Carlisle Castle — The Queen's Secret Letters
Decipher the coded correspondence that sealed Mary Queen of Scots' fate. Uncover the conspiracy that transformed a captive queen into a traitor.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
February 1587
Carlisle Castle — The Queen's Secret Letters
You are a Queen's spy, dispatched to Carlisle in May 1568, on a mission for Elizabeth I.
You arrive at William II's Norman castle, where Mary Queen
Follow in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots, imprisoned for 15 days in this Norman fortress in May 1568.
The story that haunts this land
Carlisle Castle rises before you, a Norman fortress built by William II in 1092 to control England's northern border. Its 10-meter walls and 12th-century keep have witnessed the kingdom's most illustrious prisoners. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here from May 18 to June 2, 1568, the first stage of her English captivity after fleeing Scotland. Within these thick walls, the 25-year-old deposed queen was already writing the letters that would seal her fate, pleading for help from her cousin Elizabeth I that would never come.
Carlisle Cathedral, founded in 1122 as an Augustinian priory, becomes your second investigation point. Elevated to cathedral status in 1133, it houses one of England's largest Gothic windows, 24 meters long. Its vaults echoed with Mary Stuart's prayers during her captivity, less than 500 meters from the castle via The Close. Restored after the 1292 fire that devastated the city, it preserves the tombs of medieval bishops who witnessed these troubled times.
Market Cross stands at the heart of Market Square, an octagonal cross 6.7 meters high erected in 1682 by Christopher Bowman. It replaces a medieval structure from the 14th century, symbol of the market rights granted to Carlisle by Henry II around 1158. 400 meters from the castle, this commercial crossroads witnessed rumors about the royal prisoner. Cumbria merchants spread court news here, turning each market day into a popular tribunal on Mary Stuart's fate.
Eden Bridge leads you to the banks of the River Eden, a stone bridge rebuilt in 1812-1815 after floods. Its 5 arches spanning 120 meters cross waters that have seen the historic A7 route pass since the 18th century. 800 meters from the starting point, this strategic passage connected the historic center to the southern lands. Mary Stuart perhaps contemplated these waters from the castle windows, dreaming of an escape to France that would never come.
Your investigation closes on the secrets Carlisle has kept for 450 years. Between Tullie House Museum, a former Jacobite mansion from 1716 transformed into a museum, and The Citadel, Henry VIII's 24-meter-high fortifications, you have retraced the 15 days that changed England's history. Mary Stuart's letters, real or forged, would precipitate her downfall in 1587. Carlisle remains the stone witness to this royal captivity, first prison of a queen who would never see Scotland again.
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
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?
Two Rival Queens
Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I, cousins and enemies, in a political duel that lasted nineteen years
Codes and Plots
Secret correspondence, ciphers and double agents in Counter-Reformation Europe
Scottish Border
Carlisle, strategic gateway between England and Scotland, stage of royal captivity
Parcourez les lieux secrets de la correspondance de Marie Stuart
De sa première prison anglaise à l'échafaud de Fotheringhay
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 marie stuart prisonniere? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Follow in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots, imprisoned for 15 days in this Norman fortress in May 1568.
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 Carlisle
See all games in Carlisle→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Walsingham's Secret — Uncover the Spy's Confession
Decode the hidden letters in Walsingham's pilgrimage sites to expose the conspiracy that cost a queen her life. Decipher the Babington Plot before the spymaster's trap closes.
Carlisle Barracks — Uncover the Boarding School Secrets
Uncover the hidden truths and buried secrets of the Carlisle Indian Boarding School. Decode clues across the barracks to expose the suppressed stories of lost children and forbidden rituals that echo through the historic grounds.
Other escape games in Angleterre
View Angleterre→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in Angleterre
Vindolanda
Roman fort at the edge of the Empire
Hadrian's Wall
In the footsteps of Roman legions
Durham
Medieval city, between castle and cathedral
Lindisfarne
The sacred island of Celtic monks
Haworth
Home of the Brontë sisters and mysterious moors
Whitby
Birthplace of Dracula and Gothic legends