🎃 October half term is creeping up! See what’s on across the Peak District.
Review by Lizzie Sansam
The Peak District has no shortage of activities aimed at younger children, but finding things to do with older kids and teenagers can be a little more challenging, especially on a rainy day. Deception Escape Rooms in Matlock, just outside the National Park, is a refreshing exception, offering an immersive, challenging activity that feels genuinely suited to older children rather than being geared towards little ones.
With a choice of themed escape rooms, a mixture of puzzles and problem-solving challenges, and the option to add scary elements to the experience, Deception Escape Rooms makes a fun activity for families with teenagers, groups of friends, or older children who enjoy a challenge.
The Peak District Kids team visited to try out Trapped, one of the four escape-room experiences available.
Disclaimer: Peak District Kids was provided with a complimentary ‘Trapped’ session for the purposes of this review and social media promotion.
What are Deception Escape Rooms?
Escape rooms involve working together as a team to solve a series of clues, puzzles and challenges within a set time limit. Solving one challenge usually reveals the information or equipment needed to move on to the next, with the ultimate aim of making it through all the stages before the clock runs out.
Deception Escape Rooms has four different experiences to choose from, each with its own storyline and challenges:
- Trapped – enter the world of Dr Papét and uncover the secrets he has been hiding.
- Scarytale – a darker take on the traditional fairytale, involving a missing child and a mysterious stranger.
- Jilted? – solve the mystery surrounding a bride who has disappeared on the eve of her wedding.
- Operation S.T.U.C.K. – a Christmas-themed escape room involving Santa, presents and a rather mischievous group of naughty listers.
Each experience lasts around an hour and is suitable for 2-6 players.
Arriving at Deception Escape Rooms
Deception Escape Rooms is located in central Matlock, on the corner of Firs Parade and New Street. Click here for Google Maps location.
There are several car parks within a couple of minutes’ walk. We recommend the Imperial Road car park, from where it is a short walk along Lime Grove Walk to the escape rooms.
Once inside, there are lockers where belongings can be stored. Phones and other personal belongings cannot be taken into the escape room, so make sure everything you need is put away before the experience begins.
The escape room experience
Before entering the room, the staff provide an introduction to the storyline and explain what to expect. In Trapped, players are introduced to the story of Dr Papét, a doctor who has returned from war and become increasingly withdrawn after the death of his brother.
From here, it’s time to start solving the clues.
The challenges include code breaking, finding keys, unlocking objects, constructing cogs and completing scientific experiments, with each solution helping to reveal the next stage of the experience.
There are four rooms or stages to work through, rather than simply spending the whole hour in a single room. Some of the transitions involve squeezing or crawling through spaces, so this is worth bearing in mind when deciding whether an escape room is suitable for everyone in your group.
The experience is timed, adding a little extra pressure as the minutes tick away. However, the main entrance door is not locked, so anyone who needs to leave can do so.
Scary or non-scary?
One of the best features of Deception Escape Rooms is that you get to choose whether you want the scary elements switched on.
The non-scary version focuses on the puzzles and storyline, while choosing the ‘scaries’ adds elements such as darkness, sudden shocks and flashing lights.
For teenagers who enjoy being frightened, this adds another layer to the experience, with plenty of opportunities for screaming followed by laughter. Anyone who is particularly sensitive to darkness, flashing lights or sudden surprises will probably prefer the non-scary version.
This also makes the escape rooms more flexible for families, as you can choose the level of intensity that suits your group.
Is Deception Escape Rooms suitable for children?
Deception Escape Rooms are suitable for children aged 8 upwards, although there are additional supervision requirements:
- Children aged 14 and under must have an adult in the room.
- Under-16s must have an adult present on site.
- Each room accommodates 2-6 players.
The experience is particularly well suited to older children and teenagers. The puzzles provide plenty of mental challenge, while the storylines and optional scary elements make it feel considerably more grown-up than many of the family activities available in the Peak District.
No previous escape-room experience is necessary, either. The staff explain how everything works before you begin.
How long does it take?
Each escape room lasts one hour, with players working against the clock to solve the puzzles and reach the end.
Most groups complete the experience in just under an hour, although the difficulty means some teams will take longer than others.
The aim isn’t simply to race through the rooms, either. Working out the clues and figuring out how the different elements fit together is what makes the experience fun, particularly when everyone in the group gets involved.
Deception Escape Rooms prices
Prices for Deception Escape Rooms are:
- 2 players: £48
- 3 players: £66
- 4-6 players: £20 per person
The prices apply to both adults and children.
Larger groups can also be accommodated, with groups of more than six able to contact Deception Escape Rooms to arrange multiple rooms running at the same time. This could work particularly well for teenage birthday parties or groups of friends.
Do I need to pre-book?
Yes. Deception Escape Rooms should be booked in advance on their website.
There are also online mind games, costing £10 per game, and board games, costing £12 plus postage, available through Deception Escape Rooms.
Opening times
Deception Escape Rooms are open daily from 10am to 8:30pm.
Final thoughts on Deception Escape Rooms
Deception Escape Rooms is a really fun activity for older children and teenagers, and perfect for a rainy day.
The combination of problem solving, teamwork and immersive storytelling makes it very different from the usual family attractions, while the choice between scary and non-scary versions means families can tailor the experience to suit their group.
For teenagers who have outgrown soft play, farm parks and many of the activities aimed at younger children, this is a particularly welcome option. The puzzles are genuinely challenging, the storylines feel suitably grown-up, and the scary version adds an extra level of excitement for those who enjoy a fright.
With four different rooms to choose from, there is also plenty of reason to return and tackle another challenge.
You may also like to read:
Rainy Day Peak District: things to do
Things to do in Matlock and Matlock Bath
Lumsdale Falls walk, Matlock