A unique escape room experience has opened in an iconic Lake District building.
The Armitt: Museum, Gallery and Library in Ambleside has launched a new escape room in a box experience in the town’s famous 17th century tiny Bridge House.
Unlike a typical escape room, instead of trying to get out of a room, players have to solve puzzles and find clues to try and get into a large locked box – all while being ‘trapped’ inside the Lake District’s most photographed building.
The Armitt has been managing and operating the Bridge House since 2022 and hosts both walk and talk events from the museum and now The Bridge House Mystery escape box experience in the building.
Inspired by the true Rigg family, who lived in the Bridge House in the 19th century with six children, players must work to solve a fictional story of how the family mysteriously disappeared.
The game is based on the real life function of the house over the years so players can learn more about the history of Ambleside as they play.
Over the years the Bridge House has been used as an apple store, a cobblers, as a place to sell paintings, a tea room, weaving shop, a counting house and a chair makers shop.
Players get 90 minutes to unlock the box and solve the mystery and is suitable for families, friends and colleagues. It is open to those aged eight and above and is for two to four players.
Faye Morrissey, manager and curator of The Armitt, said: “The Bridge House is the most photographed building in the Lake District and we’re privileged to have the opportunity to bring this new experience to the visitors of Ambleside.
“If you’ve always wondered what it was like inside the tiny house, now you can not only see it for yourself, but you can interact with our escape room in a box activity.
“Come rain or shine, this will be the experience to do when in the town.”
The escape box project has received funding from the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and administered by Westmorland & Furness Council’s Thrive with Arts, Heritage and Culture fund.
The museum also runs a Beatrix Potter themed escape box experience.
