Are you a movie lover? Do you enjoy watching the main characters race against the clock to defuse a bomb or solve a mystery? Or maybe you prefer the chilling fight for survival of a horror film? If the answer to any or all of these questions is yes, then we’re pretty sure that you’ve fantasised about living out your own action adventure at some point. Now you can. Escape rooms are a modern leisure phenomenon in which you are cast in the role of the hero who has to beat the mystery that has been set by the room operators. And when it comes to high quality mysteries, one of the best places in the country is Kent, which has no less than 5 escape rooms on the Enthusiast’s Choice list of best escape room experiences in the UK.

Whatever your preferences are - whether you prefer history or horror, mystery or adventure, sci-fi or fantasy - there’s an escape room in Kent for you. Almost all the towns in this county have centres on the high streets, where you can take a single step from normal surroundings into a dream world. Your brain will be put to the test, your nerves will be rattled, and you could get the fright of your life, but we’re sure you’ll leave with a smile on your face. And the fact that some healthy competition keeps the prices low might turn that smile into a huge grin.

Where are the best escape rooms in Kent?

• Gravesend: The closest of Kent’s escape rooms to London are found here, where a multi-site operator boasts a tasting menu of almost 20 different games. There are horror rooms like Hell House for hardened adventurers, family friendly rooms like the Wizard of Oz for the little ones, and challenging rooms like the Enigma puzzle for real enthusiasts. Some of the rooms are extra large too, to accommodate big groups.

• Medway: A couple of escape room centres in this area make it a popular destination for fans and first timers. The stories that you can take control of take place on a jungle bus tour gone wrong, in the aftermath of an apocalypse, around a serial killer’s cabin in the woods, back in the Victorian era in the company of Charles Dickens - and that’s just to mention a few! There are some games here that are longer than standard, for you to really get your teeth into the action.

• Canterbury: The historic city of Canterbury has several escape room centres, one of them located in a building that dates back to the mediaeval period. The 14th gatehouse and former city jail host, of course, crime and punishment themed games, but also Second World War stories. Other options in the city take their inspiration from Tomb Raider, Kidnapped and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

• Margate: The Pit, which takes you deep into the Earth’s crust, is an award winning escape room. But it’s just one of a multitude on offer in Margate. So if mining isn’t your thing, choose a family friendly after school detention scenario, a science fiction mission in outer space, an adventure with King Arthur, or a mystery in an ancient Egyptian tomb. There are games of different lengths here to suit everyone’s schedules.

• Broadstairs: Not to be outdone by its neighbour Margate, this town also has some highly rated experiences. As well as traditional indoor escape rooms, there are games that take you out into the streets to find the clues that solve the mystery. Or, for the adults, there’s a bank heist game in which your escape will take you through a pub!

• Dover: There’s an old papermill in Dover that boasts a cutting edge escape room facility. You might go on a journey between the stars on the hunt for a new home, or into a morgue where nothing is as it seems. Either way, you’ll have to keep your wits about you to be successful.

• Folkestone: If those don’t catch your attention, perhaps nearby Folkestones’s rooms will be more appealing. Here you can find yourself fighting for your country in a Second World War bunker, or in a case of mistaken identity in the worst place possible - an asylum!

• Royal Tunbridge Wells: This royal town has a royal offering of escape rooms. You can race against rolling boulders a la Indiana Jones, pull off a daring jewellery heist, find a missing DJ or survive a haunted house. This isn’t to be confused with the nearby town of Tonbridge, where games include spying thrillers, Camelot chaos, and seasonal fun at Christmas.

• Maidstone: Child friendly challenges are on offer here - a feline adventure with furry friends and a Christmas Carol of cookies. But grownups are catered for too, with Sherlock Holmes inspired capers and bombing raids as well.

• Ashford: Some of the most original and imaginative escape rooms in Kent are found in Canterbury. We don’t want to give too much away, because no one likes spoilers, but we think you’ll like what you see here.

Requirements to do this activity

Just like the movies, different escape rooms are suitable for different age groups. There are some in Kent which are designed specifically for children of 10 years old or younger, though they might need an adult present, while others would be too scary for kids. 15 years old is often the cut off point.

And like in the best movies, we know that every hero needs a team, or at least a partner, to rely on. Some rooms in Kent have a maximum capacity of 6 people, others 8, and the biggest can accommodate 10 players. An escape room is a great choice for a birthday party, a stag or hen do, or a corporate event - whether the goal is team building or celebrating a job well done.

How long does it take to complete them?

The answer to this one is easy, because it’s not your choice! Each room has a countdown that starts the moment you enter, and it finishes after a certain amount of time if you’ve solved it or not! The most common duration is 1 hour, but it’s also possible to find challenges that last 30 or 90 minutes. In total, your experience will be 15 - 30 minutes longer than the game itself, because you’ll have to sign in and go through a safety briefing before getting stuck into the puzzle.

The mystery is waiting for you, but the only problem to solve now is which to choose.