When it comes to such vast cities like London, it might be a bit intimidating to find the right activity for you. Oftentimes, people tend to give up and just go sightseeing, and while this great city has a lot to offer in that way, you could be potentially missing out on some unique and unforgettable activities. Fun things to do in London with friends are around every corner, you just need to know where to look!
Take a gander at some of the most exquisite ways to have fun, a lot of which are still only to be found here, and grab a trusty group of friends to share them with.
1. Be Locked in a Room
With the immense popularity of Escape Rooms, it’s alright to assume that you and your friends will be interested in attempting a dastardly escape in London as well.
Locked in a Room consists of 13 themed escape rooms spread across two formats that guarantee a multi-escape experience. With the capacity to hold up to 78 players captive (or 13 teams of six), this happens to be the largest facility of its kind in Europe. Solve the puzzles and use your wit as you take on Parallax and Timelock formats – you’ve got 60 minutes!
Location: Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Docks, London E16 1XL, UK
Price: £30 per person.
2. Visit Camden Town
Along the Regent’s Canal, there’s a lovely residential area many have come to love for its open-air markets, restaurants, shopping, and most of all – its amazing zoo.
Camden Town’s street markets and restaurants are a matter of great renown and a continuous tourist attraction, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find high culture. The Jewish Museum is a must-see, and so is Gilgamesh, home to the cuisine of a multitude of Asian countries. More than anything, people come here to see the first scientific zoo in the world – the famous London Zoo. Witness Sumatran Tigers and their nature, or observe the graceful giraffes as they wander their confines.
Location: Camden, Northwest London
Price: London Zoo entry fee ranges from £19 to £31. Booking online is 10% cheaper.
3. Join Candlelight Club
For a surreptitious speakeasy, Candlelight Club certainly does attract people from all walks of life into its secret location.
Travel back in time to the era of Great Gatsby and 1920s speakeasies. Defy the prohibition at every turn and have yourself a night of extravagant partying and jazz. Make sure to dress up in proper attire as you make your way to the unspecified location somewhere in Central London. Have some of their best Champagne as you celebrate holidays and all kinds of special events held in its clandestine halls.
Location: Secret, somewhere in Central London. Revealed two days before the event.
Price: Entry fee ranges from £25 to £130.
4. Sing at the Karaoke Hole
You’ve known not true glamor until you’ve spent a night out at the Karaoke Hole – a prominent LGBTQ+ venue in London.
Get razzled and dazzled by lavishly dressed performers out on a mission to keep the energy of all the attendees up. If you crave so, you’ll get a chance to get on that stage and show other groups of guests what you’ve got. Drink and sing until you go hoarse for a night of fun, unlike all the others.
Location: 95 Kingsland High St, Dalston, London E8 2PB, UK
Price: Entry fee on Thursday’s free, Friday and Saturday are £5 per person.
5. Survive the War of the Worlds
The Martians are invading, and you’re caught right in the middle of it! Make your way through the carnage of 1898 novel by H.G. Wells and experience it as no one has done before.
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Set in a 22,000 square foot area, the iconic Horsell Common and Victorian London await your exploration. Observe the invasion through the lens of VR, AR, and volumetric holograms as you make your way through the immersive 110-minute experience, further intensified by Jeff Wayne’s legendary score. Take a break in the Red Weed themed bar for 20 minutes before pushing on through droves of Martians. If you make it to the steampunk bar called ‘The Spirit of Man’, you’ve made it.
Location: 56 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2BJ
Price: Entry fee ranges from £42.50 to £62.50.
6. Ride the Jewel of The Empire
Set in 1937, this theatric experience is a combination of murder, exquisite food, and great acting, all happening aboard a train – what more could you ask for?
While primarily a restaurant serving delicious meals, Jewel of the Empire is also a valuable gem, the largest one in the world. Naturally, there’s someone aboard the train willing to kill for it. As you dine, the mystery around you will deepen, dead bodies will multiply, and you’re a suspect much like anyone else.
Location: Pedley Street Station, London
Price: Entry fee ranges from £57 to £64.
7. Become a Pirate of the Hidden Spirit
Have you ever wondered how a pirate’s life would suit you? If the answer is yes, climb aboard an actual ship moored in St. Mary Overie Dock and try your hand as a seafaring outlaw.
Legends tell of a treasure worth $2 million lost somewhere at sea. Join the captain on board the Hidden Spirit and decipher cryptic messages that should take you to your quarry. If this doesn’t spark a pirate within you to action, then just enjoy all the amazing cocktails in this floating fortress. The entry fee will grant you access to 3 cocktails from Captain Jack Cassidy’s hoard and even pirate garments just for you.
Location: St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral St, London SE1 9DG
Price: Boarding fee is £34.99 per person.
8. Take Aim with Tag Archery
We believe this is pretty self-explanatory. Take your mates on an hour or two of a well-mannered and gentlemanly game of shooting each other with arrows.
Much like paintball, the goal is to eliminate the opposing team, but unlike all the other games, you actually use bows and arrows. Before you get all giddy about puncturing a friend or two, the arrows you’ll be using don’t have a pointy end, instead, they’re equipped with a gadget that’s safe and accurate. You can opt for up to two hours of the adrenaline-packed combat, and there is even a corporate package if you feel like nailing your boss (or at least coworkers) down.
Location: Coxson Place, The Downside Centre, Druid St, London SE1 2EZ
Price: Price ranges from £57 to £64.
9. Hop on a Ghost Bus Tour
A witty amalgamation of comedy and horror awaits you aboard the Ghost Bus that will take you to see the most visited places of London, all the while being spooky about it!
You’ll get to see the all-stars among London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the famous Tower of London, and many others. The double-decker itself used to be a funeral bus and is now appropriately called Necrobus. This tour will reveal scary tidbits about each landmark, and its haunted staff will go out of their way to freak you out.
Location: The bus leaves from 8 Northumberland Ave, Westminster, London WC2N 5JR
Price: From £23 per person.
10. Escape the Great Fire
London Dungeon is a series of interactive shows that will get you face-to-face with some of the most daring moments of the capital’s history.
Take your friends to a 1666 wooden cottage where Londoners used to live. As the flames encircle you and smoke starts to pollute the air, you’ll have trouble believing you haven’t really traveled back in time to conflagrated London. Live actors are also there to help navigate you through the Great Fire of London and showcase the 17th century Englishmen.
Location: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7PB
Price: From £24 per person. Booking online is 20% cheaper.
11. Check out West End
There’s always so much going on in West End, from amazing theater performances to awesome tourist attractions, bolstered by gorgeous streets all the way.
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While you’ve probably already heard of Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden, what you’ll soon realize is that est End is so much more than that. Leicester Square, Oxford Circus, and even the high-class Hippodrome Casino are all located right here. West End is quite expansive, so you’ll probably need an extra hand (i.e. a set of wheels) to cover it much faster. Getting a Visitor Oyster card will go a long way if you plan on discovering West End properly.
Location: West End, Central London
Price: Visitor Oyster cards go from £20. They’re accepted everywhere.
12. Take a Warner Bros. Tour
If you and your friends are aspiring witches and wizards, i.e. fans of the Harry Potter universe, then a tour of Warner Brothers Studio is a must. Keep in mind that you can’t just show up there and you need to book tickets in advance.
What you’ll get to see are all the props used in the making of Harry Potter movies. Moreover, entire sets are available for your perusal, places like Diagon Alley, the Great Hall where they dine, and even the Forbidden Forest. Check out the costumes of all the different characters on this truly magical adventure.
Location: Studio Tour Dr, Watford WD25 7LR, UK
Price: Tickets for adults are £45.00 per person.
13. Brave Sea Life
Brave the fully-fledged underwater kingdom over at Sea life, London. From shark tanks to underwater passages, there’s no telling what wonders you’ll find.
Walking over a glass window beneath which dozens of sharks are swimming is never an easy task. Observe these creatures as they pass right under your feet, far closer than what you would like to see in open waters. If you’d like to get even closer, VIP Experience enables you to go snorkeling with these big fish and is not for the faint of heart. Then head on out to Ocean Tunnel and walk amid shipwrecks and bones of a grey whale. Pet Sea Anemone if you so desire, and explore the rest of this enormous aquarium and all the knowledge (and adventure) contained within.
Location: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London
Price: Tickets from £37. Booking online is cheaper.
14. Slide at ArcelorMittal Orbit
One of the most adrenaline-driven fun things to do in London with friends must be the world’s tallest tunnel slide.
ArcelorMittal Orbit is almost the poster child of the Queen Elizabeth Olimpic Park. This 178-meter long looping and spiraling structure has 12 insane turns that will completely disorient you, with transparent sections of the tubing that don’t really help at all! The slide ends with a corkscrew-like twist that’s truly mind-bending.
Location: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton Street, London E20 2AD
Price: Tickets for adults are £11.50. Booking online is cheaper and safer due to high interest.
15. Hunt for the Smoking Caterpillar
Combine your love for comedy, theater, and problem-solving in the most exquisite experience of its kind in London.
Go on a hunt for the smoking caterpillar and track it down by any means necessary. You have different tools at your disposal, so decide whether you’ll be bartering, bidding, or blackmailing for any piece of information that will get you closer to catching your quarry. With hints from Alice in Wonderland and a unique storyline, this activity will prove to be one of the most fun things to do in London with friends by your side.
Location: 471 Holloway Road, N7 6LE
Price: Tickets from £25.
16. Make for Swingers City
Like golf and cocktails? Stop whatever you’re doing then and make your way to the swingers city and combine your two loves.
While you’re at it, show your friends who Tiger Woods of your group is. Two golf courses with nine holes each are going to make your mini-golf session highly memorable. The Lighthouse and The Windmill are not just going to be loads of fun, but a peek into English history as well. A total of five bars will serve some fancy cocktails for you to celebrate the hard-fought victory over your buddies.
Location: 8 Brown’s Buildings, London EC3A 8AL
Price: Access to golf courses costs £15 on the spot.
17. Bounce at Oxygen Freejumping
Have no doubt about it – trampolines are the ultimate form of entertainment out there and with Oxygen Freejumping, bouncing around is taken to a whole new level.
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With over 100 connected trampolines, you’ll be able to go on a free jumping adventure all over the venue, doing somersaults and bouncing around like there’s no tomorrow. Come up with a sort of a free jumping choreography to perform with your friends and don’t worry – it’s not just for kids!
Location: Many locations, try O2: Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX
Price: £15.50 per person.
18. Go on a Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunts in London are quite a unique way of exploring a city, and a polar opposite to escape rooms.
Take part in one of many treasure hunts that will take you to secluded and hidden gems of this great city. Games like A Door in A Wall, The Crystal Maze, and Agent November will have you scouring the streets of London, talking to strangers, and scavenging for clues to solve mysteries of the city.
Location: All over the city.
Price: Depends on the game you choose. Book ahead of time for your group.
19. Brave the Tower of London
William the Conqueror had the tower built in 1066 to not just deal with his rivals, but also to serve as a royal menagerie, a storehouse, and even observatory.
Besides the obvious attractions such as gruesome torture chambers and prison cells, you’ll also be able to get a guide who will show you around. The infamous Yeoman Warder will share with you the stories of torture, pain, and death, and even introduce you to the guardians of the tower – the ravens. Thousands of lavish jewels and gemstones await discovery, so make sure you get your tickets in advance.
Location: St Katharine’s & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB
Price: Tickets go from £24.70 for adults. Booking online is cheaper.
20. See the Exhibit
We realize this sounds wildly unspecific, but we’re not referring to museum exhibits here. The Exhibit is actually a hub of the most varied activities you can enjoy.
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From film-screenings to drag queen brunches, The Exhibit will keep you entertained and wanting for more. Whether you and your friends are after some creative pursuits such as movies and drawing nudes, or simply wanting to party and try the most delicious drinks at one of the events, you’ll get your fill here.
Location: 12 Balham Station Road, London, SW12 9SG
Price: Prices of tickets vary widely depending on what kinds of events you’re after.
21. Live your Ninth Life
This festive pub in Catford is all about letting your inner child express itself in all its glory.
Ninth Life is all about encouraging your creativity, coming together, and having a couple of drinks all the while. They offer private spaces for you to make good use of, and if all of this wasn’t enough to persuade you to come, then let us just say – awesome food. It’s worth the visit and you should definitely at least drop by. Also, the immersive adventure they boast is a work of art.
Location: 167 Rushey Green, Catford, London SE6 4BD
Price: Food costs from £3 to £15.
22. Fear the Paranormal
Get ready to be scared out of your mind by some of London’s most haunted locations and sights of horrific murders.
Naturally, if you’re a down to earth rationalist, you won’t get nearly a kick out of this activity as those craving the superstitions, but give this tour a chance nonetheless. Learn about some of the most gruesome events that took place in the city, bust some ghosts with gadgets often used in such endeavors, and play around with an Ouija board. It will be an unforgetful experience!
Location: Start at Cowcross St, EC1M 6BY
Price: £35 per person.
23. Relax on Primrose Hill
Maybe your idea of fun is not going down devilish slides or escaping locked rooms. Maybe you’d just like to relax and take in the views of London.
If that is the case, then there’s no better place to do it than Primrose Hill. This enormous park is a real slice of nature in an otherwise heavily urbanized area. Climbing the top of the hill will reveal some truly breathtaking vistas of the city. Take a deep breath and relax from the incessant exploration and tiring activities.
Location: Primrose Hill Road, London NW3
Price: Free
24. Train at White Water Center
Perhaps you’d love a more traditional approach to having fun with an adventure that’ll take some strength, courage, and coordination from your team.
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Lee Valley White Water Center will get you outfitted for some white water rafting and let you choose an adventure of your own, at least after you’ve received a bit of training. See how well your friends can cooperate in fun activities such as Tubing, Hydrospeeding, and the famous White Water Splash.
Location: Station Rd, Waltham Cross EN9 1AB, UK
Price: From £15 to £50 depending on the activity you choose.
25. Stroll Westminster
The list of sights to see in Westminster is so long that it’s deserving of an article of its own, which is why we’ll only briefly go over some places for you and your friends to see.
Aside from West End, this is where you’ll find most of the famed attractions of London. Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Tate Britain, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, and Florence Nightingale Museum only scratch the surface of the cultural significance of Westminster. The walk across its magnificent bridge over the River Thames is just icing on the cake.
Location: Westminster, Central London
Price: You can’t put a price on sightseeing!
London is a huge city, and so is the number of ways in which you can have fun here. We hope you’ve found something to your liking, which is highly probable, especially considering how unique and innovative some of the activities listed here are. Have as much fun as you can, and don’t forget to like the article!
