Memento Mori: A Camden Mystery

Time is precious. Victorian Londoners treasured Memento Mori - keepsakes to remind them to rejoice in living each day well because who knows when one's time might run out.

In Camden Town, someone's clock has been prematurely, and permanently, stopped: a killer is on the loose. Are you and your friends the ones to bring them to justice? Dust off your deerstalker and gather a gang of capable hands as you plunge into an immersive murder mystery. Explore one of London's most colourful corners to discover clues, meet characters and solve puzzles. To succeed, you'll uncover the past, revel in the present, and anticipate the future. You won't have long though - this is a race against the clock. Turn in your evidence in time; don't be... Late.

The Camden Watch Company have teamed up with immersive game designers A Door In A Wall to create a unique event inspired by their Memento Mori edition and the highlights and history of Camden. The game lasts 90 minutes and will run on afternoons and evenings across Friday 31 August, Saturday 1 September and Sunday 2 September. Memento Mori is designed as a team experience and we recommend you assemble a group of 3-6 detectives. It is advised you wear some comfortable shoes and that at least one person in the team has a charged smartphone.

About Camden Watch Company:

Designed in London by Anglo-Swiss watch designers, each timepiece by The Camden Watch Company has been meticulously sketched, reworked and refined until just right.

From the Victorian pocket watch inspired No. 29, taken from Camden’s strong railway heritage, to the turquoise-blue seconds hand of the No. 88, based on the iconic ‘Camden Lock’ bridge, each watch has a story to tell.

We believe that great design and high quality doesn’t have to cost the earth, and that excellent customer service shouldn’t be a plus, it should be a given.

The Camden Watch Company.

Not For One But For All.

About the Memento Mori line:

This is a watch that Anneke has dreamt of designing ever since she and Jerome started The Camden Watch Company. Obsessed with details and the idea of storytelling through design, Anneke set out to create to perfect blend of Victorian darkness and modern day optimism. And so, The Camden Watch Company Memento Mori was born.

Hugely popular amongst the Victorians, a Memento Mori is a tangible reminder of human mortality.

A reminder that - no matter who you are or where you’re from - one thing remains the same, the unavoidable inevitability of death.

A morbid thought for the modern mind, and yet one that is intended as quite the opposite. There to remind us, lest we forget, that every day is precious and that nothing should be taken for granted.

Memento Mori. Remember you must die.

Why this event?

Here at The Camden Watch Company, we can’t resist a good story. From our bare-knuckle boxer Tom Sayers limited edition, to our keepsake Memento Mori, storytelling is a huge part of what we do.

Stories can cross boundaries, they can span the ages, create communities and turn strangers into friends. So when we were looking for ways to spread the word about our Memento Mori watch, the choice seemed simple.

Let’s tell a story.

But let’s not just tell any old story, let’s make it a full on immersive event that you can truly lose yourself in. One full of intrigue, twists and details for the eagle eyed participant.

A modern day mystery with a Victorian kick.

And luckily for us, we knew just who to call...

- Anneke and Jérôme, Founders of The Camden Watch Company

FAQs

How does the game work?

On arrival at the secret starting location, we'll check your tickets and get your team registered. You’ll meet a curious character who will give tell you about the mystery and give you all the tools you’ll need to start your investigations.

Provided you’re on time, you’ll then have up to an hour to follow three trails of clues and explore Camden Town: solving puzzles, interacting with characters and collecting clues. Once the time is up, head upstairs at The Camden Eye where you'll have some time to make sense of what you've found and solve the mystery. We'll mark your answers, reveal the truth and give out the all-important prizes.

Where is the venue?

You’ll be starting in a secret location on the streets of Camden Town, to be revealed to you by email shortly before the date of the game. The game will finish upstairs at local institution the Camden Eye on Kentish Town road, a beautiful Victorian pub with an eyrie of a private room upstairs - along with some fantastic food and drink of course.

What time does it start?

We’ll be running Memento Mori seventeen times across the weekend. Games begin on Friday night, and throughout the day and evening on Saturday and Sunday. The game lasts 90 minutes, and runs every 1h15. See full timings below:

Friday 31st August

18:00 - 19:30
19:15 - 20:45
20:30 - 22:00

Saturday 1st September

13:00 - 14:30
14:15 - 15:45
15:30 - 17:00
16:45 - 18:15
18:00 - 19:30
19:15 - 20:45
20:30 - 22:00

Sunday 2nd September

13:00 - 14:30
14:15 - 15:45
15:30 - 17:00
16:45 - 18:15
18:00 - 19:30
19:15 - 20:45
20:30 - 22:00

What should I bring?

Other than your wits? A charged smartphone and a pen will come in handy, as will some insightful friends. We’d recommend attire appropriate for exploring the streets of Camden too.

This is a team game?

Yes. We suggest a team size of 3-5, but there are no formal limits. You can play as a couple, or a larger group if you wish. This game could be played as a solo adventure but it's way more fun playing with other people. Note that we don't arrange people into teams ourselves so make sure you've organised a team to play with before booking!

Do all members of a team have to book their tickets together?

No. How you arrange teams on the day is not dictated by how the tickets were purchased.

I have a big group (20+) that all want to play together, can we?

Yes. Drop us a line directly and we'll see if we can arrange a group booking for you. You'll still want to split into smaller teams though.

Will there be food and drink available?

Certainly. While you’ll be out and about running your investigations for the first hour of the game, you’ll be based at the Camden Eye for the finale. There you can eat and drink to your heart’s content while you put together the evidence.

What’s the closest station?

Camden Town, on the Northern Line. Chalk Farm and Mornington Crescent are also nearby.

How do I win?

Once the time outdoors gathering evidence is over, you will be invited to answer questions on the case. The team whose answers score the highest will win the game.

Can I bring children?

Unfortunately the game is for over 18s only. The game is pitched at an adult level of difficulty and parts of the game may include adult humour and language.