Unwrap More Than Chocolate: Easter Adventures Await!

City hopping with TT

Our top picks for city Trails to do this summer

City adventures can be a real eye-opener, with more real estate meaning more hidden gems and surprises around every corner! If you’re struggling to decide which adventure to choose, scroll down to discover our top picks for this summer!

Best for keeping your cool

The mirror pool outside Bradford City Hall

If you feel like you’re getting hot under the collar with all that clue-solving, you’ll want to find a way to cool off. Ice cream is one way, or on a scorching day, running through a fountain is sure to cool even the most hot-headed off!

Sound good? Try tackling the Bradford detective mystery Trail. The mirror pool outside City Hall has the highest urban fountain in the UK. What’s more, it has 100 water spouts, some of which will get you wetter than others if you’re not quick on your toes! Don’t worry - you can skirt around the pool if you don’t fancy a soaking.

Down in London, take on the top-secret Waterloo and South Bank Trail and tiptoe up the steps to the outdoor upper level of the festival hall to cool off in the Appearing Rooms water feature! Or, over in South Wales, the Cardiff Bay and the Wetlands mission will take you past the rather cool (and cooling) water feature outside the Millennium Centre.

If fountains aren’t your bag, head to Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City. Go for a mid-mission swim in the Firestone Tidal Pool on the Save Royal William Yard Trail or dip into Tinside Lido during the Waterfront and City, Hoe & Barbican Trails.

Best for sneaking down secret alleys

The view from Advocate's Close, Edinburgh

Cities are full of alleyways, passages and yards ideal for sneaky shortcuts, escaping unseen and searching for evidence. All our city Trails will take you off the beaten track and pack in the main sights, but here are our top picks for ducking under cover…

Up in Edinburgh, lurking behind the main streets that make up the Royal Mile are a series of narrow lanes, passageways and linked courtyards that require your inspection in order to crack the case.

In York, your investigations on the York Minster mystery will require you to patrol the shortest street in York and bravely sneak through Coffee Yard, guarded by a devil!

If you’re in or heading to the capital, London, Trafalgar Square is a must-visit iconic spot. But delve deeper into the area on the Trafalgar Square Trail on your quest for the treasure, and you’ll soon know all the backstreets like the back of your hand!

Best for amazing street art

Scary street art

Cities are home to heaps of buildings, which means lots of blank canvases for some incredible street art! You’ll likely come across something special in most cities, but here are some guaranteed spots for you…

There is so much street art in Shoreditch you won’t know where to look first! But if you’re out exploring on the Shoreditch and Columbia Road Trail, you’ll have to make sure it doesn’t distract you from cracking the code! Of course, when it comes to street art, you can’t miss out on Bristol – home of Banksy. With six Trails to choose from in the Bristol area, there are tonnes of chances to see stunning masterpieces by the city’s talented artists.

Heading up north and away from your typical street art, Chester has some superb historical artwork to take a peek at. Set out on the Eastgate Clock quest to discover some Roman scenes and shenanigans on marvellous murals. Even further north, as you trek through Dundee, you won’t see your standard statues of historical men – the sculptures here are super quirky! From pop culture to penguins, there are plenty of awesome structures to inspect – just don’t let those feathery fiends figure out where the treasure is!

Best for giving your feet a rest

The Emirates cable car over London

If you’re on a city Treasure Trail, you’re usually exploring on foot, but sometimes special agents, top detectives or intrepid explorers need to deploy alternative methods of getting from A to B to get those clues solved…

Test your sea legs on the Bristol Harbourside Trail as you jump aboard the cross-harbour ferry for a quick jaunt over to the next set of clues on your quest.

In London, take to the skies on The Cable Car Mission to solve the clues on either side of the river (it’s better than swimming across!). Or venture underground on The Green Run London Tube Trail, utilising the District Line to whisk you from station to station to get those clues solved.

Best for sweet treats

Walking down the Shambles in York

All good adventurers need to stock up on snacks from time to time to help fuel both body and brain – you’ll need both to finish your Trail! You’ll be spoilt for choice whichever city you choose to explore, but here are our top picks for making the most of your location…

The York Chocolate and Sweet Trail does exactly what it says on the tin. On this detective mystery, you’ll be delving into the world of confectionery that York is famed for, with both Terry’s and Rowntree starting up here. Your investigation follows a route full of ‘chocolate box’ buildings like those on The Shambles, as well as leading you past a whole host of choccie and sweetie shops – you just have to choose which one to stop at for your treats!

Head out to the suburbs of Birmingham, and you’ll discover another chocolatey treat. Home to Cadburys, Bourneville was built up around the original factory to house the workers; as you explore on your quest, you’re bound to build up an appetite for sweet treats!

The City of London – Pudding Lane Trail is our final top pick. You’ll be assisting Chief of Police Patty Cakes on the case to find out what happened to poor Chuck Doughball. You’ll also discover the original meaning of ‘pudding’ whilst out on patrol; as hardy detectives, you should try not to let this put you off seeking out a celebratory ice cream before heading home.

Best for awe-inspiring architecture

Wander past some of Aberdeen's landmarks

There’s nothing like a massive building to make you feel super small and go, ‘wow’!

Check out the City of London – The Gherkin Trail for amazingly massive modern structures with historical gems nestled in between.

Emerge from Liverpool Lime Street Station, and you won’t know what to admire first – the station behind you or the stunning Liverpool St George’s Hall right in front of your face!

Up in Scotland, it’s the Aberdeen – West End Trail you want for some granite-tastic sightseeing! You'll be surrounded by super granite buildings as you venture across the city.

Best for four-legged friends

Take your sniffer dog on a detective mystery Trail with the family

Ok, so cities may not instantly spring to mind when you’re picturing your pooch running through open fields as fast as their little doggy legs can carry them. However, if you want to combine taking Rover for a walk with a city adventure, there are certainly some great open spaces to be found…

If you’re a fan of Victorian parks, you’ll love Saltwell Park in Gateshead. Keep Agent K9 on a lead for most of the mission, but let them run free in the special dog pen – a large fenced-off area designed especially for pooches to let off steam.

In Scotland, doggy detectives will love sleuthing around Stirling to help you sniff out the evidence you need. Just make sure those paws are up for a few cobbles and some steep hills – well worth it for the views!

Gloucestershire Park and Quays is an excellent compromise for satisfying both human and canine city needs. Your investigations require you to take a peek at the docks, then head to the park for a run around before returning to the quays area to finish snooping around.

Best for sneaking along canals

Beside the canal in Birmingham at dusk

Move over, Venice - there are some new canal kings in town! Up and down the UK, our city canals have been getting some serious makeovers in recent years, turning once-murky waterways into the ideal stomping ground for city adventurers.

For a real inner-city oasis, get yourselves to Manchester Castlefield. You’ll be treading the towpaths and sneaking across narrow bridges to access wharves and gather all the vital intel you need to complete your mission.

If admiring narrowboats is your thing, you can’t go far wrong on the Oxford Jericho and Canal Trail. After a bit of bold city exploring, your quest will take you canalside for your final clues.

For the UK city with the most canals, head over to Birmingham – Venice of the North! With more miles of canals than Venice, the ‘Spaghetti Junction’ of the canal system is the scene for your quest for the legendary Golden Gondolier!

Check out Nottingham Castle and Canal or London’s Little Venice for more city canal action.

Best for animal lovers

Dolphin motifs dotted around Belfast

Ok, apart from pigeons, we’re not talking about real live animals here! However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some serious animal spotting.

Brave the streets of London and go Lion Hunting in Stoke Newington. Your quest here requires you to work out which of the animal-themed locations on your treasure map hides the treasure!

If detective mysteries are more your thing, the creatures posing as suspects on the Muswell Hill Menagerie investigation will be right up your street!

Over in Belfast, there are lots of seahorses dotted about the city in all sorts of disguises! See how many you can spot during your investigations on the Belfast detective mystery Trail.

Plan your city adventure

Feeling inspired? Grab your city adventure via any of the links above, or type the name of any UK city into the search box at the top of the page to see which adventures await.

Before you head off for a day of exploration, make sure you’re up to scratch with your city sleuthing, sneaking and unearthing skills with our handy guide to being a TT City Slicker