Murder on the Fogg's Express

Murder on the Fogg's Express is running seven days a week at Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration in Covent Garden, a self-guided tabletop whodunit that puts you and your mates in charge of the investigation. It's set in a Victorian train carriage inspired by the glamour of the Orient Express, and it plays out over about 120 minutes. You'll need a team of two to six players to work through it, so it's one of those things that works better the more people you bring along.

The game is a mix of classic mystery and escape-room-style challenge: you'll be unraveling a web of secrets, deciphering cryptic clues and racing against the clock to unmask the culprit. It's all handled at your own table, so you can take your time with the clues or push through as a group. To get you started, there's a welcome cocktail and a selection of nibbles on arrival, which is a nice touch before you dive into the case.

It's worth knowing a bit about the venue, too. Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration is an atmospheric speakeasy cocktail bar founded by Phileas J. Fogg, Esq. — the same figure behind his famous voyage around the world, which began at Charing Cross station just a stone's throw away. The bar is home to the world's first Mechanical Mixologist, an automated Negroni-making machine inspired by the Industrial Revolution, and a multi-sensory cocktail menu that takes guests through nine extraordinary areas of the Earth. The mystery itself is tucked away in that Victorian carriage, so you're playing inside the theme.

Booking is a must, as the venue takes no walk-ins and has no wheelchair access. It's available seven days a week, bookable Sunday to Friday until 9pm and Saturday until 5:30pm, and costs £40 per person. The bar is at 1a Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9HH, with Charing Cross as the nearest tube station.