Cave Escape: Carfax

By | March 20, 2019

by Cave Escape (website)

63 Mansfield Road, NG1 3FN

Nottingham

2-5 players

Languages: EN

60 minutes

Deaf friendly - contact the venue for details
Your eyes begin to focus through the dull light. The croak and groan of the Russian cargo ship, The Demeter, makes you feel uneasy. You sense that a terrible event has occurred - the crew are missing, presumed dead. Only the body of the Captain is later recovered, found horrifically bound to the helm of the vessel.
You have been called upon by Professor Abraham Van Helsing, the noted Dutch Metaphysician and his former student, Dr. John Seward who's patient, the aristocrat - Lucy Westenra, is presenting a series of bizarre symptoms. She seems to be drawn under the power of an unknown force which yolks her strength, day by day. What is causing her decline and could it be in some way connected to the eery appearance of the deserted ship upon Whitby's shore? Only you can find the truth!
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Overall rating

Rated between 4 and 4.5 out of 5

based on ratings from 61 users
combined with 8 pro reviews

Your review

Player reviews

Fiona Smith experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 2 Mar 2024 Team size: 2 Time taken: 52:02 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalstory-drivengreat hosting
Fantastic host who really paid attention to what we were doing and how we needed to be nudged along - very much gave hints rather than instructions. No leaps of logic whatsoever, everything made complete sense and was clever but not too difficult.
Spanishfleas experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: 13 Nov 2021 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-driven

Great addition to Nottingham. It didn’t do anything particular different or clever. That being said it flowed nicely and felt immersed in the story. Worth a play. 

Mrs G expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 3 Time taken: 36.28 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivequite easy

Having not heard much about Carfax we played it back to back with monuments and in my opinion it is just as good! Fully immersed from start to finish. If you are heading to Cave Escape to play monuments I would definitely recommend Carfax too! 

Jess_keds expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 1 Jun 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 41:39 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulcleverintricate👻scary

Wow, just wow! After over 70 rooms, carfax is officially top of my list. Clearly made with love and wit, and great attention detail. I personally love a room which requires ‘out of the box’ thinking, which this rooms definitely caters to. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say this room re-filled my cup, and restored my faith that rooms will continue to surprise me. Well done cave escapes and a huge thank you to Chris who was an excellent host. Very few rooms have ever earned 5 stars from me, but this room is highly deserving. Can’t wait to see what comes next. Good luck! 

matt_keds expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 1 Jun 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 41:39 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivestory-driven

#69

Our new favourite room! So much fun, and some unexpected twists and turns. The whole thing feels like a movie set, and a creepy ending really finishes it off with a bang. Very well utilised space, each part is incredibly well themed. Best room in Nottingham IMO.

Jemileh experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
abooth expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 22 May 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 37 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivestory-driven

Amazing. The spaces are just used so beautifully. It's like being in a film. Host was absolutely brilliant as well and a great laugh.

Pagan Hollis experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 19 Feb 2020 Team size: 4 Time taken: 49:16 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalfamily friendly
Anna Baillie experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
flyingoctopus expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
story-drivengreat hosting

Great fun from start to finish.

Good flow and signposting.

I wouldnt say this room is scary at all, just a little eerie.

Lovely GM, very welcoming and friendly.

Durkules rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: 19 Mar 2022 Team size: 4 Time taken: 39m Outcome: Successful escape!
Mark Greenhalgh expert rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 04/11/18
Moosehead expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 4
beautifulimmersive

Very fun game.  There were a couple of puzzles where the signposting wasn’t very clear on what to do, even after we figured it out.  Other than that, fantastic game that should definitely be played.

Anonymous rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivestory-driven
Anonymous expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Team size: 4 Time taken: 49:13
beautifulimmersivestory-driven

A really great game with some excellent theming and a great story. Puzzles are interesting and fun, although better signposting could help at points. Wished there was more to do at the end. Overall, great fun and well worth playing

FranklyOscar experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Anonymous rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalcleverquite difficult
Exotic Turtle experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 27/07/2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 37 Outcome: Successful escape!
story-drivengreat hostingmagical😨creepy
Arjay Henshall expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 27 Jun 2021 Team size: 3 Time taken: 37 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven

A great game overall. 

Epic setting, amazing GM, awesome puzzles, brilliant theming and a flow that just worked. 

This truly is a game not to be missed

Anonymous rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Brit Of An Escape Habit blogger rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
SiSitAndWait rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Team size: 4 Time taken: 48odd Outcome: Successful escape!

The detail of the whole game and the foyer, it's so impressive! There is a good mix of puzzles but it feels as the game goes on the spaces get bigger and the puzzles less. That should not be taken as a negative, this is a very good game.

🦡cipherdelic virtuoso rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
🔐James Bloodworth expert rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 30/06/2019 Team size: 2 Time taken: 58:49 Outcome: Successful escape!
Wonderfully thematic, clever puzzles and just one of the best rooms I've done for a while, taking inspiration from the story of Dracula, there is a definite narrative of progression throughout the sections of the room.  Some of the puzzles are quite hard in terms of figuring out what it is you need to do but it is very much worth it.  Our GM was Becky who has one of the creepiest voices when she was giving us a hint..
Laura McGill expert rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 18/01/2020 Team size: 2 Outcome: Failed 🙁
Anonymous rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 24.8.19 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
Escapetopus experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 13/01/19 Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!

Absolutely brilliant room at a unique venue. Wonderful attention to detail in the room design, decor and sound. The Dracula theme elements were taken straight from the original novel, so it’s perfect if you’re a fan of Gothic literature!

🌵Juliette B expert rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 18/08/2019 Team size: 2 Time taken: 59:28 Outcome: Successful escape!

Great location, we felt truly immersed from our entrance in the reception area all the way to the end. The game truly involves you from the get go. My only criticism is that it is very search heavy and it times this was very frustrating; this aside, the puzzles were good and the set dressing was fantastic. Easily a game to include if on a trip to Nottingham, although not up there with Curio for me. 

Gavin B rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
TheSinger expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 2 Outcome: Failed 🙁
immersivegreat hosting

Great location for an escape room. Carfax was phenomenal. Everything is the room was in line with the theme and setting and very cleverly disguised using set pieces to add extra wow factors to the room. We only played as a group of 2, one being a complete newbie to escape rooms and we were only a couple of puzzles away from completion. Really immersive, great flow, amazing location. WINNER WINNER 

kman expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: 22 Oct 2021 Team size: 4 Time taken: 36m 09s Outcome: Successful escape!
escapeartist1212 expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
originalimmersive
Kates experienced rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Team size: 2 Time taken: 45 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hostingquite easy

I think this is a great room for beginners, but still good fun for those more experienced. We got through with relative ease, but had a really good experience along the way. There isn't anything too unusual or unique about it, other than the cave setting, but it's nicely story driven and not about combination locks!

Our host was wonderful (I really hope we can get her again when we visit!) And really made this one shine for us..

A Blacksmith expert rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverimmersivemagical
🔐SpontaneousIllusion expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
originalimmersivegreat hosting😨creepy
Mark Crossley experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 01/12/2021 Team size: 2 Time taken: 36:54 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivegreat hosting
Pegz241 rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 24 Jul 2021 Team size: 2 Outcome: Failed 🙁
beautifulstory-driven
loughboroughescaper experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
funnystory-drivengreat hosting
Lorraine Downing experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 20 Oct 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 51:55 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivevery well setquite easy😨creepy

Very much enjoyed our time in Carfax! Some nice pieces, beautifully set. 

Jen Wells (Get Wells Soon) expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 9 Sep 2023 Team size: 2 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersive

A gorgeous room with so many delightful puzzles, a strong storyline and a fantastic attention to detail. While it's relatively straightforward in terms of difficulty, it's a fabulous room to play, as the flow of the game works beautifully and the variety of puzzles on offer really appeals to enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Byromodon experienced rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 9 Sep 2023 Team size: 5 Time taken: 23.26
immersivestory-driveneasyvery easy

Very easy escape room. Great theming and interesting puzzles. Unique settling 

ShaneKarlSmith experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Speedy Sloth expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
beautifulstory-drivengreat hosting
StaceyF expert rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 12 Mar 2023 Team size: 5 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersive
Anonymous experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: 26 Feb 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 47 mins Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivenquite easy😨creepy
Tatie experienced rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Played: 2021 Team size: 5 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting

Very well themed room with good puzzles 

MightyMidds experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 12 Aug 2022 Team size: 4 Time taken: 43 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting😨creepy

Great hosting and theming, unique location and very welcome cool down in the hot weather. All puzzles were logical and flowed well though maybe the last couple of rooms could have contained more puzzles? 5 year old was a little creeped out by the ambiance but 8 year old was fine. 

fraggle42 experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: 9 Jul 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 39 Outcome: Successful escape!
cleverepic
Wesley Mead expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 13 Feb 2023 Team size: 2 Time taken: 46m Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersive
🤘The Pick of Destiny expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
DizzyRastall rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: September 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 60
originalcleverstory-driven

Was given a very warm welcome on arrival. Good facilities and lockers. Wonderful setting for an escape room in a Cave as this added to some fantastic theming. Excellent storyline to which the puzzles fit in with perfectly. Lovely variety of puzzle types. We did start to run out of time as a couple as there are lots of puzzles to solve but we did it just in time. The ending (no spoilers) is fantastic. Lots of fun. Thanks so much to our GM (I’m so sorry I can’t remember your name). We will be back to play monuments when we have a couple more  team mates!

Anonymous expert rated this:Rated between 35 and 35 out of 5
Team size: 4 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulclever😨creepy
Lotsa Locks experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 3 Sep 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 48:08 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting

A great experience for our first escape room, definitely not one to miss in Nottingham. We were greeted by our host Phoebe and after a brief safety talk were whisked away to Carfax. The setting, puzzles and attention to detail on all the set dressing were amazing. Clues were delivered brilliantly, in character and only when needed, the story line was engaging and we were genuinely surprised by the ending. A brilliant use of the space to add to the atmosphere. Cave Escape are very much to blame for our new hobby and we will be back to complete Monuments

jakea256 expert rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Played: 16 Sep 2022 Team size: 4 Time taken: 32:22 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersive

Beautiful use of the space and the fact that the room is built within existing cave walls is a huge plus! All of the puzzles fit beautifully within the theme and were clever in application too. Imogen was our GM and she was really lovely and only nudged us once - superb game that is well worth playing!

Catherine K experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 10 Sep 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 35:43 Outcome: Successful escape!
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting😨creepy

I contacted Cave Escapes before booking as I’m a huge wimp and don’t like the dark, they were very reassuring and removed some of the background noises to put me at ease.

The escape room is in a very unique location and the theme adds to the atmosphere it creates. We really enjoyed this room and although we finished it quite quickly we felt there were plenty of puzzles but we ‘clicked’ with them.

Anonymous rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifuloriginalgreat hosting
Jordan Brown experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
Played: 1 Sep 2022 Team size: 2 Time taken: 43:28 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivestory-driven
Schteeeve experienced rated this:Rated between 45 and 45 out of 5
Team size: 2 Time taken: 59:51 Outcome: Successful escape!
originalimmersivequite difficult
gimiabreakout experienced rated this:Rated between 50 and 50 out of 5
immersivestory-drivengreat hosting
BenMill experienced rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: 4 Sep 2021 Team size: 3 Outcome: Successful escape!
beautifulimmersivestory-driven
Tim Cooper expert rated this:Rated between 40 and 40 out of 5
Played: Team size: 4 Time taken: 32:00 Outcome: Successful escape!

Reviews by escape room review sites

There are lots of ways to build atmosphere in an escape room, with lighting, audio, props and effects; but some venues just start off with an unfair advantage - such as Cave Escape, whose games are indeed inside an actual set of caves beneath Nottingham. From their attractively gothic lobby, players descend stairs to the game area underground; they currently have two, of which the first is Carfax, inspired by Bram Stoker’s original Dracula novel.

With such a gloriously atmospheric location read...

A true rival for Curio in Nottingham, Cave Escape is a fantastic game that takes you on a journey through the underground world of Nottingham.
Carfax is a great room and it excelled in room design. Surrounded by the natural stone walls of the cave, the rest of the set was used to enhance this already impressive setting
Gothic, spooky theme and adventure fans will love this room especially - but it is not a scary room. The dim environment - especially near the end - is atmospheric but more creepy than terrifying! Definitely suitable for older children and teens. The effort gone to in both rooms at this venue by the team is top-notch. Highly recommended.
This game’s unique selling point is that it’s set in a cave – but that’s not why it’s a fantastic game. Carfax has a wonderfully immersive and minimalist set that beautifully unveils the games story. A brilliant game.

A unique setting in the caves of Nottingham backed up by a well formed story full of adventure

Lists

This game is part of the following user-created game lists:
  • Best UK escape rooms 2022 by Escape the Review virtuoso
    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2022, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 
  • Best UK escape rooms 2021 by Escape the Review virtuoso
    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms (out of 1600) in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2021, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 
  • Best UK escape rooms 2023 by Escape the Review virtuoso
    These are the 100 highest rated escape rooms in the UK, as of 31st Dec 2023, based on combined ratings from enthusiasts, bloggers and experts - every game here comes highly recommended. 

See also