Experiences
The 6 Best Bowling in London
Six London bowling alleys worth the booking fee, from a Bloomsbury basement to the biggest lanes in town.
In short: our top picks are All Star Lanes Brick Lane, Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes and Queens Skate Dine Bowl. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Bowling in London has quietly grown up. The city now does it two ways, the polished cocktail-and-lanes operators where the bowling is half the point, and the proper big rooms where it is all of it, and the good news is both ends are done well here. We have left out the tired chains and kept the places where the lanes run true, the food is better than it needs to be, and a Friday night actually feels like one.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| All Star Lanes Brick Lane | Shoreditch | £££ |
| Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes | Bloomsbury | £££ |
| Queens Skate Dine Bowl | Bayswater | £££ |
| Rowans Tenpin Bowl | Finsbury Park | ££ |
| Hollywood Bowl at The O2 | Greenwich Peninsula | ££ |
| Lane7 London Victoria | Victoria | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
All Star Lanes Brick Lane
Why we pick itThe diner-meets-speakeasy styling makes this the most date-friendly of the bunch, all leather booths, a proper cocktail list and lanes you can keep to yourselves. It also runs karaoke rooms if the night wants to keep going after the last frame.
Boutique bowling and cocktails
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Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes
Why we pick itA genuinely characterful basement under Tavistock Square, more dive-bar Americana than corporate activity floor, with a diner, karaoke booths and late licence to the early hours. It is the one to pick when you want the bowling to feel like a night out rather than an outing.
Retro basement bowling and bar
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Queens Skate Dine Bowl
Why we pick itWith 17 lanes it is the biggest bowling alley in the city, and it shares the building with London's only year-round ice rink, so you can pair the two. Interactive darts and a full bar and restaurant make it a strong shout for bigger groups near Hyde Park.
Bowling, darts and an ice rink
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Rowans Tenpin Bowl
Why we pick itA north London institution and the best value here, with 24 lanes, a wall of pool tables, arcade games and DJ nights that run well past midnight. Unpretentious, properly cheap before the evening peak, and reliably good fun in a way the slicker venues sometimes are not.
No-frills lanes and pool, late
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Hollywood Bowl at The O2
Why we pick itThirteen modern lanes inside The O2's entertainment district, two minutes from North Greenwich tube, with bumpers and ramps that make it the easy pick for kids and mixed-age groups. Tack it onto a film or a gig at the arena and the whole evening sorts itself.
Big-room family bowling
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Lane7 London Victoria
Why we pick itMore games bar than bowling alley, with eight premium lanes alongside an 18-hole mini golf course, darts, beer pong and shuffleboard, plus an over-18s basement arcade called Play Dirty. Good when the group wants options beyond bowling and a drink in hand throughout.
Bowling, mini golf and games bar
Before you book
Weekend evening lanes book out days ahead, so reserve online and check whether your slot is over 18s only, several of these venues go adults-only after 8pm or so.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
All Star Lanes Brick Lane is our editor's choice: The diner-meets-speakeasy styling makes this the most date-friendly of the bunch, all leather booths, a proper cocktail list and lanes you can keep to yourselves. It also runs karaoke rooms if the night wants to keep going after the last frame. All Star Lanes Brick Lane, Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes and Queens Skate Dine Bowl lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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