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England’s First King: The Man History Can’t Quite Agree On


Historians can't quite agree on whether it is x or y... but perhaps Winchester holds the answer. And you can find it while on a REAL LIFE treasure hunt...

Welcome to Winchester with Mystery Guides, the treasure hunt and outdoor escape room that turns history into adventure.

Once the West Saxon capital and home to King Alfred the Great (871–899), Winchester still shows his mark in the Old Minster, Hyde Abbey, and his bronze statue on the Broadway.

But don’t worry - this adventure isn’t about dates. It’s about exploring iconic sites while chasing clues, solving puzzles, and uncovering hidden treasure.

A Treasure Hunt Through History

With The Mystery of The Golden Tankard, Winchester becomes more than a city - it’s your playground. Each stop in this immersive treasure hunt doubles as a piece of history, a puzzle, and a stage for fun:

Winchester Cathedral - Start at the soaring Gothic masterpiece where kings were crowned and Alfred’s legacy still lingers. Look closely, and you might spot your first clue hiding in plain sight.


The Westgate - This medieval gateway has seen centuries of comings and goings. Who knows which stone conceals the next twist in the mystery?


Winchester College - One of England’s oldest schools, full of historic charm and secret nooks, perfect for challenging your detective skills.


As your group deciphers each riddle and uncovers each hidden object, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook of English history - minus the dusty old textbooks and endless lectures.


England’s First King… and Your First Real Treasure Hunt

While historians may debate whether Alfred, Egbert, or Athelstan deserves the crown of England’s “first king,” there’s no debate that Mystery Guides turns Winchester into an unforgettable playground of clues, history, and hidden treasures.

By the time you uncover the Golden Tankard, you’ll have explored iconic landmarks, cracked clever riddles, and created a day out that’s far more memorable than any standard city tour. 

History comes alive. The city becomes your stage. And, quite frankly, it’s just fun.
So if you’re curious about England’s first king, eager to explore Winchester in a way that’s exciting, interactive, and completely unlike a lecture… grab a Mystery Guides and step into a treasure hunt that mixes history, adventure, and a touch of mischief. Who knew learning about kings could be this much fun?


Why Mystery Guides Makes a Perfect Adventure

Here’s the thing: a Mystery Guides treasure hunt isn’t just a city tour. It’s a flexible, interactive, social experience that transforms spare time into something unforgettable. 

And the best part? You’re in control. Pause for coffee, snap photos, or detour to a hidden courtyard. The adventure takes roughly three hours, the perfect length for creating stories you’ll still be talking about weeks later.

So if you’re curious about England’s first king, eager to explore Winchester in a way that’s exciting, interactive, and completely unlike a lecture… grab a Mystery Guides and step into a treasure hunt that mixes history, adventure, and a touch of mischief. Who knew learning about kings could be this much fun?

Jack Wells - Mystery Guides

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Wells

Jack Wells is the founder and creative mind behind Mystery Guides, a series of clever city adventure books that transform urban landscapes into self-guided Treasure Hunts. Inspired by his love for local history and storytelling, Jack developed a unique way for people to explore cities together through engaging historical stories, puzzles and surprising twists. Just like an outdoor escape room!

His journey began with a passion for history and a desire to bring it to life in a compelling way. This passion led to the creation of the first in a series of Treasure Hunt books, which received rave reviews and paved the way for more, highly-addictive city-specific adventures. Through Mystery Guides, Jack’s mission is to make learning about history both fun and interactive, offering people of all ages an exciting way to explore their local surroundings while solving captivating mysteries.

Find my adventure