The 12 best escape rooms in Manchester (2026)

Help the Professor find his missing crystals Mr Copplestone aka “The Professor” is an inventor. His greatest invention is the world’s first time machine, built so he could travel through space and time to find interesting objects and life saving potions to sell in his curiosity shoppe. The time machine is powered by Time Echo Crystals, these crystals are rare and only a small quantity exist in the world. Without them the time machine won't work. Such a precious commodity must be stored & guarded carefully to ensure the future of time travel can continue. There's just one problem with that - Mr Copplestone! He may be a genius, but he's the most forgetful man you could ever meet. This morning when he opened his box of Time Echo Crystals he found only one left inside, where could he have put them? Mr Copplestone and his wife Margaret live on Chapel Street in the year 1873. We can't rely on Mr Copplestone finding the missing crystals alone so if you're brave enough to jump into his time machine and use the last remaining crystal we have to head to 1873 you could save the future of time travel. . However the time entry vortex is weak and can only stay open for one hour, get back inside before it closes and bring any crystals you find with you so we can keep them safe back in the future ready for our next time travelling adventure.

“All of the Chapelgate Mysteries games are a super-high level and this is no different. Follows the familiar collection-style and the puzzles are fun and challenging which gives you a great sense of satisfaction when you solve them. Would highly recommend”

LouisSuddaby23

112 escape rooms

Can you help Percy to find his lost inheritance? Percy Pendleton and his Wife Violet live above their modest haberdashery shop situated on Chapel street. One rainy Tuesday afternoon Percy received a telegram all the way from Peru. The only person Percy knows in Peru is his rich Uncle Paolo who he hasn't seen since he was a child. Paolo owns a very lucrative pineapple plantation. The telegram reads- I'm sorry to inform you of your Uncle Paolo's death. His entire estate has been left to his loving Wife with the exception of a box he has asked to be sent to you. Later that day a courier arrived and Percy couldn't believe it when he saw two strong men struggle to lift the small package and bring it inside. After they left Percy carefully lifted the lid to be greeted by a sight that made him sit down in complete shock. A handwritten note sat on top of the items and it read- My dearest Nephew Percy. I've sent you these as it's the only way to avoid the tax man! You always were my favourite relative and so these should set you up for life. All my love Uncle Paolo. Inside the box were dozens of jewel encrusted solid gold pineapples, they must be worth an absolute fortune! Percy started to panic, visions of being thrown in jail for tax evasion flashed through his mind and then..... a loud knock at the door! "Oh my goodness, they've come for me already!" Percy was almost faint with panic as he opened the door. He was filled with indescribable relief to find Tommy Tatler on his doorstep. Tommy owns the Chapelgate tavern across the road and they'd been friends since they were kids. Percy could always rely on Tommy to help him with any situation. After showing him the precious pineapples and explaining everything, Tommy knew just what to do. "I'll hide these somewhere safe for you Percy" Tommy said confidently, "Don't you worry, I'll split them all up for you too so they're not all together." And off he went leaving Percy feeling like all his troubles were over. He kept just one of the pineapples to sell and decided he'd gradually sell them off over time so as not to arouse suspicion. The next morning however, Percy got the shock of his life when he was told the awful news. Tommy was dead! A sudden heart attack in the night they said. A few days went by before Percy even thought about the pineapples. Where had Tommy hidden them? He'd died before he'd had the chance to tell Percy. What a peculiar predicament! Can you help Percy find his hidden pineapples?

“Escape room heaven, only the second we’ve played here and still mind blowingly good. So much to do it will test you and unfortunately we weren’t at our best but still did ok and definitely loved the experience. Wonderful hosts who are very happy to chat but also explain anything you didn’t get. If you haven’t been here you really really have to make it a priority”

TeamNeilson

359 escape rooms

Henry Fortune is a magician, but are his tricks the only secrets he's hiding? As a child Henry toured the world with his family's famous magic show, House Of Illusion. Henry would wait patiently backstage during the performances just wishing for the day he would be allowed to take his place in the limelight. Unfortunately, Henry's parents didn't think he was good enough to be included in the show. Henry grew up bitter and disillusioned with the world, the anger and resentment he felt towards his family intensified and then...... they disappeared! Henry's Mother, Father, Girlfriend, his Aunt and Uncle and several of the show's performers and staff just vanished! Henry claims they've all gone abroad to continue the show without him, but Henry's Grandfather suspects something terrible has happened to them. That's where you come in! Henry's Grandfather has hired your team of Time Detectives to try and find out what happened to his missing family. He recently found a riddle left by Henry and he believes there may be more, he needs you to go undercover and have a good look around. He's sent Henry a case of his favourite whiskey, that should keep him distracted whilst you have a look around for clues. You'll usually find Henry in his private box in the theatre or at The Black Cat Magic Shop at the end of Chapel Street. See what evidence you can find, but don't let Henry catch you. Henry is short tempered and impatient! Don't blow your cover whatever you do!

“Our third visit, and the reason we drive down from Glasgow, and we’ve left as happy as ever. This story was fun and engaging, and got us doing things we’ve never done before in an escape room. Everything is beautiful. Everything is designed and made to an exacting standard and made me want to stay in the 1930s. It’s fun-filled non-stop puzzling from start to finish and we can’t wait to get back. If you’ve yet to visit Escape Quest but are a puzzle fan then treat yourself and get booked in. Elaine and Mike are a joy who know their craft and treat you like welcome friends.”

Joanna241

189 escape rooms

Titterton’s Toffees first opened their doors on Chapel street in 1933. They were soon to be regarded as one of the highest quality toffee makers in the country, eventually being awarded with a Royal warrant. They were a small family business and made almost everything in the back room of their shop. Things were going well for Titterton’s and they had great plans for the future including new flavours of toffee they would produce, demand started to increase and then the war arrived. Terry Titterton was just 8 years old at the time when he and his mother were left to run the shop alone after his father was called up to fight. As the war raged on and rationing came in to effect, the shop was sadly forced to close. Almost 20 years later Terry still reminisced about the days he spent watching his dear now departed parents making the toffee. On Wednesday 5 February 1953 the Food Minister announced in Parliament and to the Commons that ration and price control on chocolate and sweets had officially come to an end across the United Kingdom. Over the course of the next year a flurry of sweet shops, small and large scale confectionery manufacturers sprung up across the country. Passing the old shop one day Terry noticed a for sale sign in the window, he peered through the cracked window pane to view the dusty interior and to his astonishment the shop looked just as it did the last time he saw it! Terry bought the shop and started to clean the place up. All he needed now were the recipes for the toffees his parents produced and to work out how to use the toffee making machine. Searching around he found a key, the tag said “Flavour essence growing, making and storage” how strange! Also, there seemed to be a map drawn on the back of the tag. Can you detectives help Terry get his parents once glorious toffee business back up and running by discovering their secrets. I think if we could start with making 12 boxes of vanilla toffee to send to the Royal household we might be able to get the Royal warrant reinstated.

“A fun collector style room with an enjoyable story and a range of puzzles which challenge all levels of experience. Elaine and Mike were wonderful hosts as always. This was the last of the ChapelGate mysteries that I had to complete… and I can’t wait to return and redo them all again!”

EscapeBeth94

112 escape rooms

You have entered the Kingdom of the Viking Gods & you are sat in the House of Thor In an attempt to prevent Thor’s succession to the throne of Asgard, Lowki, Thor’s menacing brother, has stolen & trapped Thor’s weapon in the golden rings of Aesir. The ice giants have got word of this, and they know Thor is helpless to protect the human race without his enchanted war-hammer. The giants are on there way, there mission to defeat Thor and destroy earth. Vikings! You must find the Gods and return them to Asgard as they will help you in you quest. You must find the thunder hammer and put it in the sacred place to create a storm like no-one has seen before. You must release Thor’s Hammer from the golden rings and return it to Thrudheim where it belongs If you fail you will be the first to die The giants are coming, you have 75 minutes to return the hammer

“Outstanding room that definitely challenges your ability to solve puzzles through logic rather than the classic numbers/locks. Super impressive set design and technology involved with a very friendly host. Would highly recommend!”

LouisSuddaby23

112 escape rooms

We built The Pirate Ship after playing only 4 escape rooms and we wanted to put our own stamp on “Our Escape Room” . To our surprise The Pirate Ship was unbelievably well received and the reviews have been fantastic, better than we ever imagined. The pressure was on, our next room had to be as good, if not better than The Pirate Ship. It took nearly a year to build, it is heavily themed, exciting, interactive, immersive and a real live adventure. Your team of adventurers & archeologists, enter an abandoned gold mine in the heart of the Mexican mountains, your mission is to find the hidden gold. Legend says that the holder of the hidden gold of El Narangel will find the Lost Tomb. The miners left subtle clues & hints, if you use all your skills you may find the hidden gold and ultimately the Lost Tomb but be careful they the miners won’t give up their gold easily. The Lost Tomb is now open. Come and see for yourselves,

“Really nicely themed room, good use of technology (doesn't feel like a very tech heavy room although it is prevalent throughout). Some fun set pieces as well and nice use of the props/environment in the puzzles. Great fun for any aspiring adventurous archaelogists.”

Scoobs83

87 escape rooms

You and your team are elite members of the Turd Raiders, a covert operation unit known for flushing out toilet-related treasures. You’ve received intel that your long-time rivals, the Turd Burglars, are holed up in a secret underground bathroom bunker beneath an abandoned sewage treatment facility. Within their stink-laden lair lies the ultimate prize: the Golden Plunger, said to grant supreme control over all restroom realms. And not just that—scattered throughout the hideout are the legendary Golden Turds, rare relics of mythical toilet lore. Your mission? Infiltrate their hideout, solve their elaborate traps and puzzles, steal the Golden Plunger, and collect as many Golden Turds as you can before the Turd Burglars return from their tactical porta-potty conference. You have 60 minutes. The flush is ticking.

“This is a really fun and unusual in theme collection game. There is a high number of puzzles to complete and they really varied in terms of type and difficulty. We played as a two and I don’t think either of us stopped moving for the full hour! We had a great time!”

Alana89

173 escape rooms

Still the same submarine, but the English have taken over The Crown Jewels are finally back in British hands… but not for long. After recovering them from the German submarine UI-55, your crew has begun the journey home. But German forces have discovered your escape and are closing in fast. Your submarine has suffered heavy damage, leaving only a handful of reserve compressed air cylinders. Search the vessel and recover as many as you can. Every cylinder will keep UI-55 on the surface for longer, giving your crew precious extra time to defend the Crown Jewels.

You and your friends are driving along route 66 when you notice your gas running low, a friend suggests making a turn at the next set of crossroads to see if there is a gas station… You don’t find a gas station but decide to look for gas in the one place you have discovered by taking that WRONG TURN…. Will you escape or will regret that wrong turn?

Well known alien hunter and conspiracy theorist, Professor Ross Well lives at 51½ George Street. After years spent collecting, and hunting evidence of extra-terrestrial life, he got his lucky break and came across a crash site up on the moors, complete with a live alien! He brought the alien back to his house with the intention of keeping him, but the mothership has tracked their friend down and arrived to collect him! You begin your mission outside Professor Ross Well’s house – what you will find in there is anyone’s guess! But what you do know is that you only have one hour to return the alien back to the mothership, or our planet will be destroyed!

“This was a wonderful and challenging room with exceptional puzzles and magic moments! Make sure you’re facing the right way 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ Sam was a great host and I can’t to return to do their other rooms! What a special ending to my birthday 🎂”

EscapeBeth94

112 escape rooms

It’s the tail end of the Prohibition era in Chicago and Al Capone has a stranglehold on all the Bootleg liquor in the city. As the newest members of The North side mob, Bugsy needs you to prove yourself and steal something right from under Scarface’s nose! Don’t let him down, or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes!

“Thanks to Sam, great host. We loved the room, escaped in 51 minutes could have been quicker if we hadn’t of made silly errors and took longer over a couple of puzzles. The puzzles are a mixture of very hard to some being straight forward if you have the eye for spotting! Really enjoyed it, great links and great content.”

Lockworths

60 escape rooms

It’s the oh-so-popular 90s TV show brought to genuinely immersive, 3D life. More importantly, it’s a brilliant excuse to run around wildly, shout yourselves hoarse, solve all sorts of problems and challenges, and, best of all, celebrate in some wacky satin bomber jackets. All this, with your friends – who could ask for anything more?

“Brilliant experience. We have played this 3 times - once as a couple, once as friends and once as family. As family we had a full team of 8 but if you are not a full team then you may end up being paired with others. To be honest this is good in a 2 as it gives you a break in between rooms! Had 3 separate hosts and each have been absolutely fantastic.”

bethamari

101 escape rooms