We at Family Days Out LOVE and escape room, and when we discovered Houdini's Escape Room we know we had discovered something special.
Our THIRD time!
You may have read our previous blog post on our experience when we decided to take on their TITANIC and DRAGONS HOARD rooms, and even our very first visit tackling CREEPY CARNIVAL!
We had such an amazing time that we simply couldn't wait to head back to challenge ourselves once again.
This time, we were journeying back millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs, to seek out something very special and escape the abandoned facility before a ferocious storm hit us in their incredibly fun room Extinct: Escape from Jurassic Island!
This thrilling dinosaur escape room experience did not disappoint. The level of detail that goes into these rooms is above many other escape rooms we've visited. What we really love is multi-room adventures and the immediate feeling of achievement. Find this key - open this lock. Open the lock, find a bag. Find a bag, crack the code and a door opens!
And yes, there are dinosaurs inside too!
Arriving!
The door to Houdini's at street level is almost like an escape room in itself, hidden on the side of Castle Way, you feel like you're part of a secret club as you open the door and make your way down the stairs.
Oddities and curiosities line the window sills and walls, already setting the scene for what's the come.
Upon arrival (ideally 15 minutes before your pre-booked game time) you just head on over to the check in desk and use their ipads to fill in your details, sign the waiver and then just take in the various board games, straight jackets and taxidermy animals until your game time begins.
We did notice an EXTINCT leader board announcing the fastest time to date was 27 minutes. 27 minutes! We had a challenge on our hands.
And then, our name was called....
Houdinis in Southampton FAQ
Houdini's Escape Room has locations all over the UK, however in Southampton alone you'll find three!
Onslow Road (19 Onslow Road, SO14 0JD)
Auckland Road (Tenpin, Auckland Road, SO15 OSD)
and the one we visited - West Quay (9A Castle Way, SO14 2BX)
It's worth noting that in Southampton EXTINCT is only available at Auckland Road and West Quay, but it's also available in their Nottingham location!
The game is perfect for 2 to 8 players!
The game is suitable for anyone over 8 years of age!
No. The wonderful thing about escape rooms is that you can leave at any time if you need, whether that's for the bathroom or you just feel overwhelmed. You always have contact with a room guide, who can let you out upon request.
Let The Games Begin!
Before entering the room, one of the very friendly staff explained our objectives, and anything to take note of. Specifically, Extinct: Escape from Jurassic Island does have one ladder and it must be someone over 18 to use it.
Our objectives complete, the door opens and we are IN!
Of course, this is an escape room so we don't want to give too many details away, but straight away the atmosphere felt exciting. The storm was coming! The audio in Houdini's is just as effective as the design of the rooms. It really creates a whole environment that has a sense of urgency.
Working as a team, we began by scouring the room. What could we see? What could we find? With a 16% success rate, we needed to move quick!
We did notice a huge pterodactyl on the ceiling! But that wasn't our only company.
Where To Start?
The first thing we did was outine any keys or combinations needed for various locks. And there were definitely more than one!
We were off to a great start, and then we hit a wall! The wonderful thing about escape rooms is that it really requires you to think outside the box.
Find some writing on a wall? Find a tiny piece of paper with scribbles on it? Is there a generic photo on the wall? Might not be so generic! Everything could be a clue.
Multi-Room FUN!
As we mentioned earlier, the really fun aspect to Houdini's Escape Rooms are the multi-room experience. We finally cracked the codes in room one. Then, a huge alarm sounds! The door opens - another room! This time, the bright lights a change from the darkness of the initial room.
Again, the satisfaction of "crack the code, unlock the padlock. Find a password, watch a video. Solve that clue, another door unlocks!"
After this room, a corridor - but what was in there? As we ran to the 3rd room, the door shook with the sound of a dinosaur banging against it. Don't let him out!
Moving from the 3rd room, to even the 4th room, really tested our minds. Even the T-Rex tested us!!
Armed with a walkie talkie, we were able to ask our games master for some hints. Prior to entering the room, they checked how keen we would be for hints. "We welcomed them!" we said.
We Did It!
Finally, with the countdown to the storm on, we completed the final few puzzles, and with about 4 minutes to spare, we were notified that we had been successful, and the helicopter was there to rescue us from this abandoned facility.
Phew! We were part of the 16%!
We left this room completely buzzing. We must have spoken about it for the next hour to two after we left. What did we find the most challenging? What we were proud of solving? What did we love the most about the rooms?
It really was such a fun experience.
Houdini's Escape Room is often booked out, so make sure you book ahead of time on their website to get the room you want.
For us, our next venture is their ALCATRAZ room, and we can't wait!
Until then... we hope YOU aren't stranded on Jurassic Island! You can do it!
Lisa Downs
Lisa has been a content writer for Family Days Out for nearly 10 years, and a keen travel writer for nearly 20. She loves experiencing the best of a city, discovering the many things to do and immersing herself in the culture, and sharing these experiences with others through her writing.
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