Prison Island Maidstone
Maidstone, Kent · Indoor Activity
The bit you came for
Our verdict
Kids
8.9/10
Novelty 9 · Variety 9
Parents
7.8/10
Value 8 · Sanity Preservation 8
Properly good fun, with enough variety to keep children busy and parents mostly unflustered.
The long read worth saving for nap time
What’s it actually like?
Prison Island Maidstone is less a traditional escape room and more a fast-moving, Crystal Maze-style challenge venue. The reviews describe around 20 to 23 mini rooms, each short and punchy, with a mix of physical and mental tasks. It sounds like the sort of place where children can burn off energy without everyone having to commit to a full-blown escape room session. What stands out most is the variety. Families mention memory tests, physical challenges, team scoring, shuffleboard, virtual darts and even a quirky golf game. Staff are repeatedly praised as friendly and accommodating, and several reviewers loved the fact that the rooms work well for pairs, small groups or bigger family teams. There are lockers too, which is always a small but meaningful win. The main caveat is that this is not really for little ones. The challenges sound too demanding for toddlers and preschoolers, and even younger primary children may need help. The food and drink offering is only lightly mentioned, so treat the bar area as a bonus rather than the main event. Comfy clothes are a sensible shout, because apparently there is some climbing and bending involved, which is one way to discover your knees have opinions.
Two-minute orientation
Quick read
A high-energy indoor challenge arena with 20+ mini escape-room style rooms. Best for older children, teens and mixed-age groups who enjoy teamwork and puzzles. There’s also shuffleboard, virtual darts, board games and a bar area for afterwards.
Best for ages
Strong score for mixed-age siblings
The boring brilliant stuff
Need to know
Indoor vs outdoor split
Mostly indoor
Parking detail
Full parking wording is landing soon — meanwhile check Maps plus the venue’s own FAQs.
Dog-friendly?
Probably not
Most indoor venues don't allow dogs. Worth confirming if you'd need to bring one.
Pram-friendly?
Likely yes
Indoor venues like this are typically pram-friendly.
Baby change?
Likely yes
Venues this size usually have baby change facilities.
Food on-site & BYO
Yes: Food available on-site — cafe or kiosk.
Locate it
Maidstone, Kent
THINGS PARENTS ASK
Common questions
Is it more like an escape room or a game arena?
More like a Crystal Maze-style challenge arena than a classic escape room.
How long do the activities take?
Reviews say the mini rooms are very short, around one to three minutes each, with a couple of hours overall.
Is it good for families with different ages?
Yes, it can work well for mixed ages, but it suits older children and teens best.
Can you do anything after the main rooms?
Yes, reviewers mention shuffleboard, virtual darts, board games and a bar area afterwards.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Real review quotes
"20 odd mini escape rooms to figure out"
"The staff were all amazingly friendly and great"
"It'll push you to work well together as a team"