Check out the top things to do for gamers, from huge London conventions and cool tech hubs, to dedicated esports arenas and quirky board game cafes in London.
Best cafes and bars with games in London
- Grab a pint from the on-site brewery and try out some of the games on offer at Four Thieves, including a VR platform, an immersive escape room and retro arcade games.
- Head to Shoreditch to enjoy a mix of pizza and video games for players of all levels at London esports bar, Platform. Check out its exciting lineup of events, which includes a game-fuelled bottomless brunch!
- Take your pick from cool retro consoles and arcade games (which run on US quarters) at aptly named Four Quarters. Top tip: pay a visit to the hidden basement bar at the Peckham location.
- Check out Wanyoo’s flagship London store in Chinatown, offering keen gamers a 12-station esports arena, training sessions and private rooms for hire where you can go head-to-head with your mates.
- Play all day long with Loading Bar’s selection of games for Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch consoles, as well as more than 60 board games and plenty of quirky game-themed cocktails.
- Step into the future and play immersive computer games on a Wonderball table at Bounce – the ultimate London bar for ping pong fans!
- Be spoilt for choice with a visit to London board game bar Draughts, which is home to more than 800 games across two venues in Waterloo and Dalston.
- Prepare to play beer pong like never before! Round up your friends and battle it out on an interactive games table at Pong London.
- Tee off a round of high-tech golf at Pitch's clubhouse in the City of London.
- Sharpen your batting skills at one of the two Sixes Cricket Club's branches, after devouring a hearty meal and whimsy cocktails at the inhouse restaurant.
Dedicated gaming spheres in London
- Escape to a whole Otherworld – this VR paradise in Hackney offers 16 fully immersive multi-player games and a Doctor Who-themed experience.
- Check out the Red Bull Gaming Sphere, where you’ll find regular esports tournaments, pro-gamer training sessions and workshops for new gamers.
- Get your adrenaline pumping during an action-packed VR session with your friends in Boxpark Wembley’s huge free-roam arena.
- Visit the home of the Stratford Spartans, Kingston Harriers and London Lionhearts esports teams at one of three Belong arenas by GAME in the capital, each putting on regular tournaments for competitive gamers.
- Don your headset and enter a completely virtual world at DNA VR, a dedicated VR games arcade in London with immersive escape rooms and free-roaming experiences!
Cool tech and game shops in London
- Go for a ride in a virtual-reality car, listen to tech-themed talks and join esports sessions for keen gamers at the Samsung KX store in trendy Coal Drops Yard.
- Drop by the Microsoft Store on Oxford Street, which offers cutting-edge technology, a dedicated esports lounge and a programme of events, from useful workshops to video game tournaments.
- Head to RazerStore London to discover the latest gadgets and try out products in the playtest area, or explore the flagship store's three hands-on gamer zones.
- Stop off at the Apple Store on Regent Street for special events and workshops, designed to explore areas such as coding, design and augmented reality.
Top gamer and esports London events
- Attend fascinating talks, prototype introductions and more at the annual London Games Festival.
- Celebrate some of the most epic creations in the world of esports at the BAFTA Games Awards.
- Explore the best of experimental game design with Now Play This.
- See top players compete to be crowned the world's best, take part in Pokémon Go competitions and play game demos at the 2021 Pokémon World Championships.
For more things to do in London, check out some of the best London restaurants, fun escape rooms, quirky bars and top events in London.