A Study in Red, the world's first officially licensed Sherlock Holmes experience played in a real neighbourhood, opened on 21 August 2026 at Bugis Street. Singapore studio Hidden built it with The Conan Doyle Estate. You start at 261 Victoria Street, #02-141, then spend 1.5 to 2 hours walking Bugis Street, Bugis+ and Bugis Junction with a phone in your hand and a case file in the other.
How the case actually runs
Teams of one to five sign in as 221B Consultants. You solve a short password puzzle to join a web chat with Sherlock and Watson, then work with a local inspector named Lester Ang, Hidden's nod to Inspector Lestrade. There is no app to download. The official site lists hours as 11am to 9pm daily, last recommended start 7.30pm. The Straits Times had 10am to 9.30pm. Trust the operator page when you book.
Time Out counted 16 waypoints. One physical crime scene at Bugis Street uses a staged body, a red lantern and UV light. A second scene at Bugis+ is a 360-degree environment on your phone. CNA's reviewer noted you stay mostly indoors and air-conditioned, which is the right call for a September afternoon in this precinct. You do have to talk to shop staff. They hand over maps and other physical props. The 221B staff pass also unlocks partner discounts, including $10 off $25 at Sides, according to that review.
Why Hidden put Holmes in Bugis
The plot adapts A Study in Scarlet (1887), the novel that introduced Holmes, and relocates it to this district's history of gangs and the old waterfront trade. Co-founder Lim Yee Hung told The Straits Times the precinct has been cleaned up but is still edgy enough to carry a murder story. He flew to London in March 2026 to pitch the estate and beat British studios to an exclusive licence for this live format.
Hidden already runs Monopoly city games in Katong, Chinatown and Clarke Quay, with more than 1,000 players a month on that licence. A Study in Red is a six-figure bet. The script was written in Singapore and New Zealand with the estate's notes. AI was used for coding and brainstorming. The finished case is human-written. Age gate is 13 and up. The text can run long if you are not already a Sherlock reader, which is the trade-off for keeping Doyle's voice.
Finish the case and you get a Sherlock Holmes notebook. The same notebook sells for $21 in the Victorian-themed gift shop if you want a spare. Tickets are $29 on weekdays, $39 on weekends and public holidays, $19 for students, booked at officialsherlockexperience.com.
Pair it with Night Lights, then eat
Time Out lists the game as a partner of Bugis Night Lights 2026 and Singapore Night Festival. SNF itself ends 5 September. Night Lights continues after that. From 21 August to 4 October, the first 500 shoppers who spend at least $150 at Bugis Junction or Bugis+ and sign up for the mall promotion get a pair of tickets. That is the cheaper way in if you were already shopping.
Reviews on the official site keep saying the same practical thing: start early enough to use the F&B discounts after you close the case. Plan a 3 to 4 hour block if you want ice cream or a sit-down meal in the middle. Bugis MRT (EW12/DT14) is the station. The start point is on level 2 of Bugis Street, not inside Bugis Junction. Hidden's map link is go.hiddenxp.com/findingsherlockbugis if the unit number still hides behind market stalls.
Practical Details
- Dates: Opened 21 August 2026, daily (ongoing through Bugis Night Lights, which the malls list into October)
- Time: 11am to 9pm daily. Last recommended start 7.30pm. About 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Venue: Start at 261 Victoria Street, #02-141, Bugis Street, Singapore 189876. Route continues through Bugis+ and Bugis Junction.
- Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW12/DT14)
- Price: $29 weekdays, $39 weekends and public holidays, $19 students. Ages 13+. Teams up to 5.
- Website: The Official Sherlock Experience
