The clock’s ticking as I try to work out the challenge – but my teenager has already dived into the balls and lost her shoes.

We burrow deep into the inflatables, gasping for air as we try to press the blue-lit buttons. A voice counts down from 10 to warn us our time is up as we glance, laughing at our score on the screen.

One of the most fun challenges was being in a prison cell with giant inflatable balls.(Image: Prison Island)

Welcome to Prison Island, a brilliant fun new attraction right next to Holloway Road tube station that pits your wits against a series of physical and mental challenges behind 31 cell doors.

In teams of two to five you get a set time in each to try to complete each task. Teamwork, dexterity, fast reflexes, strategic thinking, collaborative problem solving and team communication are all tested by the blend of games, sports, and skill-based tests.

The challenges can be done in any order and range from manically dancing on green disco squares to pinging a giant pinball, shooting basketball hoops or firing lasers, and playing a game of whack-a-mole.

By the end of the one hour of challenges I couldn’t believe how well we had done on the scoreboard.(Image: Bridget Galton)

Some, like Green Mile or Waterfall, involve balancing on impossible surfaces trying not to touch the hot floor, or shinnying up poles to hit a button.

There are also head-scratching brainteasers, map-based puzzles, cipher solving, and memory challenges behind some of the doors.

If a door is lit red there’s a team already in there – and you just run onto the next one and double back later.

You can have several goes at the same room and only your highest score will be recorded. By the end of our hour in choky we were breathless and exhilarated but would have happily done another stretch.

We had visited all but six of the cells and racked up a score of almost 500 points – not the highest ever, but respectable compared to the others in our session.

We loved the varied nature of the challenges – if there’s one that’s too difficult you can just move on, or give it a few goes to crack it – the game really is suitable for ages 7 to 77.

I highly recommend trying it with a group of friends or work mates – and there’s a reception area with a bar where you might need to quench your thirst afterwards.

Who knew life behind bars was this fun?

Prison Island is now open at 5-7 Hornsey Street, N7. Prices start at £26.90 from www.feverup.com