Project E20 Scary Maze at the Orbit: 80 Metres Up

Most London scare mazes hide in warehouses or basements. Project E20 goes the other way: for six nights at the end of October, Zip World London turns the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2AD, into a sealed military facility 80 metres above the city. You climb into the maze, survive the corridors, and escape the only way the story allows, down the Helix tunnel slide in the dark.

The official event page sets up the plot in plain terms. For years, a secret genetic experiment has operated beneath the ArcelorMittal Orbit, trying to push the human body beyond its natural limits. The experiment went too far, the subject is no longer human, and it is highly contagious. The area is now under military lockdown, the facility's power is failing, and the research team has one plan left to stop the outbreak reaching London: the Helix protocol.

That protocol is where the slide comes in. Zip World describes Helix as the world's longest and tallest tunnel slide, and for Project E20 it has been recast as a kinetic generator. Every successful descent creates one charge, and 5,000 charges are needed to power the containment system and seal Project E20 inside. It is a neat way of turning a headline ride into the climax of a story, and it gives groups a reason to cheer each other down.

Your evening starts at a military checkpoint at the foot of the tower, where staff hand out protective equipment and give the briefing before you are sent into the facility. The red steel lattice of the Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond for the 2012 Olympic Games, makes a strong backdrop at dusk, and it is worth looking up at it before you go in, because the next part of the night is spent in tight, darkened rooms where the skyline disappears.

Zip World says the maze sits 80 metres above London and sends guests through a darkened facility of twisting pathways, avoiding the monsters and mutated subjects the project has created. The objective is simple: get to the end, where Helix waits. Expect strobe lighting throughout, which the operator flags for anyone with epilepsy, migraines or similar conditions, and expect actors to use the height and the narrow corridors to close in on whoever is lagging at the back.

Helix itself is the payoff. The slide corkscrews around the outside of the Orbit inside an enclosed tube, and for this event you ride it in complete darkness. A scream cam records your reaction on the way down, so if your group wants evidence of who screamed loudest, that is the moment to look composed. Each standard ticket includes one ride, so make it count.

Tickets start from £35.00, plus a £5 booking fee per order, and a standard ticket covers access to the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the scare maze and one Helix slide. Capacity is limited and every guest needs a pass, so book online rather than hoping for a walk-up slot. Because the run is only six nights, from 26 to 31 October, Zip World warns the event is limited capacity, so groups aiming for Halloween night itself should book as early as possible.

The event is for children aged 9 and over because of its frightening nature, and anyone under 18 must be with an adult aged 18 or over, with one participating adult for every seven under-18s. The Helix restrictions also apply: a minimum height of 1.3 metres and a maximum weight of 130 kilograms. Plan your group around these numbers before you pay, since a child who is tall enough for the slide but younger than nine still cannot join this event.

Footwear is checked. Zip World requires closed-toe, flat shoes such as trainers or boots, and open-toed shoes, heels, Crocs and flip-flops are not allowed. Facial jewellery has to be removed or taped over before you ride. If you are heading on to a party afterwards, bring the costume shoes in a bag and change later; turning up in heels is the quickest way to lose your slot on the night.

The Orbit stands directly next to London Stadium inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Zip World points out that the site is served by ten tube and rail links, including the night tube on the Central and Jubilee lines, and that it is seven minutes from St Pancras International on the high-speed service to Stratford International. From Stratford station, follow the signs through Westfield and across the bridges towards the stadium; the red tower is visible for most of the walk.

For food before or after, Westfield Stratford City sits right by the station which is practical for groups with teenagers who want a quick bite before the briefing. If you want something calmer, walk south along the River Lea towards Hackney Wick, where canal-side breweries and bars fill the old warehouses around the Lee Navigation. In daylight, the park's wetlands and the London Aquatics Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid, make a short loop before your evening slot.

Venue: Zip World London, ArcelorMittal Orbit, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2AD. Dates: 26 to 31 October 2026, 4:00pm to 10:00pm. Price: from £35.00 per ticket plus a £5 booking fee per order, including Orbit access, the scare maze and one Helix slide. Ages: 9 and over; under-18s with an adult aged 18 or over, one adult per seven children. Height 1.3 metres minimum, weight 130 kilograms maximum. Shoes: closed-toe and flat. Strobe lighting throughout. Booking and the full restrictions list are on zipworld.co.uk under Events, Project E20.

Before you go, ask Karpo in the Karpo APP for a dinner spot in Hackney Wick or the quickest night tube route home from Stratford, and it will plan the rest of the evening around your slot.