Geocaching In London

Looking for things to do in London? Need some adventure? Look no further than geocaching, the modern-day treasure hunt that's taking the world by storm. We round up a few of the best geocaches in London.

With more than 10,000 geocaches hidden throughout the capital's diverse and historic landscape, London is one of the best cities in the world for geocaching. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will find something to suit your taste and challenge your skills in The Big Smoke. Here are just a few of the amazing geocaches that can be found in London.

16th Century Pub

For a unique and historical geocaching adventure in the UK, you might want to check out the 16th Century Pub geocache in central London. This virtual cache will take you to one of the oldest and quaintest pubs in London, hidden away in a narrow alleyway near Fleet Street.

The pub was built in 1546 and has been serving beer ever since. It is a timbered building with two cosy bars and a hanging sign with green gemstones. The pub is closed on weekends, but you can still access the front and answer the question required to log this cache.

To find this cache, you will need to look for a very short lamp post showing 1546 and go down the adjacent alleyway. You will feel like you have stepped into a Harry Potter film as you discover this hidden gem of London's history.

The cache owners, The Wombles, have kindly provided some additional hints and information on the cache page. You can also combine your visit here with another nearby cache, St Etheldreda's micro-cache, which is a church built around 1250.

This geocache is a great way to explore London's past and present, and enjoy a pint of ale if you visit during the week. It is rated 2/1 for difficulty and terrain, and has over 1000 favourite points from other geocachers. Don't miss this opportunity to discover one of London's best kept secrets.

Father Thames & The Mermaid

This is a short multi-cache that requires you to visit two locations on the banks of the River Thames. At each location, you will need to find a hidden plaque with a clue that will lead you to the final coordinates. The final cache is only accessible at low tide, so make sure you check the tide times before you go.

Hidden by 83cad, the cache requires you to brave the muddy banks of the River Thames and find a mermaid statue that holds the key to opening a nearby lockbox. The mermaid was created by artist David Wynne and installed in 1973 as part of a series of sculptures along the river.

The cache has a difficulty rating of 3 and a terrain rating of 2, but these may vary depending on the weather and tide conditions. You will need to plan your visit carefully and check the tide tables before you go. You will also need to bring gloves, boots, and a flashlight.

The cache has received over 800 favorite points from geocachers who have enjoyed this unusual experience. 

London Calling 2023

Mark your calendar for Saturday 29th April 2023, when London Calling 2023, the second geocaching mega event in the UK's capital city, will take place at St Mary's Church, Marylebone. It's set to be the largest geocaching event ever held in London, with hundreds of cachers from all over the world attending. There will be games, activities, talks, competitions and more.

The event is organised by London_Calling, a group of local geocachers who hosted London Calling 2021, which was the first mega event in the city. The theme of London Calling 2023 is Sherlock Holmes, the famous fictional detective who lived in Baker Street, near the event venue. The event will feature Sherlock-themed lab caches that will challenge your deductive skills and take you on a tour of some iconic locations from the stories. You will also have the opportunity to buy exclusive Sherlock Signal geocoins, featuring Signal the Frog (the official mascot of geocaching) dressed as Sherlock Holmes.

If you are interested in attending London Calling 2023, you can register your attendance log on the event page on geocaching.com.

Tower Bridge

Selfie faces on! This is a webcam cache that requires you to stand in front of one of London's most iconic landmarks and have your picture taken by a live webcam, as opposed to finding a physical container or logbook. You will need to upload your picture as proof of your visit. The webcam operates 24/7 but it may be busy during peak hours.

To find the cache, you need to go to the coordinates and position yourself in front of the webcam. You can use your smartphone or another device to access the webcam link and see yourself on the screen. You might need to wait for some traffic or pedestrians to clear before you can get a clear shot.

Once you see yourself on the webcam, take a screenshot or snap a photo with another camera. Make sure your face or GPS device is visible and recognisable. Then upload your picture to the cache page and log your visit.

These are just some of the many geocaches that can be found in London. Geocaching is a great way to discover new places, learn new things and have fun with friends and family. If you want to join this global treasure hunt, all you need is a free account on geocaching.com and a GPS device or smartphone with the official Geocaching app.

Happy caching!