The Monopoly Run ‘Live’ is an annual event run for Scouts and Guides in London. In 2023, it took place on the 4th of March, and involved travelling all around London. This led to the discovery of locations such as the Chink Prison Museum, which represented the ‘Jail’ location on the Monopoly board. The experience grants its participants the opportunity to explore the city independently at their own pace.

 

For those wandering around London on Saturday the 4th of March, a curious sight may have been seen. 

 

At 10:00, over 1,300 teams of Scouts and Guides, ranging from primary school children to full grown adults and leaders, descended upon the city. In their frenzied flight, the bright colours of blues, reds, browns and greens, may have been all that was left of them, to the confused onlooker, as they bustled down the streets. The Monopoly Run had begun.

 

With their phones held out, and their scouring faces, these guiding groups were on the lookout. Searching for properties to buy, sell and win. What properties you may ask?

 

Participating in the Monopoly Run gives you access to an app, which shows you images related to the area of properties, located on the Monopoly board. For example, the Prince Of Wales Theatre was the allocated spot for Coventry Street. To purchase the location, this place must be visited in person (“live”) and must be registered on the app. This must be done before those playing in your game (other members of the same Guide unit) visit it.

 

The competitive atmosphere was strongly tangible, as we sprinted down streets, hoping to reach destinations first. Though, this did not interfere with the smooth running of the day, as Morife Olubajo (a Ranger who participated) remarked that “It was really well organised, and the app was brilliantly designed.”

 

We sprinted down streets, hoping to reach destinations first.

 

We went with our instincts visiting the closest destinations first, which ranged from Leicester Square to Bond Street, and leaving the most distant locations last, such as Euston for example.

 

Not only did we see parts of London we had never seen before, such as Whitechapel Road, and Fleet Street, but we gained years of travel experience in a few hours. We combined the tube with buses and with walking, finding new journeys to new places, and becoming much more confident in using public transport. For example, Olubajo also said that “I saw places that I would never normally go to.”

 

“I saw places that I would never normally go to.” - Morife Olubajo

 

Whilst scouring for properties, we were given challenges to do, which will explain why spectators may have observed guides hugging trees, and scouts posing by bus stops. 

 

There was also a quiz which tested our knowledge of various tube and train stations. The questions had clues such as ‘The Voice of An…’

 

The likelihood of being an overall winner was rather small, with there being over 200 games taking place simultaneously. However, one thing I think everyone ‘won’ from the experience was not just some extra steps (my group completed almost 30,000), but a new rejuvenation to go out and discover all of what London has to offer. From the skate park at Southbank to the ‘Ben’s Cookies’ at Oxford Street we rewarded ourselves with after - there really is something out there for everyone.