Southend-on-Sea is a surprising place to find multiple escape rooms, and even more so to find a bit of a horror theme. Whether you're looking for the safety of a franchise in Escape Live, the live actor frights from Room Escape Southend or the big show from Hide and Shriek, there's plenty to appeal. Head down to Southend - there's nothing to be frightened of...

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Hide and Shriek: Alien Escape

Very disappointing puzzles but excellent set and theatrics. If you think of this as an escape room you’ll likely be disappointed. If you treat it as a scare attraction I think you’ll enjoy.

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Live Escape Essex: Dr Wilson's Office

A solid room with a decent theme but let down by some not very exciting puzzles. Worth playing if you’re in the area but not one I’d travel to.

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Live Escape Essex: Room 13

A room with a slight scare factor that shouldn’t put you off. Good theming but let down a bit by basic puzzles.

Hide and Shriek: Dead Centre

A fun, one hour zombie experience set in a working shopping centre. Plenty of zombies, lots of different scenes, good use of the space and a fitting finale.

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Room Escape Southend: Zombie Outbreak

An adrenaline rush of a game. On theme from before you even enter the room and an outstanding performance from the zombie, but let down by the puzzles.