Whether you're a casual gamer or a competitive esports enthusiast, there's no better way to spend an afternoon than gaming in London.
Explore the top things to do in London for gamers, from huge conventions and VR arenas to dedicated esports bars, arcades and gaming cafes.
Best gaming bars and gaming cafes in London
1. Grab a pint from the on-site brewery and try out some of the games on offer, including a VR platform and retro arcade games, at Four Thieves in Battersea.
2. Head to London esports bar, Platform in Shoreditch to enjoy a mix of pizza and video games for players of all levels. Check out its exciting lineup of events, which includes a game-fuelled bottomless brunch.
3. 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.
4. Check out SideQuest's flagship London store in Chinatown, offering keen gamers a 12-station esports arena and private rooms for hire.
5. Play all day long at Loading Bar in Stoke Newington with its selection of games for Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, plus dozens of board games and game-themed cocktails.
6. Step into the future and play immersive computer games on a Wonderball table at Bounce, the ultimate London bar for ping pong fans.
7. Find your new favourite board game at Draughts, with a library of hundreds of games across two venues in Waterloo and Dalston.
8. Tee off a round of high-tech golf at Pitch's clubhouses in Canary Wharf, Soho and Liverpool Street.
9. Sharpen your batting skills at Sixes Cricket Club using its bowling simulator and VR cricket.
10. Choose from a game of bowling, beer pong or traditional darts at Lane7 in Victoria, before testing your luck in the funfair style games room.
Explore more arcades and top activity bars in London where you can combine food, drinks and good times.
Explore London's best gaming arenas and experiences
11. Escape to Otherworld, a VR paradise in Hackney offering 16 fully immersive multi-player games.
12. Team up with friends and family for an exhilarating race at F1® Arcade in St Paul's, featuring full-motion racing simulators so you feel like you're really racing.
13. Dive into another world at Sandbox VR, where players wear haptic feedback suits that add touch, vibration and motion into the gaming experience. A robotic bartender serves up drinks!
14. Check out the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Shoreditch for regular esports tournaments, pro-gamer training sessions and workshops for new gamers.
15. Get your adrenaline pumping during an action-packed VR session with your friends at the free-roam MeetspaceVR arena at Boxpark Wembley.
16. Don your headset and enter your choice of virtual worlds at DNA VR, a dedicated VR games arcade in London with immersive escape rooms and free-roaming experiences.
17. Become a racing driver at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's F1® Drive - London, the official F1 karting track, with simulators, challenges and exhilarating races.
18. Be put to the test with an hour of interconnected puzzles and captivating stories in one of three themed escape rooms at Enigma Quests.
19. Zap your opponents and get your adrenaline pumping at the ultimate laser quest sci-fi adventure at Laser Quest Greenwich.
20. Explore the PlayHouse at Selfridges, a 200 sq m (2,153 sq ft) gaming destination with the latest consoles, VR experiences, racing simulators and retro arcade games.
21. From Pacman to Minecraft and Mario, play the best video games and consoles from the last 50 years at Power Up at the Science Museum.
22. Enjoy more than 40 high-end gaming stations, private rooms and a streaming pod at Islington’s New Meta Gaming Arena.
23. Visit the world’s first active gaming facility, Activate at The O2, complete with nine dynamic game rooms, hundreds of games at varying difficulty levels and an electronic wristband to track your progress.
Must-visit tech and game shops in London
- Go for a ride in a VR car and enjoy more tech-themed fun at the Samsung KX store in Coal Drops Yard.
- Head to RazerStore London by Leicester Square to discover the latest gadgets and try out products in the playtest area.
Don't miss these esports events in London
- Watch as the all-electric race cars speed in and around Excel London at the Formula E World Championship. 26-27 Jul
- Enjoy top-tier Counter-Strike competition at BLAST Open London 2025 in OVO Arena Wembley. Aug-Sep TBC
For more things to do in London, check out the best London restaurants, try out an exciting escape room in London, have a drink at a cool and quirky bar or find top events around the capital.
