The Great Escape Room
The Great Escape Room
The Great Escape Room
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
The Great Escape Room is a real-life room escape game - a fun, team-building, brain-busting experience! After entering a room with your team, the door is locked behind you. 60 minutes are on the clock! You must work together in order to find clues and solve puzzles to escape. Teamwork and quick thinking are essential in this scavenger hunt/puzzle game hybrid. Open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and by appointment for private events. We are located in the historic Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC (a short walk from the Dupont Circle Metro Station). Looking for a fun, unique group activity? Come to The Great Escape Room for... Corporate Team Building ・Adult Birthday Parties ・Party/Event Venue ・Activities for Families ・Social Activities for Friends ・Date Night ・Office Team Bonding Fun ・School Groups/Field Trips Escape Games ・Escape Rooms ・Breakout Games ・Exit Games ・Panic Rooms ・Puzzle Rooms ・Room Escape Games
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
How to get there
- Dupont Circle • 4 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,390 within 3 miles
Attractions
895 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
105 reviews
Excellent
80
Very good
16
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
4
Adry2379
Miami Beach, FL12 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
The family has done a few of these in different locations and this one has been one of the toughest. We had a fantastic time, and most importantly WE ESCAPED!!! Great family activity. Even my 8 year old daughter participated.
Written July 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Congratulations on your escape - you're in an elite group, be proud! I'm glad your entire family had fun. Thanks for taking the time to review us.
-Tessa
Written November 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Katy S
Herndon, VA14 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
A group of 13 of us (20-somethings) went to The Great Escape Room yesterday. The only escape room I'd done before was with 5 people, so I wasn't sure if 13 would feel like too many. As with most things, it's what you make of it! There were plenty of clues for everyone to find and solve and we all had a great time!
We "escaped" in about 50 minutes - we're told that only 25% of groups escape, not sure if I believe that or not, although I can easily see how a small group could just run out of time to solve all the puzzles.
Love the Sherlock Holmes theme! I think they mentioned a new room or two opening soon at this location, and we would definitely go back for those.
P.S. Check out The Board Room across the street after your visit :)
We "escaped" in about 50 minutes - we're told that only 25% of groups escape, not sure if I believe that or not, although I can easily see how a small group could just run out of time to solve all the puzzles.
Love the Sherlock Holmes theme! I think they mentioned a new room or two opening soon at this location, and we would definitely go back for those.
P.S. Check out The Board Room across the street after your visit :)
Written August 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks, and congratulations! FYI: we aren't bluffing when we say that only about 25% of groups escape (I might even go so far as to suggest that you have smart friends!). We do have a way to adjust our game to smaller groups by removing one of the puzzles, but you're right that it's ideal to bring more people along - there's a lot to solve in one hour!
P.S. Puzzles? Board games? A punny name? As you might guess, The Board Room is a frequent recommendation of ours.
-Tessa
Written November 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pete B
Charlotte, NC48 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Went here on July 4th as a group of four. The room was large enough and had enough clues for a group size much larger than ours. While we were very close to the final solution, in the end we ran out of time. All four of us enjoyed ourselves immensely and would do this again when the scenario changes.
Written July 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review - glad you enjoyed yourselves so much. We will try to keep you updated when we open a new room (you'll escape next time, I believe in you!)
-Tessa
Written November 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joseph Y
Rockville, MD51 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
We discovered escape rooms over the summer, and we have now done 5 total in 4 different cities. Prior to this one, we have really enjoyed every experience -- though some more than others. Tonight, for the first time, we left one feeling disappointed.
First, the positive, Josh, the host, was great -- friendly and interested and nice. Also, the setting is kind of cool, down in a basement near Dupont Circle in DC with a lot of exposed brick walls.
We did the Sherlock's Study puzzle, and it did not measure up to the other rooms we have done. The overall look of the room is shoddy -- looks like its been operating for quite a while without being refreshed. But, that could have be overlooked if the gameplay was fun. The majority of the challenge of the room was locating the clues in a large mass of other stuff and sorting them into the various puzzles. The puzzles themselves were OK, but nothing was inspired or original, and nothing tied into the Sherlock Homes theme at all.
Frankly, we spent 45 minutes looking for stuff and less than 15 minutes solving -- not a fun ratio. Also, missing a couple of items out of over 50 you needed to find was just frustrating and required nothing more than continuously tossing the room -- no brainpower. There was no aha factor, no exhilaration, no ingenuity in the mechanics of the puzzles. If this had been our first escape room, we would have never wanted to do another.
Also, in this escape room, they have a host in the room with you, which I didn't like. It made it feel amateur, like your friend had written an escape room and was watching you do it in his basement -- occasionally helping you out. I have liked the way other locations have handled the monitoring and hinting -- through communication systems and in room cameras/monitors.
Based on what Josh told us, it sounds like their other room, Moriarty's Gameroom, may be newer and better. For their sake, I hope so. It's time to retire this one. Save your money. There are much better places out there.
Would have given it 1 star, if Josh hadn't been so nice.
First, the positive, Josh, the host, was great -- friendly and interested and nice. Also, the setting is kind of cool, down in a basement near Dupont Circle in DC with a lot of exposed brick walls.
We did the Sherlock's Study puzzle, and it did not measure up to the other rooms we have done. The overall look of the room is shoddy -- looks like its been operating for quite a while without being refreshed. But, that could have be overlooked if the gameplay was fun. The majority of the challenge of the room was locating the clues in a large mass of other stuff and sorting them into the various puzzles. The puzzles themselves were OK, but nothing was inspired or original, and nothing tied into the Sherlock Homes theme at all.
Frankly, we spent 45 minutes looking for stuff and less than 15 minutes solving -- not a fun ratio. Also, missing a couple of items out of over 50 you needed to find was just frustrating and required nothing more than continuously tossing the room -- no brainpower. There was no aha factor, no exhilaration, no ingenuity in the mechanics of the puzzles. If this had been our first escape room, we would have never wanted to do another.
Also, in this escape room, they have a host in the room with you, which I didn't like. It made it feel amateur, like your friend had written an escape room and was watching you do it in his basement -- occasionally helping you out. I have liked the way other locations have handled the monitoring and hinting -- through communication systems and in room cameras/monitors.
Based on what Josh told us, it sounds like their other room, Moriarty's Gameroom, may be newer and better. For their sake, I hope so. It's time to retire this one. Save your money. There are much better places out there.
Would have given it 1 star, if Josh hadn't been so nice.
Written November 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sylove77
Washington DC, District of Columbia6 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Had a great time. The facility was clean, staff very courteous. Some of the clues had to be "reset" but the staff gave us extra time.
Written May 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very happy you enjoyed yourselves...thanks for being understanding :) I greatly appreciate your taking the time to review us! -Tessa, General Manager
Written August 25, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sw8080
1 contribution
Aug 2015 • Friends
We had fun working together to get out of this room! It had a good level of difficulty that challenged us. We were able to get out within the time frame given, but it was close!
Written August 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We greatly appreciate you taking the time to review - "fun yet challenging" is exactly what we're going for! We are delighted you enjoyed yourself and found it to be a rewarding experience.
-Tessa
Written November 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amanda R
Vienna, VA5 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
This is a great activity for groups. There's a lot to solve and find in order to escape the room, so even with a larger group, every person plays a role in helping solve the puzzles.
The location is great (just a few blocks north of Dupont metro).
The staff is very friendly and helpful. They offered up hints along the way when we were headed in the wrong direction, and our group was able to escape!
The location is great (just a few blocks north of Dupont metro).
The staff is very friendly and helpful. They offered up hints along the way when we were headed in the wrong direction, and our group was able to escape!
Written June 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review (as one of the first we received, it was especially helpful). We pride ourselves on being a great activity for large groups, and we're thrilled you had so much fun - hope to see you back when we open a new room!
-Tessa
Written November 29, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dawnj0nes
Woodbridge, VA2 contributions
Dec 2018 • Business
This was our company's holiday event and it was, in my opinion, the best one we have ever had! Everyone who participated really seemed to have enjoyed themselves. This was my first time to try something like this and I cannot wait to round up a group of friends to go again!
Written December 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara M
New York City, NY29 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
We hosted a 13th birthday party for my daughter at the Great Escape Room. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and while I didn't participate in the game, the guests couldn't stop talking about how fun it was, and I heard from their parents later that they enjoyed the party. I hope we can go back and do another room as a family.
Written November 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your feedback - we were honored to have helped make your daughter's birthday a success! Thanks again, and come back soon :)
- Tessa (General Manager)
Written January 24, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sarahz923
Wilmington, Delaware2 contributions
Aug 2017 • Business
This was our 2nd corporate event at TGER, and as always, everyone had a great time! Making arrangements with Tessa prior to the event was really easy and she is always a pleasure to work with. On the day of our event, staff was super helpful and friendly. Our group was still talking about their experience and how much fun they had the next day.
Written August 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much :) Your team is always a pleasure to work with, and we hope to see you back next year! It's always wonderful to hear that we were able to make your team's event a memorable experience. Thanks again!
-Tessa
Written January 24, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Is it possible for me to purchase two tickets or a gift card to give as Christmas gifts
Written December 5, 2016
Yes, we do offer gift certificates! Just contact us directly, and we can send you a gift certificate with a code that can be redeemed online!
Written January 19, 2017
can we limit the room to only the 3 people in our group, or are we bundled with strangers to fill the room?
Written April 21, 2016
We do schedule private event bookings, where you can reserve the room for only your group. Contact us directly and we would be happy to arrange that for you! We usually require a minimum purchase of 10 tickets to arrange a private event (but we have some flexibility about that policy).
Otherwise, if you purchase regular tickets on our website, additional people may be joining your team.
The good news is that you can join a pre-existing team if you want to increase your group's size! If you have 3 or fewer people in your group, I would recommend adding to your team by booking tickets for a time slot that a few others have already chosen...you have a better chance of escaping with a few more people on your team.
-Tessa (General Manager)
Written July 1, 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing