We are delighted to release our annual Christmas Challenge and both children and adults alike are encouraged to give it a try.
You can download this year’s Christmas Challenge at the bottom of this page
The focus this year is the surprising geography of GCHQ, which many people won’t realise operates from several sites across the UK including Manchester, London, Scarborough, Bude and our iconic headquarters in Cheltenham.
The Challenge is contained in a Christmas card sent by Director Anne Keast-Butler and features a series of seven puzzles, which range in difficulty and test different problem-solving skills. The puzzles are masterminded by a team of puzzling experts who work at GCHQ, who are encouraging school groups across the UK to work as a team to reveal the final hidden message.
This year for the first time there are three additional elements hidden within the card for those who want to take on an extra challenge.
The puzzles include skills such as codebreaking, maths and analysis and test lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance. Just like the work that goes on at GCHQ every day to keep the country safe, the Christmas brainteasers will require different approaches and different ways of thinking.
Following on from the success of last year’s card, which was downloaded 138,000 times by schools and members of the public, secondary school classes across the UK will be taking on the series of festive brainteasers. School children are also being encouraged to take the puzzles home to challenge family and friends.
Director GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler, said:
“Puzzles have always been at the heart of GCHQ, and the skills needed to solve them are just as relevant in 2024 as they were over 100 years ago.
“This year’s Challenge features seven puzzles, plus several hidden elements for those who want an extra test. The puzzles are aimed at teenagers and young people, but everyone is encouraged to give them a try – they might surprise you.
“The Challenge has been designed for a mix of minds to solve, so is best tackled in groups of classmates, families or friends. Whether you have an analytical mind, a creative brain or prefer engineering, there’s something for everyone.
“As a mathematician, I'm passionate about STEM subjects and encouraging young people to give them a try. I hope the card will inspire young people to explore these STEM subjects and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer.”
Puzzles have been included in Director GCHQ’s Christmas cards to global national security heads since 2015.
GCHQ’s Chief Puzzler, Colin, said:
[Can you find a secret message in Colin’s quote?]
“We are delighted to be launching the 2024 Christmas Challenge aimed at young people, and we hope you find this year’s set of puzzles as challengingly fun as ever.
“This year as usual we’re encouraging teams to work together to tackle the Challenge.
“You can see from the range of puzzles that some parts are trickier than others. However, you do not have to be a genius or top of the class to solve them – you just have to be able to work in a team and embrace the mix of minds and approaches teamwork brings. This is exactly how we work at GCHQ.
“We also hope to show young people through this Challenge that thinking differently is a gift.
“We’d love to see how you get on with the Challenge, so please let us know by tagging us – or asking a grown-up to tag us – in a post on Instagram, X or LinkedIn @GCHQ.
“Happy puzzle-solving!”
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the Christmas Challenge this year, as GCHQ plan to launch their Top Secret Puzzle Club on Instagram, where you can get some bonus puzzles and handy hints to help you on your journey to solving the puzzles.
Share your progress, ask for help and triumph in your completion by using the hashtag #GCHQChristmasChallenge across X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
To find out all about this year's Challenge, watch here in British Sign Language.