully planned route through Leeds, this is not the right product. If you want a low-cost activity that gets your group moving and gives everyone a role, the price is appealing.

You also avoid some usual extras. There is no separate transport arrangement, and the game ends where it begins. The main item you must provide is your own smartphone. You should also plan for your own food, drinks, and any personal transport, since those are not included.

A single five-star review praised the strong tension and called it an especially successful company activity. That is not enough evidence to promise the same result for every group, but it does highlight the central strength: The Hunt is designed to create shared excitement rather than passive entertainment.

Who Will Enjoy The Hunt Leeds Most?

I would recommend this activity to people who enjoy strategy, action, and friendly competition. It should suit:

• Friends who want something active in central Leeds
• Families with members who enjoy games and teamwork
• Company groups looking for a shared challenge
• Visitors who have already seen the main sights and want a different city activity
• Groups that can communicate well and stay reasonably active

I would be more cautious if your party wants a relaxed walk, a formal guide, or a fixed sightseeing route. The game is also not ideal for anyone who cannot manage moderate physical activity. Since the exact route and safe locations are not provided, you should not book it expecting a traditional tour with predictable stops.

Should You Book The Hunt Leeds?

Book The Hunt Leeds if your group wants a lively two-hour contest and likes the idea of turning central Leeds into a chase zone. The private format, smartphone gameplay, four language options, and low per-person price make it a practical choice for friends and workplace groups.

Skip it if you want detailed city commentary, a calm pace, or an activity with no physical demands. For everyone else, the criminals-versus-police format offers a clear mission, real pressure, and plenty of room for group tactics. Just bring a charged smartphone, wear comfortable shoes, and remember that the best teams will communicate before they start running.

FAQ

Where does The Hunt Leeds start?

The activity starts on Commercial Street, Leeds LS1, in the city center.

Where does The Hunt Leeds finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point on Commercial Street.

How long does The Hunt Leeds last?

The game lasts approximately two hours.

What roles do participants play?

Your group is divided into criminals and police officers. Criminals search for and open safes around the city center, while police receive location updates and try to catch them.

Do I need to bring a smartphone?

Yes. The game is played on your smartphone, and you must bring your own device.

Is The Hunt Leeds a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.