Pokémon GO’s 10th anniversary comes to Shoreditch across two August weekends, with a creator race across London, free coffee, and a prize draw to win a trip to Japan.
Ten years ago Pokémon GO launched and people walked into lamp posts staring at their phones trying to catch a Pidgey. In the decade since, 800 million people have played it, collectively walking more than 100 billion kilometres. For context, that’s 334 round trips between the Earth and the Sun walked by players who were ostensibly just nipping to the shops.
The 10th anniversary celebrations are heading to London this August, and the hook is a good one.
What’s happening in Shoreditch
Pokémon GO Summer Quest brings Chunkz and Miniminter to London across the weekends of 1 to 2 August and 8 to 9 August, with both creators going head-to-head in a live city-wide race.
The pair, both household names in the UK YouTube world with Chunkz as a Beta Squad co-founder and Miniminter as part of the Sidemen, will catch Pokémon, complete challenges and battle to the finish line across London, with the finale playing out live at the Shoreditch event site.
Fans at the events can watch the race conclusion, meet the creators and take part in their own Pokémon GO experiences. Open the app within the event footprint and you’ll unlock a free Timed Research, complete the first stage and there’s a complimentary coffee from the Pokémon GO pop-up waiting for you.
Complete the full research, share your entry on Instagram using #pokemongosummerquest, and you’re entered to win a trip for two to Japan. Entries close 31 August 2026.
The National Trust partnership
Beyond Summer Quest, Pokémon GO has launched a partnership with the National Trust this summer, with PokéStops, Gyms and Routes now active at over 140 National Trust locations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Twenty-seven destinations have dedicated in-game events with Location Backgrounds specific to each site, ranging from Stourhead in Wiltshire to Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire and Scotney Castle in Kent.
It’s a genuinely smart pairing: the game that got people walking around their local streets is now getting them to Attingham Park and Clumber Park instead.
The London x London Take: The Pokémon GO Summer Quest events are free to attend, Chunkz and Miniminter together is a genuinely strong draw for anyone with a teenager in their life or who has been quietly playing this game for a decade without admitting it. Shoreditch, two August weekends, free coffee while you’re there. Could be worse.
Need to Know
- Where: Shoreditch, London E1 (exact location to be confirmed via the Pokémon GO app)
- When: 1 to 2 August and 8 to 9 August 2026
- Price: Free to attend
- Nationwide experiences: 1 to 9 August across the UK
