This Week in the UK Scavenger Hunt Tasks - 27 August 2026
The news never stops, and neither do these tasks. Spot a Met Office yellow weather warning sign or digital notice displayed in a public place (station, library, leisure centre) and capture the word “thunderstorm” on it, Find a shop doorway with a wet-floor caution sign placed because of rain tracked in from outside, and more feature alongside 29 more challenges drawn from this week's biggest UK stories.
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 Met Office yellow weather warning sign or digital notice displayed in a public place (station, library, leisure centre) and capture the word “thunderstorm” on it.
* After Met Office yellow warnings were issued for thunderstorms and flooding risk this week.
2. Find a shop doorway with a wet-floor caution sign placed because of rain tracked in from outside.
* Following widespread heavy rain and thunderstorm conditions forecast across parts of the UK this week.
3. Locate a street drain or gully being cleared (or freshly cleared) and photograph the pile of leaves/grit nearby.
* After flood-risk and thunderstorm warnings this week, councils and residents often clear drains to help surface water flow.
4. Photograph a bus stop or station display warning about delays “due to weather” (or “adverse weather”).
* With thunderstorm warnings and heavy rain continuing this week, travel operators commonly post weather-related disruption notices.
5. Seek out a supermarket endcap labelled “BBQ” that’s been replaced or mixed with “Rainy day”/“Indoor” snacks (crisps, biscuits, hot chocolate) and snap the signage.
* After the UK turned cooler and wetter following the recent hot, dry spell, retailers often pivot seasonal displays fast.
6. Find a public building entrance with a temporary umbrella-bag stand (or a “Please shake umbrellas” notice) and capture it.
* With thunderstorms and heavy rain continuing this week, many venues add quick measures to keep floors dry.
7. At dusk, photograph a shop or café chalkboard that mentions “storm”, “thunder”, or “rain” in a joke or special of the day.
* Thunderstorm warnings have been prominent this week, and high-street boards often riff on the weather in real time.
8. Identify a railway station poster or screen that mentions “tap-and-go” or “contactless” travel across more than one mode (train/tram/bus) and capture the wording.
* After the government announced a “Better Connected” tap-and-go strategy across trains, trams and buses this week.
9. At a ticket machine or rail booking screen, find a visible “1/3 off” or “third off fares” message and photograph it.
* Following this week’s announcement about cheaper travel for millions with a third off fares.
10. Spot an advert or leaflet promoting half-price rail travel for 18-year-olds and capture the “18” in the offer.
* After the BBC reported that half-price rail travel was extended to 18-year-olds this week.
11. At a bus stop, locate a service update that mentions “hot weather conditions” and document the exact phrase.
* Following BBC reporting that London bus strikes were set to begin over hot weather conditions.
12. Find a travel noticeboard (station, tram stop, bus garage perimeter) displaying a “strike” notice for services and photograph the date range (no people in shot).
* With strike action in the transport headlines this week, operators often post public-facing service notices.
13. At a ferry terminal or a travel agent window, locate a sign that mentions “passport required” for Britain–Ireland travel and capture the wording.
* After reporting about new barriers in the Common Travel Area, including passport requirements for Britain–Ireland ferries.
14. Spot a university or college noticeboard advertising “Freshers’ Week” and photograph a nearby health-related reminder about getting vaccinated before term (only the noticeboard, no people).
* After local reporting urging students to get a free NHS MenB jab before Freshers’ Week.
15. Find a pharmacy window display that specifically mentions “MenB” and capture the text.
* Following this week’s student-focused push to get the free NHS MenB jab before Freshers’ Week.
16. Locate a public notice about “Bank Holiday weekend” preparations (in a pharmacy, GP surgery, or community centre) and capture the phrase “Bank Holiday”.
* After reporting urging preparations for the Bank Holiday weekend.
17. Find a shop sign showing changed opening hours specifically because of the Bank Holiday (e.g., “Monday hours”) and photograph the times.
* With Bank Holiday weekend preparations in the news this week, many businesses post temporary hours notices.
18. Spot a recruitment poster or window notice that includes “NHS roles” (or “NHS vacancies”) and capture the phrase.
* After local reporting highlighting the latest job vacancies including NHS roles.
19. In a town centre, find a “We’re hiring” notice that specifically mentions “academy” or “school” roles and capture the wording.
* After local vacancy round-ups this week included roles at an academy and other public-facing employers.
20. Seek out a poster, leaflet, or digital screen in a public building that references “18-week” waiting times (or “18 weeks”) and photograph just the text.
* After reports this week about the NHS hitting an interim 18-week waiting target.
21. Find a cycle lane or shared-path sign that highlights walking/cycling as a way to cope with hot spells (e.g., “active travel”) and capture the phrase.
* Following discussion this week that heatwaves show the UK must do more to promote cycling and walking.
22. Spot a bike shop or council stand offering a free tyre-pressure pump point and photograph the “pump”/“air” instruction sign.
* With active travel back in the conversation after recent heatwaves, visible cycling support points stand out this week.
23. In an electronics or DIY store, locate a display or shelf label for “balcony solar” or “plug-in solar panels” and photograph the label (no staff or customers).
* After reporting that plug-in balcony solar panels were going on sale in the UK for the first time.
24. From street level, spot a building with a balcony that has a newly installed solar panel visible and photograph it from a public pavement (no identifiable people).
* With plug-in balcony solar panels hitting the UK market this week, early adopters may be visibly installing them.
25. Find a stargazing-friendly public sign or notice advertising “astronomy”, “night sky”, or “stargazing” this week and photograph the date/time.
* After BBC guidance on how and when to see the Blood Moon partial lunar eclipse in UK skies.
26. At night, capture a photo of the Moon from a public place (street, park, doorstep) with a landmark or street sign in the frame to prove it’s your town.
* Following this week’s coverage about viewing the Blood Moon partial lunar eclipse in the UK.
27. Locate a public-facing “situation room”/“control room” style sign or exhibit (museum, council building tour, visitor centre) and photograph the words “situation room” or “control room”.
* After the government announced “No10 North” as a new situation room for decision-making this week.
28. In a town centre, find a community noticeboard advertising a “summit” or “meeting” between different UK nations/regions (wording like “summit”, “first ministers”, “devolution”) and photograph the keyword.
* After BBC reporting about a summit involving Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish first ministers this week.
29. Spot a newspaper front page in a shop that mentions “first week” and “PM” on the same cover line, and photograph just the text (no staff or customers).
* Following multiple analyses this week about the prime minister’s first week in office.
30. Find a public transport consultation poster or leaflet about “connecting young people to jobs and training” and capture that exact phrase.
* After UK Parliament announced an inquiry into transport connecting young people to jobs and training.
31. In a cinema foyer or local theatre listing board, locate a screening or reference to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and photograph the title.
* Following BBC coverage about Rocky Horror star Tim Curry this week, the film often resurfaces in listings and conversations.
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.