Best Arcades In London

• Location: 53-54 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 8SP
• Style of venue: cocktail bar filled with retro arcade games
• Why we recommend: their themed cocktails add a fun twist to any night of gaming, and they've got every arcade machine you could ask for here. Plus, the interiors are super fun too

Games and Crash Bandicoot cocktails (Aku Aku Fruit Punch, anyone?) are on the cards over at the neon-splattered NQ64, possibly the best arcade bar London has to offer. With sites in Soho and Shoreditch, this is a hangout for really getting your performance game on across Guitar Hero and Dancing Stage.

Plus, if you're more of a button basher, then there's everything from Street Fighter and other retro arcade games to retro consoles like MegaDrive, original PlayStations or Super Nintendo waiting too. Plus, the cool graffiti interiors make from some pretty great Instagram pictures.

• Location: 51 Lavender Gardens, Battersea, SW11 1DJ
• Style of venue: lively pub with an upstairs gaming room
• Why we recommend: there's always something fun going on at The Thieves, whether it's a racing competition or a comedy night. You can easily spend an evening sipping ales and getting competitive here

A Battersea pub with a hidden gaming secret on its top floor, The Thieves (formerly The Four Thieves) are great for a brunch, house-brewed beer, and when that competitive spirit kicks in? One of the best indoor arcades in London.

Head upstairs to The Thieves Gambit floor, which boasts darts, pool, its famous remote control racing, and arcade legends like Mario Kart and House of the Dead - making the venue the ultimate 'adult playground'.

• Location: 17 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4QP
• Style of venue: modern bowling alley with a huge arcade room
• Why we recommend: this place offers everything you could ask for under one roof when it comes to entertainment, and the burgers are truly unbelievable too

QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl is a mega arcade experience near Notting Hill. When you're not on their Cruis'n Blast racing games from Nintendo or hitting up Tetris, air hockey and basketball, there's bowling, ice skating and delicious signature cocktails up for grabs.

This is a great pick for birthdays or other celebrations, as they offer a number of private hire packages as well as standard bookings. And the best part? There are juicy burgers from trusted junk food specialists MEATLiquor to keep you satisfied.

• Location: 187 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TP
• Style of venue: retro arcade bar serving cocktails and pizza
• Why we recommend: for a true hit of nostalgia, you can't go wrong with Four Quarters. Groove to live music as you play Pac-Man, before settling down at one of their tables with pizzas and inventive cocktails

Fancy retro arcades in London? Giving you old-school American vibes in various locations such as Peckham, London Bridge, Hackney and Elephant and Castle, Four Quarters promises themed cocktails, an impressive happy hour and gaming across a choice of 15 original, restored arcade cabs (dating from the late 70s up to the early 2000s) or 10 retro consoles.

This is the ultimate hit of nostalgia, taking you back to the good old days of Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Asteroids. They're also serving up some tasty pizzas if all that excitement makes you peckish, and you can catch regular DJ sets, live music or comedy too.

• Location: 1 New Change, St Paul's, EC4M 9AF
• Style of venue: sleek activity bar offering racing simulators
• Why we recommend: this is a state-of-the-art experience that you won't find anywhere else, complete with simulators that make you feel like you're really an F1 driver, and the food here is excellent too

Taking the usual offering up a notch, F1® Arcade is your home of world-first, official simulation racing from Formula 1®. Thanks to full-motion and audio-visual effects, 69 state of the art racing simulators will immerse you in an experience of famous tracks across the world, from Silverstone to Suzuka.

Not only will you be able to zoom around and get your adrenaline pumping across competitive meets, but also grab refreshments from the modern, stylish bar. We're talking killer signature cocktails, alongside an extensive food menu featuring sharing plates, tacos, burgers and so much more.

• Location: 8-10 Castlehaven Road, Camden, NW1 8QU
• Style of venue: family-friendly indoor theme park
• Why we recommend: this is our top pick for anyone with kids, but adults can definitely have fun here too - where else can you go on an indoor rollercoaster?

Set across two floors in Camden, Babylon Park is a fabulous place to channel your inner kid. Along with a mini rollercoaster and drop tower for the ultimate indoor theme park vibes, the venue boasts over 100 cool arcade games and classic amusements to keep everyone entertained.

Entry is free, and you can use an app, card or RFID bracelets to nab your coins for each game across the cashless venue. You'll also find candy floss machines for snacking. One of the best arcades for kids in London? You betcha.

• Location: 221 Grove Road, Bow, E3 5SN
• Style of venue: taproom with a retro arcade
• Why we recommend: we always love nabbing their £4 pint deal, but there's much more than that to discover - the gaming area is perfect for a chilled evening with mates

Though it's not technically an arcade, Pretty Decent Victoria Park Taproom is a trendy bar that's complete with all kinds of fun retro arcade games, as well as table football. It's run by Pretty Decent Beer Co, who are an East London-based brewery that sling out all kinds of pale ales, lagers and stouts from their Czech side-pour taps.

There are also low-intervention wines, cocktails, and even slushies, so there's something for everyone here. Expect a buzzing atmosphere and long, communal tables in their beer hall, and if you visit on Thursdays you can even nab £4 pints as they reveal their new creations.

• Location: Fishermans Walk, E14 4DH
• Style of venue: adults-only indoor fairground
• Why we recommend: this retro, colourful space creates a real nostalgic feeling, and their cutting-edge technology allows you to keep track of the scoreboard as you go

One of the most nostalgic spots in the city, Fairgame in Canary Wharf and St Paul's is designed like a fairground - but it's only for adults. They've reimagined all your favourite childhood games, from Whac-A-Mole to Shoot the Clown, found in a colourful, Instagrammable space that will let you unleash your inner big kid.

Their innovative wristband technology will track your scores for you, logging your positions on the leaderboard so you can compare with your friends. There's scrumptious street food available from Rudy's Pizza, the Taco Collective and Burger & Beyond, as well as creative cocktails from the bar - we recommend the popcorn old fashioned.

• Location: 9th Floor, Hyatt Place London City East, 45 Whitechapel Road, E1 1DU
• Style of venue: rooftop bar with retro games
• Why we recommend: this is a great choice for anyone who wants to compete against others at old-school games, and we can't get enough of those views

Level up your night at 16-Bit Sky Bar, a retro gaming social from REZtron, taking over the Sky Bar at Hyatt Place London City East. This ultimate throwback event brings together classic 80s and 90s games - from Pac-Man and Street Fighter II to Sonic, Aladdin, and Virtua Cop -  all played on original SEGA consoles, CRT TVs, and big-screen projectors.

Get ready for competitive gaming, drinks, live music, and panoramic views of London's skyline, all packed into a stylish 9th-floor rooftop bar.

• Location: The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0DX
• Style of venue: an immersive activity bar with an arcade room
• Why we recommend: this lively venue is packed full of entertainment, both classic and virtual, and it's a particularly great choice for football fans

Though the main attraction at TOCA Social may be its simulation football experience, this quirky Greenwich venue also comes with classic arcade games. Think table football and multiple different arcade machines, as well as other fun touches like a photobooth and karaoke.

You can catch all the biggest sporting event while you play, thanks to their huge screens. Sip signature cocktails like the Pitch Invader or a Wred Card, paired with scrumptious plates like steamed Korean chicken bao buns, beef birria tacos and beef or plant-based smash burgers.

• Location: 2b Worship Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 2AH
• Style of venue: arcade bar with gaming PCs and private booths
• Why we recommend: these guys have got some of the best quality gaming equipment in the city, and their semi-private booths really allow your group to unwind and get competitive in your own space

Boasting 10 semi-private gaming booths, each featuring a Nintendo Switch and a PlayStation 5, you can play in peace at this relaxed arcade bar. They also offer E-sports stage with 10 high-performance gaming PCs, so there's a real variety of entertainment on offer.

Their friendly hosts are always on hand to help, and the bar is well-stocked with signature cocktails and craft beer. You can tuck into wood-fired pizzas too, topped with the likes of pepperoni and jalapenos or mushrooms and mixed peppers.

• Location: Unit 1-7 Chestnut Plaza, Westfield Avenue, Montfichet Road, Stratford, E20 1GL
• Style of venue: multi-storey arcade and entertainment space
• Why we recommend: alongside the arcade games, there are multiple different forms of entertainment to get involved in, so you won't ever be bored here

Located in Stratford's Westfield, Gravity MAX is an enormous, three-storey venue that flaunts 67,000 square feet of fun. There are so many different activities here, from crazy golf to digital darts, karaoke and e-karting - as well as a high-tech arcade that's full of nostalgia.

Load up your card with tokens, and get stuck into classics like basketball, ride-and-play games and air hockey. there are some cracking prizes to be won, and a menu of drinks and snacks to keep you fuelled.

• Location: 27-29 Endell Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BA
• Style of venue: sports bar with arcade games
• Why we recommend: this place is always full of energy, with countless entertainment options to choose from - which attracts a diverse crowd too

One of the quirkiest bars in the city, Bloodsports has got lots of retro arcade machines to play with friends or partners. That's not all though, as this haven of entertainment also promises pinball, pool tables and karaoke - alongside 30 HD screens showing live sports and horror films after dark.

The unique venue is themed around the horror genre, as well as some decor reminiscent of a classic American sports bar. Plus, MEATliquor are in the kitchen, whipping up the likes of Buffalo chicken burgers, bacon-wrapped hotdogs and hash browns.

• Location: 129 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 0PH
• Style of venue: cocktail bar with arcade and board games
• Why we recommend: offering some of the most creative cocktails to go with your games, this cool North London bar is a real experience

Been searching for 'arcade near me' lately? A local favourite since 2014, Loading Bar is all about great food, drink and gaming. They've got retro arcade machines and a mix of modern and old-school consoles, from an N64 to the Nintendo Switch, as well as a huge library of board games.

Their cocktail menu is themed around games too, including sips like the banana liqueur and Advocaat-based Last Of Us or a Crash Bandicoot, made with Baileys, double cream and cinnamon.

• Location: 342 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, N1 1BB
• Style of venue: cocktail bar with arcade games and consoles
• Why we recommend: whether you're a serious gamer or just fancy some Mario Kart with your mates, these guys are promising a relaxed, fun day out with themed cocktails to boot

London's original e-sports bar, Meltdown offers everything from League of Legends to Street Fighter, StarCraft, Mario Kart and Dota 2. They often host events and tournaments at their battle-style desks, though for something more casual you can check out the Xbox 360s and old-school arcade controllers.

Be sure to try some of their game-inspired cocktails too, from the Nightfall to a Yoshi's Island. Expect a laid-back atmopshere, with players of all abilities welcome.