Real or Illusion? 21st February 2016

The Puzzling Place is a unique attraction hidden away in the heart of Keswick. It is just off Main Street but be aware that there is a flight of stairs to climb to enter! There is no parking outside but public car parks are close by. There is no café or any public toilets at the Puzzling Place.

 

 

The Puzzling Place is a fun attraction based on optical illusions, with pictures, sculptures and interactive exhibits. The World of Illusions, within the Puzzling Place, has an entry fee, but it is definitely worth a visit.

 

 

There is a distortion mirror to make you look as if you are standing on your head, make you look short and fat at the same time, or have a pointed head!

 

 

 

There is an ‘Anti-gravity Room’ where snooker balls roll up the table and a chair, that you can sit in, that travels uphill without even a push! We have to say – and the Puzzling place has a notice advising people of this - that this room does cause some people to stumble around and feel somewhat nauseous, because of the angle of the floor and walls. You can stand at impossible angles in this room!

 

 

 

The next room is all upside down – or rather sideways on. The carpet that should be on the floor, is on the wall, as are the ceiling and the door.  The floor you stand on is actually a wall! The TV screen mounted on the real wall, next to the exhibit, makes you out to be touching the ceiling etc.

 

 

The newest illusion room, known as an 'Ames Room' has the same effect that was used in the film 'Lord of the Rings' to create tall and little people. As you walk across the room you'll visibly grow and shrink! Or you can make yourself look tiny or like a giant alongside a fellow visitor!

 

 

You can see water dripping upwards, look in an apparently bottomless trunk, despite it only standing 2 feet high on the floor and even shake hands with yourself.There is a gallery of amazing holograms - 3D pictures - that make you want to reach out and touch them. There are snakes, birds, mummies (the ones wrapped in bandages) and even Frankenstein’s monster.

The Puzzling Place is a place to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Adults may have more understanding about how the illusions are created, but will still be amazed at the effects. The exhibits do have explanations next to them, that try to explain how the illusion works if you are not sure about them! The Puzzling Place do say that it’s generally the older generation of the family who are left surprised by how much they’ve enjoyed their visit!

 

 

The Puzzling Place does have a shop where you can buy a variety of puzzles and gadgets, and just beyond the shop is a Puzzle area (free to enter) where a variety of puzzles and brain teasers are laid out for you to try.

Amazement and frustration can be enjoyed in equal measure  in just one visit to the Puzzling Place.