Ely — Hereward's Last Stand
Uncover the hidden truth behind Hereward's defiant rebellion against Norman rule. Decipher coded messages left by the Anglo-Saxon resistance and expose the conspiracy that nearly toppled the Conqueror's grip on England.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
1071
Ely — Hereward's Last Stand
You are Hereward's trusted messenger, tasked with a critical secret mission on the Isle of Ely in 1071.
Your arrival at Porta Gate, the medieval fortified entrance controlling access
Follow in the footsteps of Hereward the Wake, the last Anglo-Saxon hero who defied William the Conqueror from the fortified island of Ely in 1070-1071.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
« Hereward sent off messengers to Crowland, warning all to be ready to escape into the fens; and entreating Ulfketyl to empty his storehouses into his barges »— Charles Kingsley, Hereward, The Last of the English, Chapter 26, 1866
The story that haunts this land
Ely rises in the heart of the East Anglian fens like a naturally fortified island, a strategic position that allowed Hereward the Wake to resist the Normans from 1070 to 1071. From Porta Gate, one of the two medieval access gates to the town, you enter what was the last free Anglo-Saxon territory in England. The adjacent College, residence of canons since the 14th century, testifies to the ecclesiastical wealth that financed this heroic resistance against William the Conqueror.
Ely Cathedral, begun in 1083 and consecrated in 1189, raises its central nave 25 meters high on the site of the abbey that sheltered the rebels. Its unique octagonal Lantern, an architectural masterpiece of 1322-1328 reaching 170 feet, marks the spot where Hereward organized the island's defense. The Romanesque and Perpendicular Gothic styles tell the story of Ely's evolution after the Anglo-Saxon hero's fall, transformed into an episcopal seat by the Norman conquerors.
Market Place preserves the spirit of the medieval administrative center established in the 12th century, where Hereward gathered his men to coordinate resistance. The 15th-18th century buildings surrounding it testify to Ely's recovered prosperity after the conquest troubles. Here alliances with other Anglo-Saxon resistance centers were negotiated, in this strategic control zone that Hereward's forces held firmly in 1070-1071.
The Quayside on the River Great Ouse reveals Ely's major defensive asset: control of waterways through the marshes. From this historic port, Hereward sent his messengers toward Crowland to prepare evacuation into the fens, according to Charles Kingsley's testimony. The marsh landscapes still visible from Jubilee Gardens preserve the natural environment that allowed the Anglo-Saxon hero to escape Norman pursuit, using his intimate knowledge of these low, floodable lands.
Ely Museum gathers archaeological remains of this resistance epic, the last page of Anglo-Saxon England before normalization imposed by William the Conqueror. Your journey through the Isle of Ely has brought to life those dramatic months of 1070-1071 when one man and his faithful held in check the most powerful war machine of the medieval era. More than a simple rebellion, Hereward embodied the soul of a people refusing to disappear, a living legend carved in every stone of this fenland city.
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Guerrilla in the Fens
Uncover Hereward's cunning tactics, from canoe warfare to marshland ambushes.
Norman Architecture
Examine the details of Ely Cathedral, a symbol of new power and medieval ingenuity.
Forgotten Chronicles
Gather clues to reconstruct the tale of the last Anglo-Saxon resistance.
Freedom is never given, it is taken.
Inspired by the bravery of Hereward the Wake
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play le secret de hereward? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Follow in the footsteps of Hereward the Wake, the last Anglo-Saxon hero who defied William the Conqueror from the fortified island of Ely in 1070-1071.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Angleterre
View Angleterre→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in Angleterre
Cambridge
University city of excellence, blending history and innovation.
London
Historic, royal and vibrant
Greenwich
Where time and the world converge
Lincoln
At the heart of medieval England
Nottingham
On the trail of Robin Hood, between legends and mysteries
Coventry
Medieval past, modern rebirth: a city of resilience