Boards, quizzes, meet-ups
Games & Social
Local chess club (ECF directory)Find a club; many meet weekly in pubs
Outdoor chess tables (Holland Park etc)Free public boards; casual play
Draughts board-game cafe100s of games + game gurus; small cover. Original site is Acton Mews E8; second branch at Waterloo SE1.
Loading Bar (gaming cafe)Retro video + board games + drinks. Dalston site on Kingsland Road E8; second venue in Stratford E20.Board game meetup nightTons of free recurring boardgame nights
Dungeons & Dragons / TTRPG groupBeginner one-shots to learn the ropes
Warhammer / wargaming clubStore clubs run intro games + paint nights
Pub quiz circuitMost pubs run weekly quizzes; often free
Mahjong / Go clubLondon Go Centre + mahjong meetups
Bridge club / beginner lessonsLearn bridge; clubs welcome new playersPoker home-game / casual leagueLow-stakes social poker leagues
Bounce ping-pong / Flight Club dartsSocial darts with automatic scoring + food & drink, multiple London venues. Book an oche ahead; 18+ evenings.
Swingers crazy golfTwo indoor courses (West End & City), cocktails + street food; 1920s seaside/countryside theming. ~£13.50pp. 18+. Book ahead, esp. evenings. Only one London course now: John Prince's Street W1. The City site EC3 closed in 2025.
Bowling (All Star Lanes etc.)Retro lanes + diner food
Laser tag / Bunker 51Apocalypse-themed laser + airsoft
Shuffleboard – Electric ShuffleDigitised shuffleboard + cocktails (London Bridge & Canary Wharf). Book a table ahead; 18+ evenings. London Bridge SE1 is the original site; second venue at Canary Wharf E14.Arcade bar (NQ64 / Four Quarters)Retro arcades + cocktails
Meetup.com (everything)Master directory of every hobby group
Bumble For FriendsFriend-finding mode for activity buddies
Run/yoga club at sportswear storesFree in-store run & yoga clubs
Newcomers / expats social clubFor people new to London
Learn chess onlineFully free incl. lessons + puzzlesLearn Go (baduk)Deep, ancient game; free to learn
Cryptic crossword habitFree daily puzzles; learn cryptics
Jigsaw puzzles / puzzle swapCalming; swap finished ones for freeMagic / card tricksReputable magic tutorials & beginner resources
Chess puzzles / tactics trainingDaily puzzle habit; rapidly improves play
Run-and-coffee socialEasy run then cafe; very low pressure
Board-game speed-datingMeet people over games not small talk
Men's Shed (community workshop)Make & mend together; tackles isolation
Parkrun + brunch crewRun then cafe; ready-made communityLearn chess openings properlySpaced-repetition opening trainers
Learn to solve a Rubik's cubeFree step-by-step Rubik's solving guide; a weekend skill
Bounce / Sandbox-style social gamingSociable competitive nights
Bingo (Bongo's / Hijingo)High-energy modern bingo nightsDarts (social, oche bars)Social darts is everywhere now
Pinball / retro arcade leagueYes, there are pinball leagues
Chess in the park clubSummer outdoor chess socialsScrabble / word-game clubCompetitive & casual Scrabble clubs
Quiz league (proper, weekly)Join a team in a borough quiz league
Murder-mystery dinnerSolve a crime over dinner
Speed-friending / new-in-town mixerStructured way to make friends fastSober social / dry bar nightAlcohol-free socialising scene
Make your own board gameDesign & print your own game; free design guides + print service
Indoor mini-golf marathonPerfect wet-weather group plan
Department store / concept store moochLiberty, Fortnum's; free to wander & dream
Board-game cafe rainy sessionSettle in with games & coffee till it clears. Original site is Acton Mews E8; second branch at Waterloo SE1.Beach metal detecting (Crown Estate foreshore)Generally allowed on Crown foreshore, surface/hand-tools only; check local rules
Antiquarian Horological / watch-collecting societyFor people who collect & study clocks/watchesStamp collecting (Royal Philatelic Society)World's oldest philatelic society; talks & library
Coin collecting (numismatic society)Lectures & meetings for coin enthusiastsTrainspotting / railway enthusiast groupSpotting spots + heritage railway groups
Penpal club / letter writingFind penpals worldwide; postal or email
African culture / diaspora community groupCultural societies, language & food events
Women-only social / hobby groupsWomen's walking, running, business & craft groups
Rage room (smash session)Suit up & smash plates/electronics; stress relief
African & Caribbean community groupCultural societies, language (Yoruba, Twi, Patois), food & networking events; search Meetup/Eventbrite.
Black women's networking / socialNetworking, brunches & business events for Black women; search current organisers on Eventbrite.
Afrosocial (Black professionals)After-work networking mixers for Black professionals across industries - icebreakers, career panels, chilled vibes. Great for solo comers; open to all. Book per event.The KickBack (Black professionals)Events hub for Black & mixed-heritage professionals - networking nights, socials, dating & themed parties. Colour-coded badges & pitch sessions. Book per event.
Blacq SpaceNetworking & social events centring Black professionals & creatives; search current events on Eventbrite/Instagram.
The Africa CentrePan-African cultural hub - talks, exhibitions, business & networking events, food & a members' community. Check the calendar.
Black Tech Fest / ColorintechColorintech runs Black Tech Fest & year-round events improving access for Black & underrepresented people in tech. Many free; register per event.BYP Network (Black Young Professionals)Global Black professional network connecting members to jobs & each other; events & an app. Sign up online.
Black Girl FestPlatform & festival celebrating Black women & non-binary people - talks, market & community events. Book per event.BBOXX / Black-owned business meetupNetworking for Black founders & entrepreneurs; search current Black-business mixers on Eventbrite.
AllBright (women's members' club)Domain lapsed — now a painting company, not the members club.Ladies, Wine & DesignGlobal initiative for women & non-binary creatives - mentorship circles, portfolio reviews & meetups. Mostly free; book per event.
Women in Business Networking (Socialite)Socialite Connections mixers for female founders & professionals; ~£20 incl. a one-minute pitch slot. Book per event.FemTechConf / Women in Tech & BusinessLarge summit for women & allies in tech, finance, AI & beyond - keynotes & interactive networking. Book ahead.
WeAreTechWomen eventsYear-round conferences, awards & networking for women in tech (e.g. WeAreTechWomen Conference). Register per event.
WomenHack LondonRecruitment & networking evenings connecting women in tech with employers. Free for job-seekers; register online.
Women's networking brunchRelaxed women's networking brunches & socials citywide; search current dates on Eventbrite.
Silicon MilkroundaboutLondon's big tech job fair - engineers, data, design, product & marketing meet startups. Free for job-seekers; register online.
Silicon Roundabout meetupLong-running Shoreditch tech community - talks & networking for developers, founders & creatives. Free; join on Meetup.
AI / ML community meetupFrequent free AI/ML/data meetups & talks across London; search current groups on Meetup.
Startup Grind LondonGlobal founder community - fireside chats & networking for entrepreneurs. Book per event.
CreativeMornings LondonFree monthly breakfast talk series for the creative community - coffee, a talk & networking. Free; RSVP online.
Creative Lives in ProgressPlatform & events helping emerging creatives break in - portfolio reviews & networking. Many free; register per event.
D&AD / creative industry eventsTalks, awards & networking across advertising, design & creative industries. Book per event.
Type Thursday / design critMonthly meetup for type & design lovers - drinks, talks & friendly portfolio critique. Low-cost; RSVP online.
Association of Illustrators meetupsIRL & online meetups for illustrators; AOI members get discounts. Register per event.
Creative Equals (inclusive creative)Diversity org for the creative industry - 'Talkshops', programmes & networking. Register per event.
STEM Women careers eventCareers fairs connecting women & non-binary people in STEM with employers. Free for attendees; register online.New Scientist / science networkingScience talks, festivals & socials (e.g. New Scientist Live) with networking. Book per event.
General London business networking (BNI etc.)Structured referral & business networking groups meeting weekly; visit free before joining. Plus Chamber of Commerce events.
Meetup professional networking (any field)The catch-all: hundreds of free/low-cost professional & industry meetups citywide. Search your field on Meetup.
Join a Deaf social clubRemark!'s Remarkable Club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2pm–5pm, at the Remark! Lounge, 18 Leather Lane EC1N 7SU. Suggested donation £2.
Join a Deaf 55+ lunch clubFour lunch clubs for older Deaf Londoners, 10am–3pm: Eltham on Mondays, Harrow Wednesdays, Croydon Thursdays, Camden Fridays. Suggested donation £5.
Take your child to a Deaf Saturday ClubFortnightly Saturdays, 11am–3pm, for ages 6–14, in the Holborn area. Suggested donation £2.
Join a Deaf parents and children's groupMonthly meet-ups for Deaf parents, hearing parents of Deaf children and CODA families, with weekly advocacy support on Tuesdays 9am–5pm.
Book a Deaf children's holiday playschemeSchool-holiday activities built around Deaf children's communication and access needs, 10am–4pm, for ages 6–16. North and south London sites. Suggested donation £2.Race a kart underneath a football stadiumF1 Drive is a Formula 1-branded karting circuit built into the base of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Check the minimum height and age for the karts when booking.
Dig through thousands of vintage pieces at ATIKAOne of London's biggest vintage stores, spread over multiple rooms by era and style — 90s, Y2K, denim, sportswear, designer. Go with time and no particular plan.
Do a Rokit vintage crawlRokit has several London branches and they don't stock the same things. Chain three together — Brick Lane, Camden, Covent Garden — and you've got a day out rather than a shopping trip.
Go digging for vintage at Beyond RetroWarehouse-scale second-hand, sorted by type rather than curated by taste — which is why it rewards patience. Use the store locator for your nearest branch.
Go to an adult sports dayRECESS runs social events built on the premise that adults stopped playing too early. Team games, no skill required, strangers welcome.
Spend a day at LEGOLAND WindsorA full day out of London for younger children, with rides scaled to them rather than to teenagers. Book ahead — gate prices are the worst way to do it.
Spend a day at Thorpe ParkThe serious rollercoasters, reachable from Waterloo in under an hour. Height restrictions apply on most of the big rides — check before promising anyone anything.Have a retro seaside amusement day at DreamlandA restored 1920s amusement park in Margate with a Grade II-listed wooden scenic railway, roller disco and a gig venue. Ninety minutes from St Pancras, and the beach is right there.
Throw darts at a festive Flight Club party with canapes, pizza and drinks includedFlight Club's limited-time Christmas packages bundle social darts with canapés, pizza, mini desserts and drinks for groups of 2 to 36, booked online at its Bloomsbury, Islington, Shoreditch or Victoria sites.
Bowl and play arcade games at a Lane7 Christmas party in Camden or VictoriaLane7's Christmas packages give each person a game on its boutique bowling lanes plus a drinks bucket, with soft drinks among the choices. Bigger packages add a second round of games, for parties of six or more.
Shoot virtual clay pigeons at snowy mountain scenes at a Clays Christmas partyClays' London bars (City, Canary Wharf, Soho) get a festive makeover with Christmas clay-shooting games, sharing plates and a drinks list running from festive cocktails to no-alcohol options. Groups of up to 20 book instantly, and bigger groups go through the events team.Play shuffleboard in teams under neon in Canary WharfSlide pucks down tech-scored shuffleboard tables with cocktails and sharing plates in a Cabot Square bar. Tables take groups of friends, and the venue hosts team socials of up to 350.
Battle your mates at tech-boosted fairground games in Canary WharfTap a games card into hook-a-duck, hoopla-style throws, horse racing and water-gun games, all wired to live leaderboards, then refuel at the street food stalls. Groups of up to 15 book online; 16 to 600 go through the events team.
Shoot virtual clays in teams in Canary WharfTake turns blasting virtual clay targets on a big screen from your own semi-private peg, with food and drinks served to the peg. There's also a private room for bigger groups, and a heated waterside terrace.
Buzz in on a TV game-show quiz set with your team in SpitalfieldsTeams compete on buzzers in a studio-style quiz room with lights, music and twists: pop culture, music quizzes, or a custom quiz with your own questions. Groups get at least two games, an award ceremony and team photos on the set, with drinks at the bar before and after.
Play tech mini golf that keeps score for you at BankPutt round indoor mini-golf courses in the City where the balls track every shot and bonus point, so the scoreboard runs itself. There's a bar and kitchen on site for shareables, flatbreads and burgers between rounds.Play scored social darts with friends at a semi-private oche in ShoreditchYour group gets a semi-private oche where the tech scores seven multiplayer darts games automatically, with pizza, sharing plates and cocktails brought to you while you play. You get a video highlight reel afterwards.
Throw social darts with your crew in a Victorian-fairground bar in VictoriaBook a semi-private oche for seven auto-scored multiplayer darts games, with cocktails, pizzas and sharing plates brought to you. There is also a large garden bar.
Play ping pong and beer pong over pizza at Battersea Power StationBook tables as a group for ping pong, interactive Ping Pong X or beer pong, with a package that adds pizza and drinks; a Games Guru can host for extra.
Throw interactive darts at a private booth with friends on the StrandYour group takes a darts booth for an 85-minute session of tech-scored darts games, with street-food sharing plates and cocktails from the kitchen and bar.
Shuffle, curl and throw darts as a group at a games bar in HolbornMix and match activities such as ice-free curling, tech darts, tech shuffleboard, duckpin bowling and karaoke, with pizzas, burgers and wings from the kitchen.
Take your colleagues for ice-free curling and tech darts in the CityBook a mix of games (ice-free curling, tech darts, tech shuffleboard, ping pong, duckpin bowling) at an activity bar by the Gherkin, with pizzas, burgers and cocktails.Play a two-floor crazy golf course with friends in a bar on Old StreetPlay a crazy golf course of pipes, loops and wall shots over two floors, adding drinks, beer buckets, pizzas and burgers to the booking. Bigger parties can take a private room with a karaoke stage.
Putt round a tech-scored mini golf course with your group at Westfield White CityPlay nine holes of mini golf where the balls track and score every shot automatically, with a bar and restaurant on site.Play digital shuffleboard with friends by the canal at King's CrossBook a shuffleboard table with digital scoring and a choice of four games, with cocktails and sharing plates brought to your table.
Play deck and table shuffleboard with your crew on Bethnal Green RoadBook deck or table shuffleboard across a three-floor bar, with food and drink packages added to the booking.
Bowl a few frames on retro lanes with your crew in HolbornTen-pin bowling on four retro lanes in the original All Star Lanes, with classic arcade games, an American-style restaurant and a low-lit cocktail bar on site. Up to 7 people per lane; bigger groups are split across lanes.
Bowl, then grab a private karaoke booth with friends on Brick LaneSix retro bowling lanes plus private karaoke booths, arcade games, two cocktail bars and an American-style restaurant in one East London venue. Book a lane for the group, then add a karaoke hour.Take on your mates at retro arcade machines and AR darts in SohoA two-floor arcade bar off Tottenham Court Road with retro arcade machines, free-to-play consoles, UV pool tables and augmented reality darts, plus game-themed cocktails. Machines run on tokens bought at the bar.
Play retro arcade games and consoles over cocktails on Old StreetA neon arcade bar right by Old Street station with retro arcade machines and free-to-play consoles, game-themed cocktails and late opening every night. Groups can book a package with tokens and drinks.
Bowl on vintage lanes under a Bloomsbury hotel, then sing in a karaoke roomEight bowling lanes booked by the hour (up to 6 players per lane) in the basement of the Tavistock Hotel, with an American diner, a pizza kitchen and five private karaoke rooms for 8 to 30 people.Hire a karaoke booth between games at a 24-lane Finsbury Park bowlRowans is an old-school two-floor bowling alley with 24 lanes, 13 pool tables, arcades and six private karaoke booths that each take 12-15 people. Book a booth by the hour, then bowl.
Play vintage arcade cabinets and book a console booth by the canal in Hackney WickA canalside arcade bar at Here East with restored vintage arcade cabinets on US quarters, bookable console booths for Mario Kart and Smash Bros, craft beer, cocktails and pizza.
Battle it out on vintage arcade machines and console booths at Elephant ParkFour Quarters' biggest arcade bar, by Elephant & Castle station, with restored vintage cabinets, bookable console booths (including Xbox with Game Pass), Americana food and a cordoned-off private hire area for larger groups.
Bowl, putt and hit a secret adult arcade with friends in VictoriaA big activity bar under the Zig Zag Building with ten-pin bowling, an 18-hole mini golf course, shuffleboard, beer pong, augmented darts and Play Dirty, a hidden basement arcade for adults. Groups of 4+ can book a bowl, drink and game package.
Bowl and play pool and darts with friends at Hawley Wharf, CamdenA basement-and-ground-floor games bar by the canal in Camden with ten-pin bowling (up to 7 per lane), darts, pool and Play Dirty, an adult arcade. Groups of 4+ can book a bowl, drink and game package.
Crack a spy-themed escape room as a team near King's CrossYour team is locked into one of clueQuest's spy missions and has 60 minutes to solve its puzzles and get out. Larger groups book several rooms side by side and race each other.
Escape a high-tech horror or spy room with friends in AldgateTeams of up to six take on one of AIM Escape's automated rooms (horror, zombie lab or spy HQ) with 60 minutes to escape. Groups can book several rooms and the team will help arrange drinks and a cake for birthdays.
Play an escape room or the Escape Arcade, then pizza, in HolbornTeams take on one of three 60-minute escape rooms or the Escape Arcade, a string of quick-fire mini challenges built for many teams at once. There's an on-site bar and pizzeria to carry on afterwards.
Race the clock in an escape room under Oxford StreetTeams of up to six get 60 minutes in one of Escape Hunt's themed rooms, inside the Boom Battle Bar basement on Oxford Street. Bigger groups book several rooms and play head to head, with drinks at the in-house bar.
Play a life-sized game of Monopoly as a team off Tottenham Court RoadTeams of up to six race round a giant Monopoly board, buying properties and playing challenge rooms against three other teams. A full board of 24 can be booked for exclusive use, and there's a themed bar and restaurant on site.Escape a gothic horror room with friends in HammersmithEscape London's Hammersmith site has two high-immersion rooms (horror and gothic mystery) for teams of two to eight, with 60 minutes to get out. The whole room is private to your group.
Pick one of seven escape rooms for your group on Holloway RoadEscape London's biggest site has seven private 60-minute rooms, from a ghost ship to Sherlock's flat, so a larger group can split into teams and play at the same time.
Play interactive team games inside a Gamebox near SouthwarkTeams of up to six step into a room of motion-tracking projections and play 30- or 60-minute games together, from puzzles to licensed adventures. Bigger groups get several boxes side by side, with drinks brought to the box.Take on a team escape room in Wandsworth's Ram QuarterTeams of up to six get 60 minutes in one of Escape Hunt's themed rooms, with a pre-game drink in the lounge first. Bigger groups book several rooms at once.
Break out of a classic lock-and-key escape room by London BridgeOne of London's longest-running escape room venues, just off Tooley Street, with two traditional non-linear rooms (an Egyptian tomb and a wizard's elixir hunt). Book both at once and up to 13 of you can play side by side.
Solve a phone-guided Thames treasure hunt with pub-lunch stops in BanksideYour team follows clues sent to your phone along the river through Bankside, unlocking three food stops on the way: a British treat, a pub lunch and a dessert. It starts at the Founder's Arms and takes about three hours.
Solve a private escape room as a group in ElthamAn independent escape room venue in south-east London with three 60-minute rooms (a jungle temple, Neverland and a Ripper-era horror). Every booking is private to your group, with a host to give hints.
Escape a wizard school or haunted manor with friends in ActonHoudini's Escape Rooms inside Tenpin Acton has two themed 60-minute rooms for teams of two to six — a family-friendly wizarding school and a harder haunted manor. Bowling, karaoke and laser tag are in the same building if you want to make a night of it.Throw real axes at interactive digital targets with your team in HammersmithAn Axe Master gives you a safety briefing and teaches you to throw, then your group plays digitally scored games on a private lane. The Warrior group package adds pizza, soft drinks and a team photo.
Take over a laser tag arena with up to 30 friends in WandsworthBook an exclusive game so only your group plays in Laser Quest Wandsworth's themed sci-fi arena, or join public games; there are VR sphere rides too. Midweek evenings offer three games for £15 each.
Play 30 minutes of laser tag in a 4D arena with your crew in Park RoyalWeekday bookings get your team of up to six into Tenpin Acton's fog-and-LED laser arena for a 10-minute briefing and 20 minutes of play against other groups; the centre also has bowling, karaoke, darts and food.Play a game of crazy golf, darts or axe-throwing with drinks and street food near Aldgate EastBook a bundle that gets your group a full game (crazy golf, AR darts, axe throwing, shuffleboard, karaoke or beer pong), two drinks and street food each at a games bar in Goodman's Fields.
Fight zombies together in full-body VR near Covent GardenYour group suits up with headsets and motion-capture trackers and plays one shared virtual-reality adventure in a free-roam room, seeing each other as avatars. There's a robot bartender for drinks afterwards.
Play a team VR mission together in WandsworthSquad up in a free-roam virtual-reality room with full-body motion capture and play one shared game as a team, on the top floor of the Gravity MAX entertainment centre in Southside.
Shoot virtual clay pigeons from a private peg in MoorgateTake turns blasting virtual clay targets on a big screen from a semi-private peg in a cocktail bar under Moorgate, ordering food and drinks to your peg. A private room, The Hide, takes up to 30.
Race each other on F1 simulators overlooking St Paul'sEach of you gets a racing simulator and you go head-to-head or in teams over a set of races, with a bar and kitchen in the same space. Bigger groups can take a semi-private area.
Walk free-roam through a zombie VR shooter or escape room in AldgateYour team plays a backpack-free, free-roam VR game together — a zombie shooter, or a VR escape room against the clock — in one big room, after a short briefing. Games run 30 to 50 minutes.Race your mates on pro-spec driving simulators at Westfield LondonBook a row of linked racing sims and race solo, head-to-head or as teams, posting lap times to the leaderboard, with a bar and big screen for live racing on site.
Play board games from a 1,000-game library over dinner under WaterlooBook a table in a board-game kitchen in the Leake Street tunnel, pick from over 1,000 games and order food and drinks to the table while you play.
Play board games over tacos by the Olympic Park in StratfordBook a table at a board-game kitchen opposite the London Stadium, borrow anything from a library of over 1,000 games and eat while you play.
Pick a board game from the shelves and settle in over food in CroydonBook a table at a board-game café bar on Croydon High Street, choose from its game library with help from staff, and eat and drink while you play.Compete on a real TV game-show set in Shoreditch with your crewYour group takes the podiums on a lit, camera-rigged game-show set and battles through five TV-style trivia, logic and reflex challenges plus mini-games in 60 minutes, spinning a giant multiplier wheel between rounds. Choose the Original quiz or the adults-only Rowdy quiz.
Pick from 500 board games and play the night away with friends under Brixton stationBook a table at a board-game café in a railway arch and work through a library of party and strategy games, with sourdough pizza and drinks brought to the table. A small hourly table fee goes towards the games library.Throw axes, play AR darts and crazier golf with your crew in EalingBook a game lane at a games bar on Ealing Broadway for axe throwing, augmented-reality darts, shuffleboard, pool, crazy golf or a private karaoke booth, with street food and drinks between rounds.
Bowl, then sing in a private karaoke room with your mates in CroydonBook one of two private karaoke rooms for up to 10 at a 25-lane bowling centre in Croydon, and add bowling, pool or table tennis in the same visit, with a bar and food on site.Talk your way into a hidden detective-agency bar in Earl's CourtBook an appointment, explain your 'case' to the detective at the door and get let into a prohibition-themed speakeasy for cocktails.
Try a beginner D&D session or raid the board game library at a fantasy tavern in ShoreditchA themed gaming bar split into a board-game library room, wargaming tables and private role-playing booths, with GM-led beginner D&D sessions and other ticketed game nights.
Play Warhammer, Magic or a board game on purpose-built tables on Holloway RoadA tabletop gaming café with custom gaming tables you book for board games, card games or wargames, plus regular Magic and wargame events. There's a second branch in Borough.Join a GM-run Dungeons & Dragons table in a pub near Elephant & CastleBuy a ticket and sit down in a themed game room where a professional Games Master runs D&D; dice, models and the story are all provided, and new players get a guided character creation session.
Join a gothic-horror D&D one-shot aboard a pirate-ship bar in FitzroviaA Games Master leads your party through a four-hour Dungeons & Dragons one-shot set on a themed pirate-ship tavern; no experience is needed and solo players are put into a party.
Play free board games on Thursday nights at a Bermondsey Beer Mile taproomHiver's railway-arch taproom puts out a curated shelf of board games every Thursday evening; bring friends, buy a drink and play for free.
Let kids try being pilots, surgeons and firefighters in a mini city at WestfieldKidZania is an indoor role-play city where children take on real-world jobs — flying a plane, working a fire engine, running a bakery or TV studio — earning the city's own currency as they go.
Race go-karts and brave the Black Hole Slide at a giant soft play in CroydonKidspace Croydon is a 30,000 sq ft indoor adventure centre with towering play frames, a black-hole slide, a soft-ball arena, Draw Alive interactive drawing, an indoor go-kart track and a separate Toddler Village for under-5s.
Ride, skate and graze your way round Winter Wonderland in Hyde ParkLondon's biggest Christmas funfair takes over Hyde Park for six weeks: rides, circus and ice shows, a Bavarian-style food and drink village and festive markets. Entry is cheapest booked online, with £1 off-peak sessions Monday to Thursday in November.Take the kids to Santa's North Pole workshop at ExCeLA theatrical walk-through Christmas adventure: an Enchanted Forest, the elves' workshop, Mrs Claus and a visit to Santa, then a festive village with market stalls, food and fairground rides.