Fun Birthday Ideas in London
Don't settle for the same old, 'Same Old' this year - celebrate in the heart of the city and let some of the best and most bizarre events in London carry you through to your next year of life. Whether it's a booze-fuelled event, or something a little more wholesome, we've lined up a whole host of fun things to do on your birthday in London. Why not take a peek at our dreamy list...
Last updated on 20th April 2018
Remember that awesome birthday party you had as a kid? You can have it again with Laser Lates, as you enjoy an exclusive adults-only session of everyone’s favourite laser gun game. Your friends won’t regret it.
Perfect for a fun birthday in London, this immersive dining experience will take you back to the early 20th Century and the golden age of luxury train travel complete with drinks from Seven Sins and food from Masterchef duo Jack and Billy.
Dress up and head into the terrible future as Secret Cinema brings Bladerunner to life. The immersive events company are taking you to the dystopian LA, filled with replicants, cops and bad guys - which one will you be?
Darts, on your birthday? Yes we say! Flight Club is an innovative and hilarious bar that uses a technology-based scoring system, plenty of cocktails and delicious bar snacks to make sure you have the best birthday. The bar in either Shoreditch or Bloomsbury allows you to hire areas and is great for a large group meaning you can have a brilliantly fun and original birthday.
What better way to celebrate getting older than to act like a child? Book yourself a session at this giant ball pit, quaff retro candy cocktails and gorge on unlimited pizza.
Get thrown into the centre of a murder, an illicit gambling den, and a whole bunch of shady characters with everything to hide. It will be up to you and your friends to gather evidence and solve clues in order to crack the mystery – can you do it?
The coolest birthday party in London, get your mates aboard The Dutch Master, a two-storey party boat that not only sails you past iconic London landmarks, but also gives you several channels of amazing music on your silent disco headset.
This super fun London birthday party idea let's your take to the city's waterways for two hours of high-life living. Bring your own booze, your own food and your best friends for this awesome jaunt down the Regent's Canal.
Impressively versatile, Drink Shop & Do offers plenty of fun things to do. Whether you fancy getting your craft on at one of their fantastically bizarre events (we're talking 'Play With Clay' and ‘Papier Mache Monster Mash') or drinking and dancing the night away to a killer soundtrack of party tracks, you'll find your perfect birthday at Drink Shop & Do.
With bottomless brunches, beer pong and mini golf, this cool pop up in Fulham is a great spot for a fun London birthday party. Head to the sunny shores of West London for all this and stay for the great drinks and DJs.
Here's hoping your birthday is in April because Shuttlecock INC are back with another massive event. The company are taking over a warehouse in North London and transforming it into a party den of 90s and Neverland.
COLAB Theatre are back with another brilliant immersive production, this time taking on war-time Britain. The play is plunging you into the midst of wartime Britain, designating you as a survivor who is tasked with saving the country from invasion - no biggie then.
Whether you're going in hard on the croquet, or booking out a table for a little afternoon drinking in the sun, the rooftop bar at Tobacco Dock is one of the best London birthday ideas to look into.
How better to kick start celebrations for your big day than at an off-the-chain, 90s themed brunch party? Taking you backstreet back to the mid-90s for a daytime event with plenty of nostalgia, feast on delicious brunch sharing platters, washed down with bottomless Mimosas for an hour. There’s a full-on 90s-themed dress up box to get you in the spirit, prizes for the winner of the lip-sync battles and a playlist of the most poppin’ hits of the decade - which means loads of singing and dancing to the likes of the Spice Girls, R.Kelly, Eminem and more.
Get the gang together for your birthday to KERB’s quiz night and you can enjoy six rounds of questions, cocktails, beers and street food – including free poppadum nachos – and laugh along the way as your Drag Queen host guides you through.
Old Street Records offers live music, authentic Italian pizza and bespoke cocktails inside one of the coolest hangouts of east London. Come along on your birthday and you can expect to find EP launches or established acts taking the stage, with a more low-key vibe to the jazz nights and DJ sets held in the secret basement bar.
Get your giggle on at one of these hilarious comedy nights. One of the best ideas for birthdays in London, each weekend there's a truly stunning line up of some of the nation's best comedy talents.
Leave the masses behind and slip under the radar at this tiki cocktail cavern on Portobello Road for a truly fun birthday in London. Trailer Happiness is a subterranean space filled with an off-beat and quirky décor, where guests sup at highly innovative rum drinks between mouthfuls of Dim Sum delicacies. Grab a few mates and sample these expert serves; our tip is the zesty Dia De Los Muertos!
Grow old disgracefully at this cool and quirky event. With loads of 90s games to enjoy, cocktails and even an afterparty for just £5, it's perfect for a fun birthday night out in London.
One of the best birthday party ideas in London, TJ's House Party promises free jerk chicken, popcorn, cake, pool games and some of the best Hip Hop DJs in town.
We could tell you a lot of things about this magic show, and how it'd make for the perfect birthday night out in London for you and your friends. We could boast it's hosted from the opulent Grand Royale, we could tell you it focuses on the golden age of magic, and how this impressive magician is known the world over. But instead, we'll just leave you with this quote about the show from the man, the legend Roger Moore, who said Sonic was 'one of the finest magicians I've ever seen'. If it's good enough for James Bond...
Sonic the magician is recreating the golden age of magic with his five-star show on park lane. Purchase these gift vouchers for access to his fun and unusual magic show.
Multi-purpose and atmospheric, Under The Bridge nestled beneath Stamford Bridge Football Stadium in Fulham showcases everything from live music gigs and off-your-seat-funny comedy nights to late-night club-time. Also offering private functions, this happening haunt is more than ideal to host your next birthday celebration, and with its sweet state-of-the-art sound system and lighting, you'll no doubt be revelling with cronies late into the morning.
Whether you're after a rowdy brunch or a late-night shindig, The Piano Works in Farringdon is the spot for you. The lively venue serves delicious and hearty meals, slurpable cocktails and has a raucous live band playing whatever your heart fancies.
Celebrate your birthday 80s style at Relfex Dance Studios, as they transform you into an 80s pop star, neon and everything. Along with a makeover, you’ll get to experience a one hour dance lesson with Dancing With the Stars choreographer Guila Settomini and, of course, take part in an awesome photoshoot. And at the end, unleash yourself into their 80s party in one of their retro clubs.
The ultimate London birthday night out has arrived. Head to The Victoria Tavern for the best barcade tournament in the business. Get ready for you and your team to battle it out across four rounds of mini golf, arcade games, puzzles and Foosball at one of the funnest group acitivities in London.
Shoot across the Thames on this speed boat experience, where you’ll see the sights to an awesome soundtrack. Then you’ll settle into Ping Pong for a wonderful Dim Sum set menu together.
If there’s one thing you really ought to be doing to celebrate being another year older and wiser, it’s challenging your mates to a few games on the petanque court. This French take on the classic game of boules offers something a little different to your birthday shenanigans, with the prospect of fresh British food in the restaurant and a couple of chilled drinks in the outdoor terrace to look forward to afterwards.
From the team behind The Piano Works, Studio 88 is one of the coolest places to celebrate your birthday in London. Two piano vocalists and accompanying musicians take to the stage to play songs that are requested by you, the audience. Sip on cocktails and feast on California Cones that will keep you dancing until the early hours. The soundtrack to your night starts in the studio.
One of the best ideas for a birthday party in London, this series of tribute concerts are a tempting night out for any music lover, with events playing the music of everyone from Marvin Gaye to Lauryn Hill.
Ever wanted to see the London Dungeon with no kids around? To drink prosecco while watching the sea life? All of this is possible on your birthday thanks to the Lates and After Dark series, where everything from Madam Tussauds to Shrek’s Adventure are cleared of kids so you can enjoy the experiences like the big kids that you are.
What better birthday treat than learning how to whip up masterfully mixed cocktails for yourself whenever you fancy one!? Head down to Shoreditch for T.T Liquor's cocktail-making class - here, you'll master the basics of mixology before knuckling down on the more complex techniques. By the end of the class, show off everything that you've learnt on your birthday by having a crack at making 'the best cocktail of the day!'
Patch East is a new cocktail bar based in the City of London that captures the creative and quirky character of Shoreditch. The venue has a number of different rooms and seating areas, all decorated with different themes and random furniture. Whether you're gulping down drinks in the Ski Lodge room or taking in all the charm of the neon-heavy Shinjuku area, this venue is perfect for anyone looking for a quirky birthday venue.
With teapot cocktails, fish finger sandwiches and non-stop 90s anthems, there's no better place to grow older disgracefully than Little Nan's Bar. Their quirky London brunch event is a top idea for birthday parties in South London.
South London's fun-loving crowds descend on Rouges each week for an evening full of great music and stunning stunts. Alongside being wowed by a death-defying performance of circus stunts by Kellie Sky, visitors can dance long into the night to all their favourite 80s, 90s, funk 'n' soul and classic pop tracks. To help maintain the frivolous vibes, their team of expert bartenders serve all the best wines, beers and spirits on offer.
Celebrate your birthday at the Breakfast Club’s King of Ladies Man and you can enjoy two hours of bottomless prosecco, brunch from the Breakfast Club, and the best 70s disco soundtrack. Afterwards, there’s 2-4-1 cocktails at the bar.
Designed for groups of four - six, Mallets & Hoops is taking over Bargehouse in Oxo Tower for a fun new summer pop-up. Putting a new spin on croquet, the event is a brilliant night out, with affordable drinks and great music to enjoy too.
CRATE is one of East London's most popular breweries, and they're letting you in on their secrets with this tour. Spend an hour and a half touring, tasting and munching on sharing platters.
Dead Drop is combining immersive theatre and murder mystery for a night of fun and intrigue. Head to Wringer and Mangle to solve puzzles, clues and lies to workout who did it.
Everybody in Islington knows there ain’t no party like a Lucky Voice party, which is probably something to do with the thousands of power ballads and strong cocktails up for grabs. Get your pals together and belt out one huge tune after the other, after you’ve raided the fancy dress box of course. Fun-loving vibes are assured, and there’s the option of a cocktail masterclass to add to your package.
The Shoreditch Pub Crawl is the ultimate way to party in East London on your birthday, with six amazing venues, cheap beers and spirits, and ending the night in Cargo with free entry.
Celebrate your birthday at the Inamo Soho Games Room and you can enjoy playing 150 different games on two 150 inch screens, along with TV streaming services, and packages that include their delicious pan-Asian food.
If you can’t get yourself to an exotic rave for your birthday, here’s a good alternative: this Ibiza-style rave at the Tropicana Beach Club has all the best music from top Djs, live dance acts on stage, crazy fire breathers, podium dancers, ridiculous drummers and 50 kilos of confetti, balloon and glitter.
Planning a big birthday party in London? Cargo is a great destination whether you're looking for a huge Saturday night out, or a cheap and cheerful Thursday get together.
Shaped like a killer whale and reaching speeds of up to 60mph, Seabreacher is a completely unique vehicle and now it's come to London. Speeding in and out of the Thames, Sea Predator is giving you the ride of your life.
Your birthday is sorted with Afrobeat Karaoke, where you can sing your heart out on stage to the best Afrobeat songs, before feasting on delicious food and taking part in games and fun activities.
Make your birthday present this year be the skills you need to become a great bingo player. The Bingo Trainers will oversee everything at this boot camp that will have you competing with others like it was a real competition, and the bar will be there to make sure that when you win, you win gracefully.
For any fans of horror, this night in the London Dungeon is bound to be a birthday hit. Head to the iconic location for a night that includes cocktails, rides and a look at the museum like never before as Jack the Ripper and more come out to play.
Think you've got something a little more to offer the dance floor? Boasting some of the best themed dancing experiences in London, join Dance Party Experience as they put you and your party through your paces. From hit routines to freestyle forays, Dance Party Experience is a fun birthday idea in London for one and all.
Make your birthday a big one with the help of Belushi's in London Bridge. The party venue has started a bottomless brunch; expect bottomless mimosas, pancakes, beer pong, games and live music.
Put the old school back into your birthday with Retro Events, a cracking company that will help make your birthday party one to remember. With ties to locations across London, the group can put on anything your heart desires; fancy a magician? You got it!
For great cocktails and some of the most stunning views in London, head to Sky Garden's Sky Pod Bar. One of the best ideas for birthdays in London, it's a very special place, perfect for a special occasion.
The Prince of Wales is renowned throughout Brixton for hosting a massive range of amazing DJs, as well as having one of the coolest rooftop party spaces and an amazing clubroom.
This great London birthday idea will get you up and shaking it with the best of them. Cocktails that is. Get to know more about your favourite spirit with this stunning series of talks, tastings and drinks makings at Fitzrovia's Reverend JW Simpson.
A basement bar in Fitzrovia that just screams kitsch, LCC Goodge Street is a top choice when on the hunt for fun things to do in London, especially if you're looking to savour some delicious and perfectly crafted cocktails in a fun and unpretentious environment.
Switch up for someone's birthday with these vouchers from Drink Shop & Do, which can be redeemed against a whole host of fun, from bottomless brunches through to afternoon teas.
With a reputation for highlighting comedic talent, the Boat Show Comedy Club claim abroad two of London's most prestigious vessels every weekend for a night of laughter and amazing one-liners. Taking over the Tattershall Castle and Hispaniola boats, the comedy club will show off the talents of London's brightest comedy stars. Fuelled by all your favourite alcoholic drinks at the bar, this event is an experience you won't forget in a hurray.
What better way to celebrate your birthday than at this drag queen brunch, where Tayce and her Drag Sisters will play everything from award-winning musical numbers to catwalk competitions and more, with delicious dishes and 1.5 hours of bottomless booze.
Live the dream this birthday and become the pop star you've always cherished with Just Dance. Your instructor will take you through the routines step-by-step so you can bosh out the likes of iconic music videos and become your own pop idol for your birthday. Whether you want to go Michael Jackson, Madonna or Britney, they've got it all.
Celebrating your birthday in prison doesn’t sound like a great idea, but hear us out: in this immersive drinking experience, you’ll have to smuggle your favourite bottle of alcohol past the guards and into a high security prison. Enter a world of bribery and contraband, where the inmates will mix you up something great… if you don’t get caught by the warden.
With half price on all drinks and entry to the post-show club night, this fun comedy event is a great shout if you're looking for London birthday party ideas.
Based in the heart of Clapham, Venn St Records is a venue that takes its love of music to the next level. With a jukebox constantly playing all the best rock, soul and hip hop songs ever made, the bar staff are busy mixing together a range of intriguing cocktails. Perfect for both a date night and a wild birthday celebration with your mates, this bar never disappoints.
Now the biggest bar in the Stratford Westfield, the Bat and Ball offers London's crowds a frivolous, care-free venue to celebrate your next birthday in. If you're looking for somewhere to hire, their 2 bars, pizzeria and 12 ping pong tables are at your service, and combine to make the entire place a frenzy of belly-aching laughter and laid back vibes. P-ush the boat out this year; how better to celebrate your milestone birthday than with a few games of beer pong!
The Big London Bake is a food event in London that will challenge the city's amateur bakers in new and exciting ways. Inspired by one of the most popular shows in Britain, guests will be set a number of challenges by the event's talented professionals in order to find out who is London's true star baker. Immortality is only a scone's throw away; this is crunch time.
Party like it's your birthday at this London bar and treat yourself to its beer selection, burgers, and live music. Explore its bookable areas and secure yourself a cozy booth to relax in during your breaks from dancing the night away in celebration.
What could be more fun than slurping cocktails from teapots, scoffing sausage rolls and hanging out in a neon den of kitsch. That's what we thought. Head over to Little Nan's in Catford for bottomless brunch, afternoon tea or nighttime cocktails.
Just like when you were a kid, transport yourself to a land of fairytales with Brunch Upon a Time. A fabulous theatrical troupe will perform spellbinding skits and all your favourite fairytale songs. Dressing up is heavily encouraged, but if you don’t have anything to wear, dive into the dressing-up box and transform yourself.
You have one hour to save the world and stop the government in this exciting escape room challenge taking place at ExCeL. The unique experience is perfect for birthday parties with 13 rooms and two scenarios that allow you not only to race the clock but also to go up against friends in other rooms.
If you're looking for great London birthday ideas, come and get a bit older and bit wiser this year at one of these great classes in East London. T.T Liquor offers the best rum, gin and whisk(e)y tastings, as well as cocktail-making and tasting classes.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Blesings Bar may look like an ordinary townhouse on the exterior, but if you venture inside you'll find a three floor palace of partying rife with places for you to spend your birthday. There's a chill out floor with comfy sofas, a coffee-turn-cocktail hangout and a cellar bar where DJs and dancing goes down.
Celebrate your birthday with the London Cabaret Club, a night of live entertainment like no other. Diving into the rich cultural history of Britain, experience a night of original choreography, premium production values and delicious food for a truly memorable birthday event.
Put your dancing shoes on because ceilidh is coming to London and it's going to be a whole lot of fun. Lead by Fiddle Pardiddle, the pop up night will be appearing all over London and is a brilliant activity for large groups through to couples.
Supa Dupa Brunch Party is the best way to celebrate your birthday in London, delivering an hour of bottomless mimosas, two delicious courses of food, an amazing hip hop and RnB soundtrack, and even a cool music quiz.
What better place to celebrate your birthday in London than in the quirky, kitsch Simmons bar! Not only is it drenched in neon signs and weird décor, it serves a list of delicious cocktails in intriguing crockery. There’s also a five hour long happy hour to make sure you really enjoy yourself.
There’s an infectious party atmosphere to the Munich Cricket Club in Victoria. It makes sense to come by for some dinner - there’s a menu featuring traditional wurst, schnitzel and more - or you could just stop by for drinks, where the focus is on cocktails, wines and a rich array of beers from Munich breweries.
One of the best London birthday ideas, this bonkers brunch bash at the People's Park Tavern offers delicious food, bottomless booze and bonkers comedy from Mr. James Hancox and Ria Lina.
How about a night of genuine lols at one of the most respected comedy clubs in London? The Covent Garden Comedy Club have all the answers, booking out lineups that feature the most stellar names on the international circuit right now. You’ll see 3 hilarious acts and a compere on any given night, and your ticket offers both 15% off at the Lulivo restaurant and free entry for an after-party at Opal.
Whether it's a quirky brunch, a bonkers bingo night or a stunning circus performance, Aeronaut is always a fantastic option for a fun birthday idea in London.
Coupling all the great flavours associated with brunch with all your favourite Hip Hop party tracks, the Hip Hop Brunch has quickly established itself as one of the wildest daytime events in London. Ideal for anyone looking for a fun way to celebrate their birthday with their nearest and dearest, the event serves each guest a gut-bursting meal, followed by huge DJ sets and a few frivolous lip sync battles.
Yeah, they're great for a wild night out, but did you know that Blues Kitchen Shoreditch also does a killer brunch. Grab your gang and stop by East London for bottomless drinks and hearty brunch plates.
Jazz Cafe are a great place to celebrate a birthday in London as they put on some of the best soul music in the capital come Fridays. Join the famous spot to hear live bands, DJs and singers perform original hits and old classics that will have you singing well into the night.
Having proved themselves so popular with their pop-up, The Dead Dolls House has found a permanent home in Islington. The restaurant is a brilliant spot for a fun birthday dinner with a completely unique interior. Beautiful stencilling decorates the walls, there's quirky furniture and the food is absolutely delicious.
Though things may look calm and still, under the surface of Shoreditch's Bishopgate bar lies arguably one of the best kept secrets in London, W M Barker & Co. To really make your birthday a memorable experience, their range of finely-tuned cocktails are completely unique, revolving around a selection of specifically produced syrups and liqueurs. To help keep things on an even keel, their kitchen produces some of the most exquisite toasties in town. Be sure to try the Brinner Toastie, composed of bacon, cumberland sausage, black bomber cheese and scrambled egg.
What's better than a birthday cruise? A birthday cruise with gin - that's what. Hop on the Electric Barge for London's first artisan gin cruise and enjoy a masterclass with tapas and music as you travel through picturesque London for a fun-filled special day.
