The briefing
Agent X has gone rogue (that means they’ve turned from a goodie into a baddie) and they’ve escaped with top secret intel. Namely: the recipe for the King’s favourite biscuits.
We’ve traced their last known location to a capsule on the London Eye. Your mission is to board The Eye and scan the city collecting clues. Locate their whereabouts before the time runs out!
Quick – the King is about to have his cup of tea.
What you’ll need for your mission
An agent name: Pick your favourite number and stick 00 in front of it.
Equipment:
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Your super spy vision or a pair of binoculars.
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A grown up – yes unfortunately they have to tag along too. But, they're very useful for holding snacks and obtaining the next item on your equipment list which is...
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...A London Pass – flash this to get entry to all the places you’ll be investigating!
Secret spy clothes: Undercover tourist attire only. Shorts, t-shirt – preferably an ‘I love London’ one – and a map flapping in the wind.
Time limit: You’ll have 30 minutes to complete your mission – enough for a full rotation of the spy capsule. Stay alert, stay safe, stay in the capsule (well, let’s be honest, you can’t get off).
Just a casual tourist doing some sightseeing – nothing to see here!
Phase 1: Locate potential suspects
Agent X is undercover and trying to blend in with the crowd while they’re on route to their next location. Can you spot any of these common disguises? Which one do you think is our agent?
A tourist with a selfie stick
The classic way to blend in. It’s not a selfie stick, it’s a tracking device for a getaway vehicle. Are they doing a silly pout? It could be Agent X.
An ice cream seller
A common way for hungry agents to lay low while eating all the mint choc chip. One minute they’re making a Mr Whippy, the next they’re hopping onto a speedboat. Are they being stingy with the scoops? It’s a clear sign.
A giant pigeon
This masterful disguise is one only a top agent would use. Can you see any particularly big pigeons? Do they look like they’re hailing a taxi? It could be the one.
Phase 2: Log enemy movement
Once you’ve identified a possible suspect, you need to look out for an undercover vessel – they’ll be using this to get to their hideout. Look around now – what can you see?
Suspicious boat on the river
Any Thames Clippers sailing beneath you? Spies use these to whizz across the water, mainly because of the onboard café.
A sightseeing bus
See an open-top Big Bus bus? Spies love to hide amongst the tourists and then leap out when they get to their secret hideout.
A Santander Cycle
Spot a rack of red bikes? Any minute now, Agent X might jump onto one of these to weave through traffic.
Phase 3: Identify spy hideouts
Crack the codes and locate these places where our agent could be heading. Scrutinise them all with your super spy vision– what’s the best hideout and why?
HET DARSH – clue: a very sharp building. Could be used as a spy antenna.
TS PLAU’S – clue: a dome that could double as a spy HQ, or a posh fruit bowl.
GIB NEB – clue: tick tock. This timely location has chimes that could be used as signals.
EHT HGREINK – clue: found in burgers, could be used for salad-themed surveillance.
Mission complete!
You’ve come to some clever conclusions junior spy, so who could it be? The giant pigeon riding a Santander Cycle to the Gherkin? The ice cream seller speeding away in a boat to St Paul’s?
Well come on then, your time is nearly up! Get ready to depart the capsule and head straight to the hideout. Good luck agent and well done.
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