QUEENS: Skate, Dine, Bowl
This massive indoor entertainment hub features an ice-skating rink, curling on ice, retro ten-pin bowling lanes, arcade games, and a pizza restaurant - it's a one-stop rainy-day centre where kids can skate on ice, bowl a strike, and eat slices under one roof, but we haven't visited yet so send us your opinions!
- Insider tip: Book early morning weekend bowling slots for discounted family rates.
Times change seasonally — always check before you set off.
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The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
The TV show, for real. We loved battling the puzzles and challenges - they really are just like the show, with the countdown clock and fear of getting locked in bringing back nostalgic memories! The setting itself looks a bit run down in some areas, but that didn't stop us having a really fun evening, especially when the golf rains down inside the snowglobe and you try to snatch as much as possible. A Maze Master leads your team through Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic zones grabbing crystals, before that confetti storm of the Crystal Dome. Older kids and teens love it - be aware that you may be mixed in with other people if your group isn't large enough to run solo.
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London's Fun Board Game Cafés (rainy day fun)
Rainy Saturday, restless kids, nobody wants another soft play? London's board game cafés are one really excellent answer. There are thousands of games on the shelves, staff who explain the rules so you don't lose half an hour to an instruction manual, and proper food (and, more importantly to my kids, milkshakes) while you play. Most charge a few pounds per person for a table slot, families are welcome during the day, and you can happily stay put for three or four hours. Here are the five we send families to again and again, from one next to our favourite neon graffiti tunnel under Waterloo to a buggy-friendly hall in Croydon. Draughts (Waterloo), SE1 7NN — hidden in the Leake Street graffiti tunnel, 1,000+ games and roaming "Game Gurus" who pick kid-friendly titles for you. Families welcome before 9pm; nachos, burgers and thick shakes. Quietest on Sunday mornings. https://draughtslondon.com/locations/waterloo/ Draughts (Stratford), E20 1FS — floor-to-ceiling windows in East Village, bright and welcoming for younger families. Pair it with Tumbling Bay playground in the Olympic Park first, then a three-hour session with toasties and milkshakes. https://draughtslondon.com/locations/stratford/ The Ludoquist (Croydon), CR0 1QE — the South London family favourite: huge, bright, a dedicated Family & Kids bookcase from age three up, buggy-friendly aisles and sourdough pizzas. Book ahead on rainy weekends. https://www.theludoquist.com/ Bad Moon Cafe (Bermondsey / Elephant & Castle), SE1 4GZ — best for tweens and teens ready for fantasy strategy and card games. Big tables, four-hour slots and stone-baked pizzas. https://www.badmooncafe.co.uk/ Loading Bar (Stoke Newington), N16 0LH — the screens-and-tabletop compromise: free retro consoles built into the booths plus quick-fire card games, no table charge, under-18s welcome during the day. https://loading.bar/
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Jurassic Encounter
Roaring, life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and golf - it's a dream combo for many! Dinosaur-obsessed kids will love seeing giant T-Rexes, Triceratops, and Brachiosauruses lurking, and it opens surprisingly early (7.45 on the weekend!) so for early risers where you've already put in a parental shift by 7, this is a great option!
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