Squid Game The Experience Excel Waterfront Excel London

It’s a Tuesday evening, and you’re not doom-scrolling — you’re actually holding your breath in a neon-lit corridor. Welcome to Squid Game: The Experience at the Excel London, a real-life immersion that turns the dystopian Netflix hit into a pulse-raising, oddly cathartic day out. Forget the bridge of glass or the deadly whispers of the Front Man; this is your chance to survive the games with nothing but a few bruises to your pride (and your bank account).

Set within the sprawling Excel Waterfront, this pop-up isn’t just a cash grab — it’s a meticulously designed playground that blends theatre, gaming, and a dash of dark humour. You start in a recreation of the iconic dormitory, complete with numbered tracksuits and bunk beds. The vibe is electric, but don’t get too comfortable; the real test begins when the giant doll, Young-hee, turns her head.

The experience is split into two acts: the eminently Instagrammable games and a high-stakes finale. First, you’ll tackle Red Light, Green Light, where motion sensors track every flinch you make. Then there’s the Dalgona Candy challenge — yes, you get to carve out that umbrella shape with a needle, and yes, snapping the cookie is almost as stressful as the show suggests.

After the schoolyard nostalgia of the playground games, you’re funnelled into a dark corridor and into the Glass Bridge sequence. This isn’t the 18-pane death trap from the series, but a clever, pressure-cooker team challenge that requires you to read your opponents’ micro-expressions. Spoiler: crying foul likely won’t save you, but a good poker face might.

Fun fact: The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, based the Dalgona game on childhood memories of street vendors, but in the experience, broken candy gets you a fast-track to the elimination zone — just without the bullet.

The finale is a high-tech, futuristic room that feels like a set from Black Mirror. It’s a multiplayer battle royale where teamwork and betrayal are your only currencies. The winner gets a golden piggy bank moment — minus the cash, but plus a neat commemorative coin. Don’t worry, everyone leaves with a group photo and a story worth telling at the pub.

Practical Tips for Surviving (and Thriving)

Book your slot for a weekday evening — the Excel Waterfront is quieter then, and you’ll have more room to flail during Red Light, Green Light. Wear flat, comfortable shoes; the floors are hard, and the excitement is very real. Don’t wear a full face of makeup — the sweat and adrenaline are part of the experience.

Arrive 20 minutes early to explore the Waterfront’s sleek bars and eateries. The neighbourhood, Royal Victoria Dock, is a quiet pocket of East London that feels oddly serene after the chaos of the games. Grab a cocktail at the nearby rooftop bar, Clipper Rooftop, for skyline views that will calm your racing heart.

Here’s a pro tip: for the Dalgona challenge, choose a simple shape like a circle or triangle if you’re nervous. The hexagonal umbrella is a trap — you’ll break it faster than a bad relationship. And remember: the staff are actors, so don’t be shy to play along. A little theatrics makes the experience unforgettable.

The Cultural Resonance

Squid Game became a global phenomenon because it weaponised childhood games against the backdrop of capitalist despair. The experience at the Excel London plays with that same tension, but with a lighter touch. You’re not competing for survival; you’re competing for the bragging rights of a perfectly carved candy. It’s genius — it lets you feel the pressure without the permanent consequences.

The Excel itself is a fitting venue: a massive, glassy cavern of trade shows and conventions. It’s a little sterile, but that contrasts perfectly with the raw, human panic of the games. For a few hours, the grey London sky outside fades, and you’re inside a K-drama fever dream.

Fast fact: The red jumpsuits worn by the guards are actually hundreds of screen-worn originals, shipped directly from the show’s Korean production. You can touch them (politely).

The experience runs until early 2025, and tickets start around £39. It’s a solid value for a 90-minute adventure that includes multiple games, photo ops, and a souvenir. Group bookings are cheaper, so gather your most competitive friends — or the ones you’re slightly suspicious of.

Final Reflection

Walking out of that cavernous hall, past the neon guards and into the chilly London evening, you’ll feel oddly light. There’s something about facing fake, life-or-death stakes that makes real life feel less heavy. The commute home, the emails, the small annoyances — they all shrink when you’ve just sprinted across a digital glass bridge.

In a city that often feels like a game of Survival of the Richest, this experience is a cheeky reminder: play is still a human right. Even if you lose the candy challenge, you’ve won a few hours of pure, unapologetic fun. And honestly, that’s better than any briefcase of cash.

So go. Get your green track suit. Fail at Mugunghwa Kkoci Pieot Seumnida. And when you stumble out, grinning like a fool, remember: in the real game of life, you’re already winning just by showing up.