Mission Breakout: three adventures in Kentish Town’s disused tube station

The spies, ghosts and post-apocalyptic killer rats beneath our feet...

When a disused tube station became available, Mission Breakout escape room founder David Prebiski couldn’t believe his luck. With a rich history stretching back from the underused stop’s closure after only seven years in operation, to its previous incarnation as a dodgy ‘sauna’, the building was perfect as a site for unique games and experiences.

Having been based in the subterranean depths for seven years now, with Northern Line trains rattling past every few minutes, we asked him about what goes on under Kentish Town Rd, and how he and the team keep things continually fresh and exciting for their many visitors.

How do you use Mission Breakout‘s status as a former tube station in the storytelling for each game?

Our three escape room games are inspired by the history of South Kentish Town tube station, which closed down in 1924. The station was later used as an air raid shelter during WWII, and our first game room is based on the extraordinary story of the Codebreakers; your mission is to decode the encrypted Nazi message, find the identity of the spy, and escape Churchill’s most secret war room.

Our second game is based on a news report [which also inspired a short story by local poet laureate John Betjeman] that a train stopped by mistake the day after the station closed; a man absentmindedly alighted, and has never been seen again. You have to investigate the paranormal activity, find out what happened to The Lost Passenger, and escape the ghost tube station.

In our latest game room, Underground 2099, your mission is to venture into the future and thwart the plot of King Rat, hidden within the depths of a post-apocalyptic London Underground.

Do you think the station is haunted and if so why/why not?

We have actually invited Hazel and James down from Spectrum Paranormal Investigations, who are essentially Camden’s very own Ghostbusters. They visited several times and, with what we have witnessed, I can definitely say that the station is haunted.

What are the challenges of working in this unique space?

Working in a venue full of history is actually a gift. The atmosphere is unique and authentic. I would say that the main challenge is to deal with the darkness everyday; we are located in the basement of the station so we barely see the daylight. Are you ready for a challenge? Why not book today at Mission Breakout escape room.

If you enjoyed this article, check out Camdenist for more local stories.

What is the funniest thing you’ve seen or heard over the years running Mission Breakout?

The station is on the Northern Line, and TFL workers sometimes access the platforms via emergency stairs from the back of the station. There are small windows in these stairs and when we opened our first game room, the workers were very intrigued by the players setting up the replica of the Turing Machine; a funny moment to watch as the players thought the workers were part of the game and were asking them for clues. The workers were very confused with the situation!

What would you say to people who haven’t tried an escape room before?

I would tell them to come and play with their family, friends, or colleagues, and not to be scared by the puzzles; you don’t need to be good at maths or general knowledge, it’s all about good sense, teamwork and fun, of course.

What are your plans for 2024?

We are very proud to be ranked the number 1 escape room on TripAdvisor, and our main plan is to keep on working hard to stay at the top spot as long as possible. We have also just opened a new game concept in Camden called Quiz Boxing; it’s a brand-new TV style quiz game, but better than TV, as you are the one playing!

Mission Breakout is at 141-145 Kentish Town Rd, NW1 8PB

Find out more about Mission Breakout and book the games here.