For nights out with mates, or dates - These venues will bowl you over

There’s an incredibly huge range of bowling alleys across the capital. From boutique alleys offering casual bowling in gorgeous bars, with classy cocktails and exceptional food, to large American style mega bowls where the bowling is fast, the arcades are loud and the drinks are refillable. Then you have the technological innovations of augmented reality bowling as showcased, for the first time in the UK, at Gravity, Wandsworth.

So, no matter your reason for heading to the lanes, if you’re in London you’ve got a venue just right for you.

Strike, Wandsworth

  • Classy boutique bowling bar
  • Also offers interactive darts, shuffleboard & Duckpin bowling
  • Tank-fresh beer
  • Stunning location, formerly Britain’s oldest brewery
  • Ultimate party venue

If you’re looking for a gorgeous venue where you can spend the whole night eating wonderful food, enjoying quality beer, quaffing stunning cocktails and playing sociable games, then look no further than Strike.

The historic nature of the building is reflected in the “gentleman’s club” styling with large leather seating, hefty wooden trunks and impressive map wall art. However, the gaming is impressively modern. As well as four lanes of traditional bowling you can challenge your mates to Duckpin Bowling (shorter lanes, harder challenge), electronic interactive darts and shuffleboard.

Strike is able to offer game, food & drinks packages for parties. They also host a Limitless Lunch every Sunday.

Activity cost: £10.95 pp for 1 game

Top Tip… Try their Limitless Lunch – 2 hours, just £39.95 pp, Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm

All Star Lanes

  • 1920s styled boutique bowling lanes
  • Cocktail bar & quality food
  • 18+ after 6pm / 9pm Stratford
  • 4 venues across London (Brick Lane, Holborn, Stratford & White City)

Definitely earning its name of ‘London’s Original Good Time,’ you’ll really be feeling like Smash Mouth’s ‘All Star’ once you step inside.

Boutique bowling experience available at all four venues. Brick Lane: karaoke & interactive darts. White City: karaoke. Stratford: karaoke & Qbix gaming area. Amazing venues for cute first dates, fun with mates or hire their private rooms for larger parties / events.

Crafted to fit the 1920’s speakeasy bar theme, you know they’re bringing the cocktail magic you’ve been craving. Food at All Star Lanes is gorgeous. The Lanes Kitchen rustle up epic burgers, jumbo hotdogs, creative salads and loads more.

Activity cost: £11.50 (peak) and £9 (off peak) if booked online

Top Tip… High 5 Sunday, bowling for just £5 pp/pg Sunday from 5pm

Gravity Entertainment Centre, Wandsworth

  • Enormous ‘Department Store of Fun’
  • Augmented Reality Bowling – 1st of its kind in the UK
  • Four floors of immersive play experiences
  • New York loft styled cocktail bar
  • Located in Southside Shopping Centre

If you’re ready to take your bowling to the next level then you’ll need to get yourself booked in at Gravity Wandsworth. Here you’ll experience the future of bowling with their interactive, augmented reality bowling lanes which are incredible and have super fun games to try out too.

If you want to make a day of it then there are loads of other amazing activities for you to try including indoor e-karting, urban street golf, AR digital darts, Hologate VR, Immersive Gamebox, shuffleboard, esports arena and a Funbox Arcade. Closes 11pm most nights; 12.30am Friday & Saturday.

When you’re ready for a refill there are three different outlets serving food or visit Newtons cocktail bar for a refreshing beer or indeed a cocktail. Sounds awesome doesn’t it! It is! So, get yourself booked in.

Activity cost: £9.95 pp for one game

Top Tip… Twice the fun – opt for 2 games of bowling for £17.95

Hollywood Bowl

  • Large venues most with 20+ lanes
  • Hollywood movie themed VIP lanes
  • 5 venues across Greater London
  • Americana style diner
  • Cocktails

Ever had dreams of visiting the US West Coast? Well, if you’re not interested in a twelve-hour flight we’ve got the next best thing – Hollywood Bowl. Offering a classic American bowling experience, with state-of-the-art bowling lanes complete with interactive scoring systems and epic animations.

Located in the O2, Finchley, Tolworth, Dagenham and Surrey Quays. Most venues also offer HyperBowling, four different games where using the bumper scores you points and rolling your ball over lane tags multiplies your score.

Feeling peckish? All locations feature an American diner and food brought directly to your lane. If you’re looking to just kick back and relax you can visit their bar for a refreshing beer or frisky cocktail.

Activity cost: range from £6.85 to £9.10 pp per game depending on location & booking in advance

Top Tip… Unlimited bowling, £10 pp, Sundays from 7.30pm

Queens Skate Dine Bowl

  • 12 lanes, each with booth seating
  • VIP suite with 5 ruby-red lanes & velvet seating
  • Food from MEATliquor
  • Also offers ice skating, curling, beer pong, an arcade & ice karting
  • 18+ only after 7pm

Can’t decide what you want to do with your night? Well then, get yourselves down to Queens Skate Dine Bowl. After all, how many bowling alleys also come complete with their very own ice skating rink?

Bowling at Queens is a vibe. As well as individual booths for each lane, food ordered and delivered straight to your lane and funky neon lighting, there’s also a bangin’ soundtrack so you can bop & bowl. Looking for a special place for your party? You should book out the incredible Liquor Lanes. An exclusive room featuring 5 ruby-red lanes, turquoise velvet banquettes, bar & dedicated host – you’ll feel like the star you are!

Food is provided by the amazing Meatliquor, so prepare yourselves for mouth-watering burgers, delicious gourmet hot dogs and dozens of addictive desserts!

Activity cost: £11.50 per game if booked online and £12.75 for walk ins

Top Tip… Book in advance to get the best price on your activities

Bloomsbury Lanes

  • Retro bowling alley vibe
  • 8 lanes
  • Monthly Dancing Queen music event
  • Karaoke, darts & pool also available
  • American diner & cocktail bar

Any seventies music fans in the house? Well, flashback to your favourite years with the brilliant, retro inspired Bloomsbury Lanes! We’re talking vinyl records lining the walls, neon signs and atmospheric mood lighting – bringing the nostalgia back.

With eight full size bowling lanes, there’s loads of chances for you to strike gold in this amazing bowling location. And that’s not all! They’ve also got classics like American pool, darts boards and a soundproof karaoke booth.

Want more? There’re regular weekend events, including chart hits and dance floor bangers from every decade of music you could ever imagine. So, if you’re looking for somewhere you can bowl all day and dance all night, look no further! Booking is highly recommended. Private suite available for parties.

Activity cost: £45 – 65 for an hour of lane hire depending on day/time, for up to six players

Top Tip… Make the most of your lunch hour – hire a lane for £45. If there’s 6 of you that’s just £7.50 each!

Lewisham Lanes

  • 22 lanes
  • Generous, comfy seating at each lane
  • Great arcade including basketball
  • Hand stretched pizzas
  • Full bar serving cocktails

Looking for fun in Lewisham? Well then, look no further than Lewisham Lanes. You can hit these bowling lanes with friends and work fam and escape the pressures of the day!

Enjoy classic ten-pin bowling in this large, bustling venue. With 22 lanes, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

It’s not just bowling however, as you can also enjoy a fully stocked arcade and a sensational soundtrack from their resident DJ every Friday and Saturday. The diner serves up tasty pizzas, hot dogs and nachos suitably washed down by a drink from the broad range on offer at the bar, including cocktails!

Activity cost: £9 pp for 1 game of bowling

Top Tip… Monday to Friday 11am – 5pm it’s only £4,50 pp/pg

Rowans Tenpin Bowl

  • Traditional family bowling centre
  • 24 lanes
  • Also offers karaoke, pool & arcade
  • American, retro themed food menu
  • Speciality frozen cocktails

Found in Finsbury Park, there’s loads of space to hang out with your mates at Rowans’ twenty-four lane set up.

Looking for something a little different? Give their pool room a spin – a snooker temple where you can show off your mad skills! And what makes it even better? It’s not just one floor! With rooms full of non-stop entertainment, including multiple HD screens to watch the latest games, a full amusement arcade set up and even a karaoke booth, the only question is which one you’re gonna check out first!

If you want to party then Rowans DJs will be rocking the place every night until late.

Activity cost: £7/£8.20 (off peak) and £8/£9 (peak) per game depending on day/time. Admission fees also apply

Top Tip… Monday – Friday 10.30am – 6pm you can bowl for £7 pp / pg

Croc Bowl

  • Original 1950s alley
  • Sophisticated lounge with silver baby grand piano
  • Primarily an event space
  • Located inside the exclusive Ham Yard Hotel

For lovers of elegance and style, you can experience a night out you’ll never forget at this stunning venue, just a short two-minute walk from Mayfair! With food and drinks just an ask away, they offer five-star service – in fact, the food and drink is so good, it’s got an entire Instagram page dedicated to it (who’d have thought?).

With a dive bar, dance floor, silver baby grand piano, art works by contemporary artist Howard Hodgkin and authentic retro bowling shoes on display you can see why the Croc Bowl attracts a distinguished clientele.

Croc Bowl is mostly used as a private events space available alongside three private rooms, an art theatre with stage and balcony seating. Individual bookings may be available upon request.

Activity cost: £25 pp, for an hour of bowling

Top Tip… Stunning location for a glamorous party or high-end work event