Quick Start
The whole game in four moves.
Seekers wait at the start point while hiders get 45 minutes to travel.
HIDDEN.The clock starts. Seekers can move and ask clue questions in WhatsApp.
Hiders answer honestly. Seekers use Google Maps and allowed transport.
Record survival time. If nobody finds them by 22:00, score to 22:00.
Setup
Decide these before the first hider leaves.
Official game record for HIDDEN, questions, answers, pauses and FOUND.
Pick one public, in-bound station or square for the first wait and later regrouping.
Each team hides once. Longest survival time wins.
45 minutes unless all teams agree otherwise before play starts.
Map + Boundary
Use the Google My Maps board on phones. The packaged HTML map is the local backup.
The filled Zone 1+2 polygon and the red boundary line itself.
Must be clearly in bounds. Ambiguous entrances, edges and half-in buildings are invalid.
You may briefly pass outside the polygon while riding allowed public transport, but you cannot board, alight, transfer, wait or hide outside it.
The KML decides boundary disputes. If still unclear, rule against the team that created the ambiguity.
Hiding
A valid spot is boringly legal: public, reachable, open, in bounds and connected.
Outdoor public places, station ticket halls before barriers, public lobbies, shopping centres and arcades.
No paid entry, bookings, memberships, resident access, staff permission, hotels, offices, gyms, cinemas, theatres or events.
Indoor spots must be open to the public until the hard stop. Unknown or unclear hours are invalid.
No platforms, fare-paid areas, trains, buses, lifts, tunnels, basements or dead-signal areas as final spots.
HIDDEN: stay within 10 m. Move only for safety, staff instructions, toilet/medical needs or phone signal, and post it in WhatsApp.
Questions
Questions should locate the hiders, not create debates.
Use walking distance only if the question explicitly says walking distance.
- Phone: long-press a blank point in Google Maps, tap Measure distance, move to the second point, then tap Add point.
- Desktop: right-click the start point, choose Measure distance, then click the destination.
Yes/no, nearest station, straight-line distance, nearby public place, or a safe photo clue.
Hiders answer literally and honestly within 3 minutes. If unclear, ask for clarification.
Google Maps for map, route, place, review, opening-hour and measuring information. TfL pages for status and fares.
No AI tools, ChatGPT, general web search, Street View, satellite view, live location, Find My, Snap Map, AirTags, metadata or outside help.
Found + Scoring
No physical tagging. No chasing. Keep it clean.
A seeker is within 10 m, can identify both hiders, and posts FOUND in WhatsApp.
Full minutes from HIDDEN to FOUND. If not found by 22:00, score to 22:00.
Hiders reveal exact location. Everyone regroups. Next hider team starts.
Each team hides once. Longest survival time wins.
Transport
Public scheduled transport is fair. Private or personally controlled transport is not.
- Allowed: walking, Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, PAYG National Rail, TfL buses, trams, River Bus and Cable Car.
- Not allowed: taxis, Uber/Bolt, private cars, lifts from friends, bikes, e-bikes, scooters, skateboards, tour buses and sightseeing cruises.
- Payment: use the same contactless card/device or Oyster all day. River Bus and Cable Car may cost extra.
Safety
Real life beats the game.
- Obey staff, security, police, transport rules and venue rules immediately.
- No running in stations, across roads, on platforms, near water, on escalators or through crowds.
- No trespassing, climbing, barriers, rooftops, construction sites, emergency exits or staff-only areas.
- Do not block doors, gates, stairs, pavements, platforms, crossings or shop entrances.
- For injury, lost player, dead phone/payment issue, serious disruption or security problem, post
PAUSE - emergency.
Sources + Notes
This is a simplified London adaptation, not an official Jet Lag rulebook. Check TfL status and fares on the game day.