Did you know that Monopoly has been played all over the world since 1903?
For those who don’t know what Monopoly is. It is a multi-player property themed board game. The game involves players rolling two dice to move around the board, buying and trading properties, and developing them into houses and hotels. Players can collect rent from their opponents. Money can also be gained or lost through Chance, Community Chest and the Tax square. Players can also end up in jail. The ultimate goal of the game though is to buy as many locations possible, build properties on them as to charge rent and make other players bankrupt.
Now you can play Monopoly unlike you have ever played it before, this time in REAL LIFE as you walk around the board, buy property, build houses but you will for sure be wanting to avoid being sent to jail!
I was lucky enough to be invited along to the press night of Monopoly Lifesized in which I took along a few friends of mine to compete against other teams as we travelled around a board of Monopoly.
Question is did we end up broke or rich, what you think?
Monopoly Lifesized
Hasbro and Gamepath Entertainment have combined forces and now bring to London a lifesized Monopoly in which you can physically walk around the board, collect real estate, charge people rent and play games to gain extra money.
Located in the heart of London, Monopoly Lifesized is an immersive, on your feet version of the world’s favourite classic game.
Walk around a 15m x 15m lifesized board, buy properties, buildings, and compete in one of a kind challenges for your chance to buy even more properties or gain extra money.
- Monopoly Lifesized is a 4D immersive experience.
- Choose from one of the four lifesized boards – Luxury, Classic, City and Junior.
- Play along and be guided with real life actors.
- Choose and be guided with your chosen playing piece be it woofing around the board like a dog or speeding around like a car.
- Compete against others in this 80 minute immersive game.
- Play a variety of challenge rooms to buy properties.
Question is which playing piece would you want?
The Top Hat Restaurant and Bar
Plus before or after a game of Monopoly you can grab a bite to eat at The Top Hat Restaurant and Bar which all the food and drinks are inspired by the famous London Monopoly board.
Their dining menu is a quintessentially British serving small plates all which uses ingredients which are sourced from across the British countryside and the sea.
Enjoy such classics such as a Roast, Stuffed Pork Belly & Apple Sauce, Wye Valley Lamb with Minted Jus and Fish & Chips.
They also serve a range of house cocktails, spirits and alcohol free drinks.
Travelling around a Monopoly board for REAL
I was invited down to the press night to enjoy a game of Monopoly like never before as we become part of the board as we physically travel around the board. We all came within teams of four of our own friends in which we then played again three other teams. I assume that on a normal day you might have to play also along with strangers who might not be part of your group of friends and family.
Firstly before I tell you anymore about Monopoly Lifesized here are some interesting facts I discovered about Monopoly.
- Charles Darrow first developed Monopoly back in 1933
- Monopoly originally was made with out of a oilcloth, wooden moulding scraps and handwritten cards.
- The game was based on Atlantic City, New Jersey, US.
- Monopoly’s official birthday is celebrated on March 19, every year. That is when Parker Brothers acquired the rights for the game from Charles Darrow, the original inventor of the game.
- The original game included 10 metal tokens recommended by Darrow’s nieces. These included a iron, lantern, thimble, shoe, purse, top hat, racecar, battleship, cannon and a rocking horse.
- The original Monopoly game was sold for about $2.
- Currently, there are over 300 licensed versions of Monopoly games, available across the globe, sold by Hasbro. These include special sports and movie Monopoly games, a Braille edition and even some limited editions.
- The longest ever game of Monopoly played at home was played for 70 straight days.
- The first digital edition of Monopoly was launched back in 2008 as a mobile game for the iPhone.
Ship Ahoy
Monopoly life is pretty much what you would expect. It is a 19 inch square board which has been blown up to lifesized 15 metre square board but not exactly the same as there are a lot fewer property squares to land on.
There are four different versions to choose: Classic, City, Luxury and Junior. I was gifted the chance to experience the City board along with my friends.
Upon entering the doors of Monopoly Lifesized I was greeted by Mr Monopoly himself and some of the classic playing pieces.
First thing first was to learn the rules, and head on into a lobby area in which we got to meet Mr Monopoly and real-life actors who are dressed up as playing pieces. The characters (playing pieces) we had on offer was a dog, duck, thimble and battleship. We don’t unfortunately get to choose which playing piece we want as Mr Monopoly has a set of cards in which we blindly choose from. So in our case we pulled the card which revealed we would be partnered with the Battleship to steam us around the board. After knowing which playing piece we would get, we are then swiftly lead to the life-sized board of Monopoly.
Given a large dice it was time for us to roll our way to riches. Standing in the centre of the board there are iconic street names dotted around with doors. After a few rolls you soon get yourself fully immersed into the world of Monopoly as you open doors and take on themed challenges relating to that street. As unlike a normal game of Monopoly instead of just paying for a property if you land on it, to gain it you have to play challenges or missions even if you want to buy a house or hotel. There is even a life size jail which thankfully we never got sent to.
Without giving too much away within certain challenges behind the doors we played a game which was similar to battleships, restacked shelves of teddies, had to rearrange animal skulls, bashed buttons along to music and even had a dance off. So there is a great mix of games which involves not just brain power but also skill and physicality.
Also there are a number of opportunities to win money or special cards such as Get Out of Jail by playing Chance mini games or play a Community mini game to win a house or hotel. There was memory games to be had, stacking blocks, building houses, even a trivia to take part in.
After just over an hour of rolling, travelling the board and buying property plus houses it was time to see who has purchased the most properties, houses & hotels and has the most money. Alas though we came last as we only managed to secure one property and got one house, where as other players had several properties under their belts and full of houses & hotels!
Also for those who just love Monopoly there is a small merchandise shop in which you can buy a t-shirt, mug, magnets, special themed Monopoly board game and so much more.
Bite to eat
Plus if you are looking for a bite to eat then you might want to check out The Top Hat restaurant which shakes up cocktails and serves British cuisine which are all themed on the many famous streets of London from Deptford to Mayfair.
We got to sample a few dishes such as tempura vegetables, rosemary triple cooked chips and pigs in blankets.
Plus the cocktails were fab I especially loved the Mayfair cocktail which consisted of Chambord, fruity.
All the food and cocktails were exceptional, so tasty and great for sharing. I definitely give it 5 out of 5.
Verdict
Overall, the experience is fun but very fast-paced so time goes quickly.
However as much as I enjoyed the whole experience unfortunately our experience was a little spoilt as the actor we got whom played our playing piece of the Battleship was a little too serious, and not very helpful unlike the other characters who seemed to be very bubbly and helping the teams they were paired up with. She did not even explain the instructions clearly when it came to playing some of the challenging games we faced in the rooms.
Also I feel that even thought the concept is a fun one and the games were fun I just don’t see how a £60 price tag justifies the time we get playing Monopoly especially as we only get to play a handful of games throughout the experience. So with that said I would only go back and play one of another lifesized game of Monopoly if the price came down dramatically.
To sum up Monopoly, it is basically an oversized board of Monopoly (with less squares) and escape room combined in one.
Recommend if you are looking for a great group event to do together.
Question is will you end up being broke or rich as Mr Monopoly himself?
Monopoly Lifesized are you ready to play
Monopoly Lifesized
213-15 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7PS
Complete challenges, build houses, charge rent, escape jail and even control London’s waterworks as you travel around the lifesized board earning as much money as you can by completing escape room style challenges.
LUXURY BOARD – Hustle your way through a range of stealth-based challenges
CITY BOARD – Take to the streets as your team hurtles through our London landmark-inspired challenge rooms.
CLASSIC BOARD – Relive your favourite Monopoly memories on their lifesized board as you race against the clock to complete exciting challenges.
JUNIOR BOARD – Compete against family as you take on challenging missions.
| Click here to book your game now. |
Thanks to Monopoly Lifesized for letting me and my friends travel London unlike ever before. All views are my own opinion.
“I love going out discovering new and existing restaurants, theatres, immersive experiences and so much more but I also love staying in and discovering new gadgets, gaming and cooking.
