There are three stages in life – childhood where we can play unjudged to our heart’s content, our teenage years where the idea of playing is disgusting and sooo last year, and then adulthood where maturity seems to be based on how little fun you can have. I’m the type of traveller who thrives off drinking games and silly events, but there’s still very little chance for adults to have childish fun, especially if you’re shy or struggle getting all your friends together with a plan. I’ve lived in London for nine years, so I figured it was time to reveal all my findings when it comes to being a big kid in London!
This itinerary was created in a way that provides the cheapest price for each event and helps to skip Transport for London’s jam packed underground service as much as possible. It also assumes you arrive on a Thursday evening and depart late on a Monday or Tuesday morning; a long weekend if you will. Feel free to message us if you’re looking to book this trip – we will help you for free!
Thursday
Flip Out – One of the best trampoline parks in London that is open after dark for older participants! So no, you won’t need to share any of the facilities with children so for once you’ll get priority. Bounce around and play games, climb walls, play basketball and lazer maze to your favourite garage, hip-hop and house tunes.
Times: 6pm-9pm/7pm-10pm
Price: £17.95pp + £2pp trampoline socks
Location: Upton Park/East Ham Underground
Friday
11am: The Slide at ArcelorMittal Orbit – If you love art, panoramic views and adrenaline pumping slides, then this is for you! Visit the viewing platforms situated on this stunning artwork, ended by sliding down a 178m long slide that circles 12 times around the ArcelorMittal Orbit art structure, ending with a 50m straight run to the ground! It’s definitely a different way to view the sights of London.
Opening Times: 11am – 4pm (approx. 1-2 hours)
Price: £16.50pp / £13.50 students / If travelling by train, there is a 2for1 offer when using National Rail via days out guide
Location: Stratford - Underground or Overground, Stratford International Station – National Rail
FROM HERE, TAKE THE DLR FROM PUDDING MILL LANE TO POPLAR, THEN POPLAR TO ROYAL VICTORIA - £1.70
1.45pm: Emirates Airline to the O2 – Catch the emirates airline across the river using your oyster card for a stunning and fun view of London. It is also the fastest way to cross the river as there is rarely a long queue for the cable cars!
Opening Times: 7am – 11pm (approximately 10 minutes)
Price: £3.50pp oyster card
Location: Royal Docks
BOOKING NOT REQUIRED
FROM HERE, WALK AROUND TO THE ENTRANCE TO CLIMB THE O2.
2.15pm: Up at the O2 – Time to get your climbing suits, boots and helmets on as you ascend the 52m high walkway up and over the O2 arena! Experience panoramic views at the top and a very steep, very nerve wracking descent to the ground! Climbing guides are on hand to help at any time.
Opening Times: 10am-8.30pm depending on season https://www.theo2.co.uk/assets/doc/2017-Opening-Hours-f9c9ae2921.pdf (approximately 90 minutes)
Price: £30pp – check Groupon for deals and o2 phone customers should check Priority!
Location: North Greenwich Underground
FROM HERE, TAKE THE JUBILEE LINE TO STRATFORD, THEN THE CENTRAL LINE TO CHANCERY LANE - £2.40
5pm: Bounce Faringdon – Get your bats at the ready as you drink, eat and get merry at the ping pong table! At some point between 6 and 7, drinks will suddenly be 90% off so get as many as you’ll need for the night and play tournament after tournament! The wonderball tables are an interactive video game version of the classic ping pong table and are only £1pp more! Be sure to book in advance.
Opening Times: 12pm – 1am
Price: £6pp normal table / £7pp wonderball table (groups of less than 6 are unable to pre-book after 6pm)
Location: Chancery Lane Underground
Saturday
10am/11am: Cereal Killer Café, Camden – Not just your typical breakfast, Cereal Killer Café features cereals from around the world with flavoured milks and various toppings with a 90s themed nostalgic feel. Grab your cereal and your flavoured hot chocolate, play on the arcade machine, take a selfie on the Spice Girls selfie wall and check out the museum of old cereals and toys on the walls.
Opening Times: 9am-7pm (approx. 1 hour)
Price: From £4 per bowl of cerealLocation: Camden Town Underground or Chalk Farm Underground
NO BOOKING AVAILABLE FOR SMALL GROUPS
FROM HERE, WALK TO THE SPREAD EAGLE PUB AND GRAB A BITE BEFORE HEADING TO THE FUNCTION ROOM FOR THE START OF CITYDASH!
2pm – 3.45pm: City Dash by Fire Hazard Games - An immersive scavenger hunt mixed with hide-and-seek, racing against the clock to collect as many points as possible and returning home before time is up! Smart phone needed.
Opening Times: Various times each weekend
Price: £20 / £15 concessions
Location: Camden Town
THE MOMENT THE TEAM RESULTS COME IN, RUN TO CAMDEN TOWN UNDERGROUND STATION AND TAKE THE NORTHERN LINE TO OLD STREET (TRY TO LEAVE BY 3.40PM) - £2.40
4pm – 6pm: Rascals - Bottomless brunch, unlimited alcohol, drag acts, gameshows and dancing! Who doesn’t want to play a big game of Wheel of Certain Misfortune or get shamed in the stocks? Seriously good fun!
Opening Times: Various times across the weekend
Price: £37.50+
Location: Old Street
FROM HERE, WALK 10 MINUTES TO BRICK LANE
7.15pm – 9pm: Alcatraz Prison Cocktail Bar – Get your notes out from your drama class in school and step into the role of a prisoner, costume and all! Smuggle your liquor past the warden for the bartenders to create personal cocktails based on your taste. Drink in your cell out of metal cups in orange jumpsuits – what’s not to love?
Opening Times: Saturdays 2.45pm – 11.15pm
Price: £34
Location: Brick Lane
FROM HERE, TAKE THE 205 FROM CURTAIN ROAD TO PENTONVILLE ROAD/BARTON STREET. NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO GRAB SOME STREET FOOD TO GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME! - £1.50
10pm – 11.20pm: The Crystal Maze Live - Go back in time to one of the best 90s gameshows and immerse yourself into a very loud, very funny adventure in the heart of London.
Opening Times: Various times and days
Price: 64.99pp
Location: Angel
Sunday
11am-1.30pm: Draughts Board Game Café - Draughts is London’s first board-game café with over 800 board games to play to your heart’s content over brunch! Food, snacks and alcohol available.
Opening Times: 10am – 11pm
Price: £5pp
Location: Hackney
FROM HERE, TAKE THE 67 BUS FROM LABURNAM STREET TO FOLGATE STREET - £1.50
2.30pm – 3.30pm: Junkyard Golf Club - Mini golf, Cocktails, food and banging tunes in themed courses around a basement style junkyard venue on the infamous Brick Lane.
Opening Times: 12pm – 10pm
Price: £9.50pp
Location: Brick Lane
WALK TO BALLIE BALLERSONS
4pm – 6pm Ballie Ballersons - Bottomless Brunch – bottomless prosecco and pizza in a giant adult-only ballpit! Other days and times available for different events.
Opening Times: 1pm – 6pm
Price: £30pp
Location: Old Street
WALK TO FLIGHT CLUB
6.30pm – 10.30pm: Flight Club - Not your typical darts at a local pub, Flight Club has reinvented darts as an interactive, fast-paced multi-player game whilst serving food and cocktails to your ‘oche’.
Opening Times: 12pm – 10.30pm
Price: £15 per 2-5 people
Location: Old Street
Monday
10am – 12pm: Namco Funscape – Arcade games, bumper cars, bowling and an escape room all in one basement on the Southbank that no-one seems to know about! It’s free to enter, has fun, food and drinks, and allows you to get rid of all your leftover change from the trip!
Opening Times: 10am – 12am
Price: Free
Location: Westminster
TAKE A STROLL TO LAMBETH PLACE AND TAKE THE 344 BUS TO HARRIS ACADEMY/BATTERSEA - £1.50
1pm – 4pm: Go Ape, Battersea - Experience a tree-top adventure right near the Thames using high ropes, zip lines and canopies. Be prepared for heights and speed!
Opening Times: 10am – 4pm
Price: £35pp
Location: Battersea Park
WALK TO FOUR THIEVES
5pm: The Four Thieves – Grab some dinner and play in the games room! VR booths, remote controlled racing, mini-golf and retro arcade games whilst drinking on-site-brewed beer is possibly the best way to end this London experience!
Opening Times: 12pm – 12am
Price: Free to enter
Location Battersea Park
BOOKING NOT REQUIRED
So there we have it. One of the best weekends in London ever! Please bear in mind that London is an expensive City and these prices reflect that. Feel free to mix and match any of the above activities or choose just your favourites! If you need any help planning a weekend away, we’ll help you for free in our new travel advice section of our website.