This Week in the UK Scavenger Hunt Tasks - 24 July 2026
This week's UK headlines include Spot a pub or live music venue with a handwritten sign celebrating the business rates cut announced this week, Photograph a petrol station price board showing petrol above 145p per litre, and more, and we have turned them into challenges. Here are 30 scavenger hunt tasks based on what is actually happening across the country.
Each task is tied to a real story, trend, or cultural moment from this week. Grab your phone, head outside, and see how many you can tick off.
This Week's Tasks
1. Spot a pub or live music venue with a handwritten sign celebrating the business rates cut announced this week.
* After Prime Minister Burnham slashed business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, many venues have put up thank-you signs or promotional notices.
2. Photograph a petrol station price board showing petrol above 145p per litre.
* Oil prices hit $100 for the first time since May, leading to noticeable increases at UK pumps this week.
3. Capture a poster at a train station advertising a third off fares on advance tickets.
* The government announced cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares, and stations have started displaying promotional posters this week.
4. Find a public water conservation notice or hosepipe ban sign in a park or community garden.
* Parts of the UK have officially moved closer to drought, with some areas declaring drought and issuing water-saving notices this week.
5. Spot a shop window display promoting fans, air conditioners, or paddling pools due to the ongoing heatwave.
* With 39°C heatwaves and drought fears, retailers are heavily promoting cooling products this week.
6. Notice a person carrying an umbrella on a day forecasted for heavy rain after the dry spell.
* The Met Office named 8 UK regions set for heavy rain on Saturday, ending a long dry spell and prompting people to carry umbrellas again.
7. Visit a local ice cream parlour and try a summer special flavour named after the heatwave (e.g., 'Scorcher Sundae' or 'Melty Mango').
* During the heatwave, ice cream shops are creating limited-edition heatwave-themed flavours to attract customers.
8. Spot a bus shelter advert promoting the new £2 bus fare cap starting in January 2027.
* Burnham announced a £2 bus fare cap across England, and transport authorities have begun publicising the change this week.
9. Photograph a drought warning sign near a reservoir or river.
* With drought officially declared in parts of the UK, water companies have put up warning signs at affected waterways this week.
10. Find a garden with a brown, dry lawn due to the heatwave and lack of rain.
* The prolonged dry spell and heatwave have turned many lawns brown, a visible sign of the drought conditions this week.
11. Spot a local newsagent or corner shop with a sign offering free cold water to passers-by during the heatwave.
* Some shops are putting out water bowls or signs offering water to help people stay cool during the extreme heat this week.
12. Capture a railway station digital board showing a delay or disruption due to heat-related speed restrictions.
* During heatwaves, rail operators impose speed restrictions to prevent track buckling, causing visible delays on station boards this week.
13. Find a poster or leaflet at a bus stop or train station about the new parliamentary inquiry into safer journeys for women and girls.
* MPs launched an inquiry into safer journeys this week, and transport hubs are displaying information about the inquiry.
14. Spot a chalkboard outside a pub advertising a 'Burnham Bitter' or a similarly named beer celebrating the new PM.
* After Burnham slashed business rates, some pubs are playfully renaming drinks to show support for the new Prime Minister.
15. Photograph a garden centre display of drought-resistant plants or water-saving products.
* With drought fears rising, garden centres are pushing drought-friendly plants and water conservation products this week.
16. Notice a 'No Hose Pipe' sign in a front garden.
* Hosepipe bans have been implemented in some drought-affected areas, leading residents to display signs warning against water use.
17. Spot a poster at a community centre or library advertising a 'Beat the Heat' advice session or cooling centre.
* Local councils have opened cooling centres and are running advice sessions during the heatwave, with posters going up this week.
18. Visit a park and find a public water fountain that has been turned off due to drought concerns.
* To conserve water during the drought, some councils have deactivated public fountains, a visible sign of water shortages this week.
19. Capture a local shop window displaying a 'Summer Sale' on fans, coolers, or ice cream.
* Retailers are capitalising on the heatwave with promotions on cooling products, visible in shop windows this week.
20. Spot a billboard or bus advert for London Tech Week 2026.
* The Prime Minister gave a speech at London Tech Week this week, and the event is being promoted with adverts across the capital.
21. Find a public notice about a consultation for a possible Cambridge underground system.
* This week, there was news that Cambridge might get an underground, and local consultation notices have appeared in the city.
22. Photograph a person wearing a sun hat and sunglasses while walking in the middle of the day during the heatwave.
* With temperatures hitting 39°C, people are visibly protecting themselves from the sun, including wearing hats and sunglasses this week.
23. Spot a noticeboard outside a primary school with a reminder about bringing water bottles and sunscreen during the heatwave.
* Schools have issued heatwave guidance to parents, and notices are displayed at school entrances this week.
24. Notice a 'Keep hydrated' poster in a workplace or shop window.
* Employers and retailers are putting up hydration reminders to help people cope with the extreme heat this week.
25. Find a real estate agency window with a listing that mentions 'air conditioning' or 'cooling system' as a selling point.
* During the heatwave, estate agents are highlighting properties with air conditioning to attract buyers, visible in windows this week.
26. Spot a pub garden with misting fans or shaded areas being used due to the heat.
* Pubs are setting up misting fans and shade structures to keep customers comfortable during the heatwave, a visible change this week.
27. Capture a litter bin overflowing with ice cream wrappers and drinks bottles in a park.
* The heatwave has led to increased consumption of cold treats and drinks, leaving visible evidence in public bins this week.
28. Photograph a bus stop with a sign that says 'Due to high temperatures, services may be delayed'.
* Bus operators have issued warnings about heat-related delays, with signs appearing at stops this week.
29. Find a local sports centre or leisure centre with a poster offering a discount on swim sessions during the heatwave.
* Leisure centres are promoting swim sessions to help people cool down, with discount posters visible this week.
30. Spot a car windscreen with a reflective sun shade parked in a sunny spot.
* With extreme heat, drivers are using sun shades to protect their car interiors, a common sight on streets this week.
How to Play
These tasks are designed for BucketRace, the UK's favourite scavenger hunt platform. You can play solo or in teams, and each task is meant to be completed in the real world. Snap a photo as proof, share it with your group, and see who can complete the most.
New tasks are published every week based on what is actually happening in the UK, so no two weeks are ever the same. Follow us for next week's challenges.