I hadn’t heard the theme tune in years, but the second it played during our game briefing, something in my brain lit up like the Crystal Dome. Suddenly I was a kid again, sitting in front of the TV watching Richard O'Brien make his signature quips, and wondering if I could one day master the Aztec Zone.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and here I am, about to live out that childhood dream at The Crystal Maze Live Experience in London. You can taste the nostalgia before you’ve even stepped inside. They play clips from the original 90s show during the intro, the montage flashing O’Brien’s grin across the screen like a call to adventure. For anyone who grew up watching the show, it’s instant serotonin.
Next thing you know, your game host has arrived, and you’re running (literally) to the first zone. Instantly the adrenaline is up and you’re ready to play.
What to expect at The Crystal Maze Live Experience
The zones are true to the original show, and the games come thick and fast. Logic puzzles, physical challenges, and a moment of panic when you think you’re going to get locked in the room.
As a team, you choose who will complete each challenge, and the rest of you can watch through windows and shout advice (however unhelpful) just like in the real thing. It’s lively, intensely fun, and totally bonkers. One of my favourite things about the whole experience was working together with my team. It doesn’t really matter who plays each game, as you all get to be involved, and no one ever feels left out.
The experience starts in the Medieval zone, then we ‘time travelled’ to the Futuristic Zone, climbed down a steampunk ladder into the Industrial Zone, and slid (down an actual drop slide) into the Aztec Zone.
One of the best bits? The Aztec Zone isn’t just inspired by the show, it’s the real set. The actual one. And you can feel it. There’s sand under foot, bright studio lights, and the sensation that you’ve actually stepped into the TV. Cue more games, and more chaos.
Everything at The Crystal Maze Live Experience has been recreated with beautiful attention to detail. The Futuristic Zone glows like a disco spaceship (as did our Games Master in her silver jumpsuit and metallic trainers); the Medieval Zone smells faintly of damp castle walls and stress. Our Games Master kept up the banter, narrating our every move in gloriously overblown fashion and running frantically between games. It’s theatre disguised as a game show, and everyone’s the star.
The grand finale: the Crystal Dome
By the time you enter the Crystal Dome at the end, wind machines roaring, tickets swirling, adrenaline pumping, you’ve forgotten you’re in central London. It’s pure joy. You grab for those shiny tokens like your life depends on it, fully aware that you look ridiculous, and not caring one bit.
Then, after all the running, shouting and intense teamwork, you emerge grinning, breathless, and wondering how many points you got. The final treat? Donning those iconic bomber jackets and posing for a group photo like the winners you are.
Thankfully, getting to the venue by train is the easiest part. Hop on a Thameslink train and get off at Blackfriars. From there, you can either walk, catch a bus, or jump on the Tube to the venue on Shaftesbury Avenue. The best bit is that you can get 50% off your tickets when you travel by train and download a voucher, which feels like winning a crystal before you’ve even started.
Is the Crystal Maze Live Experience worth visiting?
If you grew up watching The Crystal Maze, this experience is basically a love letter to your younger self. The design, atmosphere, music, it all hits that sweet spot between nostalgia and adrenaline. It’s immersive, unpredictable, and just the right amount of ridiculous.
And if you didn’t grow up with it? You’ll still have a blast. Because even without the 90s references, there’s something wildly satisfying about a day spent running through themed zones solving puzzles and bonding with your team.
Afterwards, head to the on-site bar for a drink and a debrief. If you’re still buzzing after all that, wander down to the river to cool off by the Thames before getting back on the train from Blackfriars.
The real joy of The Crystal Maze Live Experience is that it makes you feel something rare in London: unfiltered, giddy fun. It’s silly and theatrical and unapologetically nostalgic. It’s like an escape room on steroids. For an hour or two, you get to be a kid again, shouting to your teammates, chasing plastic crystals, and solving puzzles that have no business being that fun. I already want to do it again.
