Race Across The World The Experience York Review

As a travel lover, it’s no surprise that I’m obsessed with the TV show Race Across The World. Have you seen it?

In it, pairs of contestants race from one destination to the next with no phones, no flights and limited resources. They’ll be crossing country borders making their way from one checkpoint to the next until they reach their final destination.

Teams are eliminated along the way, and with funds limited, they’ll have to work to pay for their journey.

But did you know you can experience all the excitement for yourself right here in Yorkshire? 

I’m here to share my experience of Race Across The World: The Experience in York. And why it should be the next activity you book when you visit the city!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more here. 

What is Race Across The World The Experience York?

Race Across The World: The Experience is bringing the excitement of the Race Across The World TV competition to cities across the UK, and York is one of the destinations lucky enough to be chosen.

The game is created by CityDays (previously The Secret City) whose games I have played in many Yorkshire cities, including the Fatal Feud in York, which I reviewed here.

CityDays craft fun, interactive games that are played directly through WhatsApp. They share clues, directions and checkpoints directly to your phone via messages, while you reply with answers to their riddles to progress the game and score points.

Race Across The World: The Experience York uses the same engaging game play as their other games, but with a few unexpected twists!

To incorporate elements of the TV show, the Race Across The World game also includes an in-game budget you will need to spend to unlock each leg of the journey. If you don’t have enough money, you’ll need to earn it!

In this review I’ll break down exactly how the game works, what you need to get set up and whether it is worth playing when you are next in York.

How does Race Across The World The Experience work?

Race Across The World: The Experience is an interactive game played via WhatsApp. The messaging app is used to receive directions and riddles to help you progress your journey, as well as allowing you to reply with your answers.

Before you start your game, you will need to book your game start time here. There are multiple time slots available throughout the week, so you can choose the time that works best for your trip.

As soon as you have booked your experience, you can activate your online account. It’s important you do this before your booking as it will initiate the WhatsApp chat, which will give you the directions to your start point.

For me, this process was straightforward, but if you do encounter any challenges, doing it ahead of your visit gives you time to work things out and contact the support team if required.

Another tip: before you start, add all players to the WhatsApp chat. This means that everyone will be able to view the clues and instructions on their own phones, so you don’t have to worry about sharing one small screen.

If you’ve got all of this set up, you’re ready to start your race!

At your chosen start date and time, simply follow the instructions in the WhatsApp chat to reach your start location and initiate your game. 

From there, you will follow a series of instructions, directions and riddles sent to your chat.

What to expect on your race

Once your game has started, you’re racing against the leaderboard (or taking it at your own pace if you prefer!) to identify hidden locations and solve interactive puzzles across York City Centre.

What I loved most about Race Across The World: The Experience is that it isn’t a purely digital experience. Unlike other treasure hunts and games I have played, this one incorporates physical stops and puzzles alongside the digital ones.

Directions and Budget

In each of the three rounds, you can choose your digital guide who will give you directions.

Some guides are more articulate than others, but whichever guide you pick is going to cost you valuable in game currency. Splashing the cash might get you to your next destination quicker, but you might have to work more to recover the funds for future rounds – you get to decide your own journey.

It’s worth keeping tabs on your in-game cash too, because money left at the end of the game can deduct time from your final result and help bump you up the leaderboard.

As you follow the directions of each round you will be prompted to answer questions about what you see along the way to make sure you’re following the right track. If you need a hint or get lost, you can ask the game for help, but that’s also going to cost you!

Checkpoints and Puzzles

Once you successfully reach your checkpoint, you will arrive at a shop or bar. You’ll need to head inside, give a member of staff the secret phrase, and they will hand you a puzzle to solve. These puzzles will require you to work together as a team to figure out the answer which will unlock the next leg of your journey.

These puzzles are physical and include tools and props that will be provided by the venue. You can’t take them with you, but many of the stops offer a discount for people playing the game.

The timer will be running while you solve the puzzle, but once it is solved it will pause and give you time to enjoy some food or a drink before you head out on the next leg.

Work and In-Game Funds

To complete the full game, you’re going to need to work!

Your funds are limited and won’t stretch to cover enough guides to lead you the full journey. But don’t panic, because you can earn extra funds by working on the way!

When you’re ready to top up your account, you can tell the game you’re ready to work and it will pay you for solving riddles! These fun riddles are challenging but enjoyable and will have you scratching your heads while you figure them out. 

Completing the Game

Once you reach the final stop on your journey, the last puzzle will unlock the guest book where you can sign your name and uncover your final spot on the leaderboard. Plus, you get a little prize for your hard work.

Overall, it was an exhilarating adventure through York that helped us to discover several hidden spots along the journey.

Packed with fun clues and riddles, it was the absolute highlight of our day!

How long does it take to play?

You should allow 2-3 hours to complete the game. However, part of the fun is customising how you want to spend your day! 

The game mechanics are set up to allow you to spend longer at each stop, enjoy some of the local shops and bars that are part of your journey, or do a spot of sightseeing if you want to do so.

Throughout the game you will be notified of when the game clock is running. During this time, any time spent will be counted towards your final game time and your spot on the leaderboard.

However, you will also be told when the clock has stopped between each leg of your journey. During this time you will usually be inside one of the venues who hold the puzzles that make up part of the gameplay.

Here, you can purchase food or drinks and take a breather without it impacting your game time. Many of these venues also include discounts for people on the race too!

If you want to do some sightseeing while in York, you can use these breaks to venture off the trail and call in at some of the impressive York attractions without losing time. You’ll just need to return to the location you left off at to resume gameplay when you’re ready.

Overall, Race Across The World in York gives you the flexibility to take as much or as little time as you need to complete the game.

Whether you’re running through York at top speed to top the leaderboard (just watch out for pedestrians if you do!) or want to take the game at a more leisurely pace with plenty of stops, you’re in control.

Race Across The World The Experience York Review

Here are my thoughts on my own experience of Race Across The World in York.

Set Up

The first thing that impressed me about Race Across The World: The Experience was the ease of setup.

It does require you to do a little bit of work before your trip, but it made it quick and easy to start as soon as we arrived.

We did have a slight issue with the GPS signal around The Shambles Market when locating our starting point, but, once we passed that initial hurdle, our adventure went off without a hitch.

Picking up the Clues

Entering the first stop to pick up our clue did feel a bit strange and intimidating. However, by the last stop we had fully got into the swing of the game. We found ourselves charging into the venues and yelling the secret phrase, keen to progress the journey as quickly as possible!

This added element of interacting with local York businesses added an extra layer of fun along the way and really recreated the game show well.

Getting Around York

I think we did have a slight advantage by knowing York well. Overall, we were pretty speedy at following the instructions from one stop to the next.

However, that didn’t stop us from getting lost at one point! After walking round in circles for twenty minutes we finally got ourselves back on track and realised that rushing may not actually be the best trick after all!

What works especially well though is the requirement to answer questions along the route. This helps to ensure you are still on the right track so even if you go slightly awry, the game won’t allow you to get completely lost with no hope of recovering your progress!

And honestly, getting a little lost is part of the fun!

That being said, you don’t need to know York inside out to take part. While it may give you a slight advantage following the directions, the game is designed for everyone from local residents to first time visitors.

Discovering Hidden Gems

I also loved that we discovered some new sights and venues along the way too.

I feel like I know York really well, so I’m always surprised when these games still manage to find hidden bars and cafes, sights or forgotten history I didn’t know about before!

Those feel like the real gems you uncover throughout the game, rather than the final spot on the leaderboard.

Hannah’s Top Tip

One tip I’d recommend is really making the most of the stops along the way. Once your clock has stopped after completing the puzzle, you have time to unwind with a drink or some food which helps to support the local businesses who are part of the game.

Or, use this time to explore other nearby shops and sights. You can really turn this game into a day-long excursion by using each of the stops as a mini adventure all of its own!

Pick Your Team!

James and I played the game together as a couple and we thought it was a really unique date activity that we won’t forget in a hurry! But I can see this experience working really well for groups of friends and families too!

Solving the Clues

I think the clues and riddles were about the right level of challenging. Some of them did take a little while to figure out, but none of them left us feeling frustrated and stuck.

They really struck the right balance that keeps the game moving ahead but without making it too easy or too hard.

Young children may find some clues tricky, but teamwork is essential to solving them so families can work together to reach the answers.

Ending the Race

At the end of the race it is fun to sign the guest book and read the other entries. Plus, you receive a small prize to take home with you. You can also keep your clue envelope if you want to.

I love having these little souvenirs and keepsakes from our day!

Ultimately, it was really satisfying to reach the end of the race and find out our score, but I also felt sad that the game was over because we were having so much fun!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think that Race Across The World: The Experience is a really unique way to explore York.

It is a completely different experience from others we have done. In a way, it combines the physical puzzles of an escape room with the thrill and exhilaration of a treasure hunt – all while exploring the streets of York!

I think it is an excellent game, which is well thought out and really engaging for players of all ages. I’m already considering a trip to some of the other cities that have their own version of the game to try them out too!

How to Book Your Race

You can book your Race Across The World Experience in York here. Simply select your preferred start date and time to suit your travel plans.

Teams can be made up of up to 2-8 people. Children under 10 years old can play for free with a paying adult.

A fully wheelchair accessible route is available and carer tickets can be purchased by contacting the support team.

Plus, the game can offer a dog-friendly route for visitors with four-legged friends too!

The full race is 3.5km (2.1miles).

How to get to York City Centre

York Park and Ride is the easiest way for visitors to get into the city centre of York.

With seven car parks located around the city, it provides convenient access to all of York’s attractions, restaurants, and shops.

With a variety of routes available throughout the day, you can avoid traffic congestion while enjoying a hassle-free journey in comfort.

Plus, its low fares make it one of the most affordable ways to travel. It is perfect for those looking to explore York on a budget!

Alternatively, the start point is just a 15 minute walk from York train station, providing an alternative means of transport into the city centre. And another great way to avoid the congestion and high parking prices!

Where to stay in York

If you want to extend your stay, check out these great hotels in York for your stay.

• The Grand – This 5-star luxury hotel and spa offers a relaxing stay in a beautiful Grade II listed building. Ideal for an indulgent escape.
• Middletons – This is the ideal hotel if you are looking for a quiet retreat. It is located close to the city centre, just a short walk away along the city walls past Clifford’s Tower.
• Judge’s Court – If you’re looking for a sophisticated escape with just a touch of history, Judge’s Court is for you. This modern take on a historic Georgian building is splendidly done.
• Hotel Indigo – This hotel is the heart of York and is renowned for its beautiful boutique rooms and comfortable beds! It’s the ideal spot for a good night’s sleep after a day exploring!

Still looking for the perfect hotel in York? Check out the map below to find the most convenient option for you.

Other interactive York Adventure Games

If you love unique and interactive ways to explore the city, these are some of my favourite games and tours that have helped me unearth some of York’s most secret hidden gems:

• The Mystery of the Gunpowder Snitch: York Treasure Hunt
• York Treasure Trail : Detective Mystery : A Self Guided Mystery Guide
• Treasure Hunt York
• Spookiest Ghost Walks in York
• The Best York River Boat Tours

Ready To Race?

So, will you be taking on Race Across The World: The Experience in York? If you do, I’d love to know what you think! Leave me a comment and let me know what you thought – you can even share your finish time and we can see which Get Lost readers are the quickest!

Overall, I loved our Race Across The World experience. It was a thrilling way to explore the streets of York with a little taste of what the game show has to offer. I’m sure you’re going to love it too!

And if you love Yorkshire as much as I do, sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more Yorkshire adventures and tips! 

Until our next adventure,

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