In an earlier post about speakeasies, I mentioned my favorite bar as of this writing – The Bletchley. This London speakeasy is quite unique making you order your drinks in code.
Bletchley Park was the British code-breaking establishment where the first computer was built in order to decrypt German messages, which you may remember from the Oscar-nominated film, The Imitation Game (fantastic film, by the way). Before these early computers were used, enigma machines were used for this purpose.
The Bletchley bar takes you back to World War II, London. It is the perfect place to round out a day after visiting the Imperial War Museum or touring the Churchill War Rooms. In true speakeasy style, you must find the location of the bar by entering an alley way to find the back entrance of a building in Chelsea. The entrance to the outside shares a door to the kitchens of the front restaurant. There are no windows on the door to the bar, nor is there any indication of the amazingness that one can find inside. Only the truly curious and adventurous will enter.
Once inside, you are given a WWII-style coat and shown to a cozy table with an enigma machine. You are given puzzles to solve, relevant to WWII. Don’t worry, they vary in difficulty, but even the most difficult are not too challenging. With each puzzle you solve, a new, completely customized drink is brought to your table. The drinks are strong and delicious – tailored to your personal likes and dislikes based on your answers to the questions.
My husband and I had a blast pretending to be Agent Black and Agent Foxtrot (coded as well to indicate allergies), solving puzzles, pretending we were hunkered down in one of the huts of Bletchley Park, solving messages, and getting paid in lavish libations. If you ever find yourself in London, be sure to check this place out!
Do you have a favorite unique place to go? What are your favorite London haunts?
World Wanderer 