In the 1930s, Leeds-based Waddingtons, Britain’s leading board game and playing cards manufacturers, produced the UK version of Monopoly. In 2024, the ‘Monopoly Leeds Takeover’ pays homage to the city’s heritage.
Under license from Hasbro, the leading toy and game firm, LeedsBID has brought the life-size board game to the city free of charge, to be played by people of all age groups. Being family-friendly with a hint of adventure, various families and friends from around the city and region are bonding over the game that they’ve previously played in the comfort of their homes.
Life-size Monopoly has literally taken over the city with people both old and young participating enthusiastically. Instead of moving tokens around the board for the game, the major places in Leeds are now doubling as a part of the iconic board game and the players themselves are tokens. To play, all you need to do is grab a map from any of the locations in the city centre and follow the lead. Exploring the city and learning new facts while physically being a part of the game is a win-win for all.
Encompassing 22 key locations across the city centre, the life-size board also includes transport locations such as Leeds City Station, Leeds Bus Station, the Wellington Place lifting tower, and Leeds Dock water taxi.
A mental and physical workout
Seven-year-old Czenzi B from the Philippines, who had never played the board game before, was enthralled to partake in the game on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The inquisitive kid didn’t take long to solve the puzzle at St John’s Centre and beamed with joy to get her first ‘wheelbarrow’ stamp. “I helped my younger sister, Enza and her friend Emma with the puzzle as they couldn’t crack it”, she chuckled.
Comprising several puzzles and mini games at different zones, it takes over four hours and more than 16500 (adult) steps to complete the game. Nonetheless, as this game is open for all until 1 September, it can be played as and when you like. There are additional ongoing activities such as the token treasure hunt, board game builders, a Bank of England storytelling session, a boardgame workshop, and a search for the Waddington’s blue plaque, the Waddingtons and Monopoly story can be seen at various locations in the city centre.
A variety of tasks
One of the tasks is to find ‘Mr Monopoly’ inside the shopping centre. It might sound straightforward but there are quite a few doppelgangers and it takes an eagle eye to find the one which gets you a stamp. Different zones have puzzles and trick questions. There are property values mentioned in every zone which are to be noted down on the front side only to be added at the end depending on colour codes on the back of the map. Some of the games in the zones help you to keep your motor skills on track too.
Born and bred in West Yorkshire, Harjinder Nangla had never experienced such a life-size board game before. He said: “This game felt more like a combination of Scavenger Hunt and Monopoly. I was so exhausted by the end of it, but it was worth it.” Mini games within the larger game keep you engrossed. One cannot miss taking selfies at the major spots including the make-shift jail at the Corn Exchange – and a selfie with Mr Monopoly is a must for the game lovers.
This free entertainment also brings chances of winning prizes! A few of these locations also consist of the game’s classic community chest and the chance cards which give prizes up for grabs with a throw of the dice or spin of the wheel.
Clad in black and white formals, donning bow-tie and a top hat, a dedicated team of cast members stamp the maps at various locations after checking the correct answer on the puzzle. Lauding children when they get their first stamp and explaining the puzzles to players, these cast members have been stamping over a hundred maps each day and the figure rises during the weekend.
Genevieve, one of the cast members said: “People of all age groups are enjoying this game. They aren’t even fretting to wait for over half an hour in a queue to get their map stamped. Kids who get their first stamp are the most elated ones.”
The cast members obviously don’t tell players the correct answer, however, they try to give clues to kids. Strangers have been befriending each other to help when stuck or feeling clueless.
It’s everyone’s cup of tea
Daniel Griffith who hails from Manchester played the game with his friends over the weekend. Griffith, who has been living in Leeds for three years, had never explored the city the way he did while playing one of his favourite board games: “It was quite an interesting experience to explore the city in a manner one wouldn’t in a regular setting. It was coupled with a good workout as I took the onus of finishing the game on the same day.”
The game has been set up so that you need to visit all the eight zones including – The Light, Merrion Centre, St John’s Trinity Mall, Leeds Corn Exchange, the Royal Armouries, Victoria Quarter, and Victoria Gate in order to complete the map. Each zone gets you a stamp ranging from a battleship, boot, duck, iron, racing car, Scottie dog, top hat, and wheelbarrow. The original life-size token symbols of the game are also kept at each zone and have been attracting selfie takers on a daily basis.
Enrico Nataniel from Indonesia who is well-versed with the board game enjoyed the experience thoroughly as he discovered the different facets of the city. “I bonded with my friends during this game as we solved the puzzles and helped each other with clues. Winning a restaurant voucher was definitely like cherry on the cake”, chimed Enrico, who already felt like a winner.
A day to remember
It was only last year that I was first introduced to Monopoly in the UK. I was off to the city centre when I bumped into a friend who was extremely excited about it.
Reminiscing about the fun I had the first time I played the board game and considering the pleasant weather conditions which are slightly unusual for the UK, I decided to give it a go.
The excitement of getting my first stamp wasn’t as surreal as the UK visa stamp on my passport but it made me feel like a kid at a candy shop! I ensured that I documented the day and shared it on social media platforms for the digital memories. The game was coupled with shopping and exploring different facts about the city. The final prize, a voucher from John Lewis made me feel that walking the 18887 steps were well worth it!
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