"If you had taken me on this when I was younger, I would've cried the whole way through" - this is how I've opened my story of the Alice's Adventures Underground experience to everyone I've spoken to. We had an amazing time, but my god this place sticks to the 'original' Alice = totally mind altering!
Located in Waterloo Vaults, you first enter into a bar and merchandise area, at which point you're asked to check your coat and bag in. There is a bar available but, having been to Cubana for a happy hour cocktail beforehand, we were just ready to get started. This is also the opportunity to pre-order your drinks for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party if you so wish - white or red wine, or a gin and cucumber cocktail at £5 a pop.
The experience itself is hard to describe, partly because there's just so much going on your brain can hardly comprehend and partly because I don't want to ruin anything for those who want to attend in the near future. Four different stories unfold alongside one another, culminating in a huge court scene with the ferocious queen and interspersed with all the well known characters.
The Mad Hatter's Tea Party was a personal favourite (and not just for the opportunity to sit down!) - the characters are all very well played, the right balance between scary and comfortingly familiar. Plus the look on people's faces when the scene begins again is something of a picture...worth swotting up if you want to know what's to come!
The final bar is where you can revel in the success of escaping this twisting world, with a brilliant little band, bar and hot food available. There's a maze and some flamingo croquet for activities, and plenty of alcohol available. You can re-enter this area throughout its run this summer with your SUIT card, issued earlier in the evening, and worth visiting if you know someone who possess something so powerful.
Why four stars? Giving in our bags as recommended rendered us purse-less, so that last area was a bit of a let down - once you exit, there's no re-entry on the day, so it was a quick nose around and then out again. Coming out at £50 a ticket, you'd also think that perhaps that the tea party drink could be on the house.
Whether you go for 'eat me' or 'drink me', I recommend the Alice's Adventures Underground Experience. Just, please, don't eat the jam tarts! read more