From classic arcade games to state-of-the-art virtual reality adventures, London’s arcades have something for everyone. This is the perfect activity to do with friends, children, or as a fun date night.
In this article, I’ll explore some of the best arcades in London, where you can play thrilling games, compete with friends, and relive the golden age of arcade gaming.
Many of these arcades also double as bars or pubs, with unique cocktail menus and street food available to fuel your gaming session.
The Best Arcades in London Near You
London’s vibrant arcade scene caters to gamers of all kinds; from classic arcade enthusiasts to those seeking the latest gaming technologies. Whether you want to relive the nostalgia of retro arcade games, dive into virtual reality adventures, or explore interactive gaming experiences, check out these spots below for some inspiration!
Retro Arcades
Four Quarters – Retro Gaming Arcade
Four Quarters, with locations in Peckham, Elephant and Castle, and Hackney Wick, is a haven for retro gaming enthusiasts.
When I stepped into this nostalgic arcade, I instantly found myself surrounded by an impressive collection of vintage arcade games and consoles. From Pac-Man and Street Fighter to pinball machines, and even classic console games.
I booked a console booth with some friends, which had a TV to play classic video games while we enjoyed our drinks. Four Quarters has a super fun, themed cocktail menu with drinks such as the ‘Rainbow Road’ and “Yoshi Sour’, as well as delicious stone baked pizzas to fuel your gaming session.
You can purchase quarters at the bar to play the wide range of arcade games, it worked out to about 50p-£1 per game. This is a great spot to challenge your friends to a friendly competition, or simply to step back into your childhood gaming memories.
Address: Unit 8, International Broadcast Centre, E Bay Ln, London E15 2GW
NQ64 – Vibrant Retro Gaming Paradise
NQ64 Soho looks like a scene out of an 80s film, covered in vibrant neon paint and graffiti, and filled to the brim with retro arcade games. With eight locations across the UK, NQ64 has nailed the set-up for a fun gaming night with a group of friends.
There’s a mixture of new and old games to play at NQ64, everything from Pacman to Guitar Hero. You can enjoy single player games, or compete with others while playing one of the multiplayer games available.
It was such a cool afternoon rediscovering some classics, I absolutely loved playing some of my childhood favourites like Donkey Kong and Mario Kart!
NQ64 also has a super exciting drinks menu with video game-themed drinks which were really fun to try.
They do booking deals online which include game tokens, but you can purchase more when you’re there.
Address: 53-54 Berwick St, Soho, W1F 8SP
Four Thieves – The Ultimate Arcade Pub
Four Thieves is an arcade pub in Clapham Junction, serving a range of drinks amongst a brilliant backdrop of arcade games and activities to play.
In the centre of the room there’s a huge track where you can sit in the driver’s seat and race remote control cars. There are also a range of single player and multiplayer games, such as skeeball, dance mats and virtual reality!
I booked a table for this spot, but it wasn’t necessary, as we ended up spending most of the evening walking around playing the games. It’s free to enter Four Thieves, and all of their games take contactless payments, so there’s no need to take any cash out.
Address: 51 Lavender Gardens, London SW11 1DJ
Heart of Gaming – Retro Gaming Lounge
Heart of Gaming is located right on the high street in Croydon. This is the perfect spot to get your fix of retro arcade games such as Street Fighter and Pinball. There are also a bunch of vintage consoles available to play, including the SNES and Nintendo 64.
There are currently over 60 retro arcade games at Heart of Gaming, and they work hard to restore old arcade machines, meaning that there are often new games added.
You can purchase a wristband to have access to unlimited gameplay, and for £20 for an adult pass, you can definitely get your money’s worth here!
Address: 44-46 N End, Road, London, Croydon CR0 1UG
VR Arcades
DNA VR – Virtual Reality Arcade
If you’re looking for an immersive gaming experience, DNA VR is the place to be. With locations in Camden, Battersea and Hammersmith, DNA VR specialises in virtual reality gaming.
When I first stepped into the futuristic gaming pod, I was transported to a whole new world of virtual adventures! There were plenty of games to choose from – from action-packed shooters to tricky puzzle games, DNA VR offers a huge selection of VR experiences suitable for beginners and seasoned gamers.
I thought that the staff were super knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the process. They also offer VR escape rooms, which I think would be a great activity to do with a group of friends, or as a date!
This isn’t the most budget-friendly option, with packages costing between £20-40 per person for an hour of gameplay. Although, the experience was high quality, and we got to play a lot of different games.
Address: Units 1&2, 400-404 York Way, N7 9LR
Otherworld – London’s Virtual Reality Theme Park
Otherworld allows you to enter a digital theme park, with sixteen unique VR experiences to choose from, each filled with mini games and challenges.
Upon entering Otherworld, I stepped into my own immersion pod and put my VR headset on to be transported to Paradise Island. I loved that the immersion pod had special effects like heat and wind to make the scenes seem real.
Otherworld has VR arcades in Hackney and Victoria, I would recommend booking in advance to make sure you’ll get a slot. They also have a bar you can enjoy after your VR experience!
Address: 336 Acton Mews, Haggerston, E8 4EA
Immersive Gamebox – Modern High-Tech Team Games
Located in Southbank, Immersive Gamebox offers a unique blend of gaming and interactive experiences. The service was brilliant at this high-tech arcade; the staff were very attentive, and you can get drinks delivered straight to you while you play.
Immersive Gamebox combines cutting-edge motion tracking and virtual reality technologies with physical activities to create immersive, interactive gameplay.
I thought that their games were super fun to play with a group to challenge yourselves and work together. The games weren’t particularly difficult, but it was a good laugh!
Address: 110 Clifton St, London EC2A 4HT
Kids Arcades
Gravity Arcade – The Giant Activity Centre
Gravity is a huge activity centre in Wandsworth, with plenty of activities and arcade games to entertain you and your friends.
This massive location is spread over three floors and can fit 1000 people! There’s an E-Karting race track, bowling, digital darts, and lots of other arcade games to play.
I was so impressed with the huge range of activities, there really is something for everyone here. I was also pleased with the variety of food and drinks available at Gravity.
This is a fantastic spot for a weekend or evening of fun, or for a birthday party or celebration. And it’s worth noting that Gravity runs student nights on Tuesdays, with 20% of games and drinks with a student card!
Address: Wandsworth High St, London SW18 4TF
Namco Funscape – Perfect for a Family Day Out
With its vibrant atmosphere and abundance of activities, Namco Funscape guarantees hours of fun for gamers of all ages. Located at County Hall in Westminster, Namco Funscape is a gaming hotspot that offers a huge range of attractions and is absolutely perfect for families.
This arcade boasts a wide array of classic and modern games, including retro arcade games, air hockey, racing simulators, and even bumper cars.
Don’t forget to try out their exclusive VR experiences, and maybe even try your hand at bowling or rock climbing!
Address: The Brewery, Romford RM1 1AU
Bonus: F1 Arcade – Perfect for Formula 1 Fans
If you’re a formula 1 fan, the F1 Arcade in St Paul’s is the perfect activity for you! This is an immersive full-motion simulator of a formula 1 race car.
I loved getting into the driver’s seat and experiencing the thrill of racing a formula 1 car.
This was totally different to the other games I’ve tried at other London arcades. They also host F1 watch parties during Grand Prix races!
Don’t forget to check out their yummy food and drinks menu while you’re there.
Address: 1 New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Tips for Enjoying Your Visit to an Arcade
- Decide what kind of games you want to play. There’s a huge range of arcades in London, you may be looking for vintage video games, or a more modern VR arcade, or perhaps head somewhere that offers both.
- Consider the location. If you’re heading into Central London on a weekend, it may get very busy, so it’s important to check whether you need to pre-book your entry in advance.
- Check the menu! It’s a good idea to have a look at whether the arcade you’re going to will serve food and drinks. Many have fun themed cocktail menus, and some sell delicious food to snack on too.
- Find out whether you need cash. Most London arcades take contactless and card payments for their games, but some older machines may also require coins. It might be helpful to get cash out beforehand, so you don’t cut into your gaming time.
