F1® Arcade London
BEST FOR
Ages 7+
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
London
What it’s like
Full-motion F1 racing simulators in central London, with a bar and restaurant attached, but under-18s have to be out by 6pm.
This is a racing sim venue built around F1, so what your kids actually do is climb into a full-motion simulator and race, with big screens around the place showing Grand Prix action and commentary. It's a proper motorsport atmosphere rather than a soft-play one, which suits a seven or eight-year-old who's into cars and wants the real deal, not a kiddy version.
That age minimum of 7 is worth taking seriously, and the bigger catch is the venue's family policy: under-18s have to leave by 6pm daily. So this is a daytime trip with the kids, not an evening one, and if you fancy stretching a Saturday session past six you'll need a babysitter for that bit. Walk-ins for racing are allowed but limited and first come first served, so if you've got your heart set on a slot you're better off booking ahead, especially since standard bookings can't be changed within 48 hours.
There's a restaurant on site doing mains, sharing platters, tacos and flatbreads, plus a cocktail bar (mocktails too), so you can turn a race session into a proper sit-down meal afterwards. It's smack in the middle of London near St Paul's tube, which is handy for transport but rubbish for parking, given you're in the Congestion Charge zone with the nearest car park a ten-minute walk off. Watch parties for actual Grand Prix weekends are open to kids too, but the site's honest that these are loud, standing-room, adult-leaning events.
Birthday parties are on offer with racing sims as the centrepiece, and they mention champagne and cocktails for the grown-ups while the kids race, plus you can ask about decorations through their team.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 7 and up who are into cars and racing, not toddlers
- Booking
- Recommended in advance for racing sessions
- Parking
- National Car Park about 10 minutes walk away
- Food
- Restaurant with mains, sharing platters, tacos and flatbreads plus cocktail bar with mocktails available
- Getting there by bus or train
- St Paul's tube 2 min walk. City Thameslink 6 min walk
- Parties
- Birthday parties available with racing simulators, Champagne and cocktails
- Racing bookings can't be changed within 48 hours, or 28 days for event bookings, so pick your slot carefully.
- Practice and qualifying sessions are shown in venue unticketed, with subtitled rather than spoken commentary.
- St Paul's tube is a two-minute walk, which beats trying to park nearby.
- The 18+ evening rule applies every day, not just weekends.
Plan your visit
How old do kids need to be to race?
Seven is the minimum age for the simulators.
Do we need to book in advance?
Booking's strongly recommended for racing sessions. There are some walk-in slots each day but they're first come first served and fill up fast.
Can under-18s stay all day?
No, they have to leave by 6pm daily. It's an 18+ venue after that.
Can kids come to the Grand Prix watch parties?
They're allowed at all ages, but the site flags them as loud, adult-oriented and involving a lot of standing, so it might not suit younger kids.
What's there to eat?
A restaurant menu with mains, sharing platters, tacos and flatbreads, plus vegan and gluten-free options. There's a cocktail bar with mocktails for the kids too.
Is there parking nearby?
Not really on site. The nearest car park is about a ten-minute walk away, and you're inside the London Congestion Charge zone.
Can we just go for food without racing?
You can turn up just for the bar or restaurant without booking a racing session.
Do they do birthday parties?
Racing simulators form the centrepiece, with champagne and cocktails available for adults, and you can arrange decorations through their guest relations team.
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