things to do in london for birthday

Things to do in London for your Birthday

Celebrating the big day in the city? Here are some of the best things to do in London for your birthday!
By Dom Bewley

Our guide to celebrating your birthday in the capital!

Do you remember the day you were born? Probably not, and that's for the best. Gruesome. However, you probably do know when you were born. And, chances are you even celebrate that day every year in the form of a birthday. We humans are strange creatures, celebrating a day when we did absolutely nothing. Really, our birthday celebrations should be enjoyed by our mothers, who put all the work into that fateful day. But who cares about mothers? Let's celebrate birthdays like they're our achievements! Are you spending your birthday in London and wondering what fun things to do? Well, wonder no more. Leave your mother at home and try out one of these things to do in London for your birthday!

Including:

  • Boozy beer tour
  • Escape rooms
  • Embarrassing karaoke
  • Rooftop drinks
  • Swing for the nine's
  • and more!
Image of Factory, Brewery,

Brewery tour with a tipple

If you have a penchant for the amber nectar, why not kick your birthday off with a trip to where it all began. In a manner of speaking. Fuller's is one of Britain's best-known ale makers, with their brews a mainstay of pubs across the country. So, why not take a tour of Griffin Brewery, Fuller's official home? You'll get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process, learn about the brewery's 350-year history, and learn about the different ales they create and what inspires each new flavour. And, perhaps best of all, you'll join a tasting session at the end so that you can celebrate in style.

Image of Laboratory, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Coat, Girl, Teen, Computer Hardware, Electronics, Hardware, Monitor, Screen, Lab, Mobile Phone, Male, Man,

Escape Rooms

In celebration of your big day, why not get your heart pumping and your mind racing? We're talking escape rooms, those cunning challenges that pit you and your friends against the clock, and some fiendish puzzles. Lucky for you, London is full of the crafty activities! If you're a winter baby and the weather is looking a little glum, try an indoor escape room like AIM Escape in East? This atmospheric escapade will have you watching video messages, solving riddles, and escaping a themed room of your choosing before the time runs out and you're trapped forever. Or, at least until they unlock the doors and you exit, tail firmly between your legs.

Want to combine your escape experience with a little tipple? Check out The Grid near Blackfriars Bridge. This clandestine challenge pits you and your friends against Neosight, an evil company that's keeping a nefarious AI under wraps. Go undercover as new employees, mix your own cocktails, and beat the evil AI at its own game. Then, take a breather in the underground bunker, where you'll have another cocktail too. Or, if the sun is shining, why not try something more outdoorsy like Urban Missions? This thriller takes place entirely through WhatsApp, as you and your team must solve clues throughout London and stop an unknown threat to the city.

Image of Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Urban, Male, Man,

Karaoke

Need to flex your vocal cords to ring in the birthday celebrations? Why not try your hand at some karaoke, and show your friends how truly awful you are at singing? Thankfully, there are plenty of places to go and embarrass yourself in London! You'll find a number of Lucky Voice venues dotted about the capital, where you can book a private room for you and your friends, pick your tunes, eat some pizza, and drape yourself in accessories as you sing the night away. Or, head to the bar and mix it up with some more public karaoke in front of the inebriated patrons. Or, if you want something more off the beaten path, try Brazen Monkey Karaoke in Central. Twice nominated for Bar of the Year at the London Lifestyle Awards, this funky joint has private booths, 60,000 songs to choose from, and Spanish tapas to tuck into if you're feeling peckish.

Image of Urban, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Male, Man,

Rooftop Bars

Feel like soaking up some rays and sipping on some drinks to make your birthday feel extra special? Why not hit one of London's many rooftop bars? Want to add a little action to your rooftop experience? Check out Skylight. They have a load of drinks options and tables to sit and lounge, plus there are croquet and bouls fields available if you want to throw or put a ball or two. Or, if you're looking for a more party-first vibe, head over to Brixton Beach. This beach-themed rooftop bar has blasted tunes with makeshift dancefloors, pop-up bars and restaurants, and plenty of space to sit, stand, and party. Combine all of that with the bed of sand beneath your feet, and you'll quickly forget you're in the city. That is, until you have to go home.

Image of Field Hockey Stick, Hockey, Fun, Golf,

A round of mini-golf

Fancy working on your swing this birthday? Why not head to the green and put up a storm in the comfort of the inside. Again, as with many of these picks, there are a lot of places you can go and swing that club in London. Swingers mixes a roaring '20s aesthetic with nine holes of delightful mini-golf action, where you'll put them balls under well-known landmarks like the London Eye. Then, when your scoresheets are filled and your debts settled, you'll find delicious food and drinks from the likes of Patty & Bun and Breddos. Easily one of the best things to do in London for your birthday. Alternatively, check out the neon-drenched Junkyard Golf Club. Or, if the sun's out and you want to make the most of it, Plonk in Hackney.

Image of Cup, Alcohol, Beverage, Cocktail, Glass, Mojito,

Game night

And finally, let's end this cavalcade of comedy with a little game. A game of bingo, to be exact. That's right, your gran's favourite past-time has now been given a modern, gentrified reimagining. Nothing is safe! We came for their golf. We came for their darts. It was only a matter of time before bingo got the big city makeover. And none are more awe-inspiring than the neon-soaked, Tokyo-inspired Hijingo. A technological extravaganza of LED lights, floor-to-ceiling graphics, and a thumping soundtrack, it's like bingo on drugs. To accompany your retro future experience, you'll find eastern-inspired bits, cocktails aplenty, and one of the best things to do in London for your birthday!

And that's our list of the best things to do in London for your birthday!

Continue reading

Shop fronts in Camden London
Blog

Things to do in Camden London

Linked with London’s various counter culture movements, Camden is much loved by those who believe they don’t fit in elsewhere, which, let’s face it, is all of us. It generally draws a younger crowd to its markets, live music venues, museums and green spaces. But if you’re wondering if it’s worth you visiting Camden, you’ll first want to know about the things to do in Camden London and what the area is all about. Camden, usually used to mean the Camden Town neighborhood, is an area of north London adjacent to Regent’s Park. Its quirky character – seeing young professionals rubbing shoulders with hipsters and dreadlocked wannabe revolutionaries – has attracted everyone from American poet Sylvia Plath to Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Why? That’s exactly what we’re here to demonstrate! Go wild Camden contains over 160 blue plaques – denoting places where significant personalities have lived. However, it’s the neighborhood's non-human residents that capture the hearts of many visitors to north London. ZSL London Zoo is one of the world’s oldest and continues to be one of its most important conservation centers too. Visitors are able to get closer than ever before to Asiatic lions – of which only 400 exist in the wild, alongside gorillas and the creatures of London’s only rainforest. The zoo occupies the northernmost parts of Regent’s Park, one of London’s eight royal parks. Here visitors can take in the 12,000 individual roses that color Queen Mary’s Gardens each spring and summer, take a turn on the boating lake or wander across to Primrose Hill for views of the London skyline. Another spot to take in the quieter side of life in Camden is along the towpath of Regent’s Canal. Almost 14 km in length, the canal encircles much of north London, with some of its most picturesque areas being that within Regent’s Park and leading towards the market stalls of Camden Lock. Go shopping Forget the flagship stores of Oxford Street, Camden is all about its market stalls. Now primarily geared towards the tourist industry, you’re not going to be able to stock up on fruit and veg as easily as you once might have. However, you will have plenty of choice when it comes to books, clothing and street food. That’s because Camden actually has five markets within walking distance of one another. The most famous is Camden Lock Market, whose stalls are located around Regent’s Canal. For fashion, head to Buck Street Market, whilst antiques aficionados might prefer Stables Market. If you start to miss the big store names, you’ll find them – and a good number of independent boutiques – on Camden High Street. Go cultural Founded in 1932, Camden’s Jewish Museum recounts details of the life of London’s Jewish populations over the years. Its treasures include the Lindo Lamp – the first Hanukkah menorah known to have been made in Britain. Covering three stories of a row of buildings in Albert Street, it also has an important collection of artefacts from Auschwitz concentration camp and several significant works of art. A taste for modern and contemporary art is catered for at Cob Gallery, whose white walls are used to primarily represent emerging female artists based in the London area. The paintings and drawings hanging in the gallery offer perhaps the first chance to examine the work of artists sure to hit the mainstream sometime soon. An even greater range of artists can be discovered at the annual Frieze Art Fair, taking place each October in Regent’s Park. One of the highlights of London’s cultural calendar, the fair hosts over 150 galleries from around the world, dotting the park with large scale sculpture as paintings find a home in the temporary structure built purposely each year. Go for a bite to eat The constant stream of visitors to Camden means you only have to walk a few meters before catching the scent of food and drink from around the world. From traditional British fish and chips to Neapolitan pizza, Jamaican jerk chicken and Middle Eastern wraps, there’s something to tempt everyone’s taste buds. On the drinks front, Camden has its very own brewery, the Camden Town Brewery, whose core range includes the award-winning German style Hells Lager and Gentleman's Wit, a Belgian white beer with a hint of Earl Grey tea. What could be more Camden than that? For a trustworthy authentic pub to sample the brewery’s latest batches try the Hawley Arms, a pub Amy Winehouse liked so much she would serve behind the bar. A statue of her stands not too far away in Stables Market. Go for a night out like no other Based in a converted railroad shed where engines were turned and stored, the Roundhouse is a theater and auditorium hosting everything from performances of Shakespeare to the Britten Sinfonia and Bob Dylan. Meanwhile the Electric Ballroom is a stalwart of the indie music scene – with occasional performances by the likes of Ed Sheeran too. The Jazz Café provides a space for blues fans, and anyone with an interest in traditional English folk need only head to Cecil Sharp House to get their fill of the vibes. For nightlife in Camden combining cocktails and live DJs, check out Belushis, who has a laid-back afterwork ambience during the week, turning to a full-on dance-till-dawn ethos come the weekend. For ease of access alone – right opposite Camden Town Underground station – The Underworld is also worth mentioning. It welcomes an eclectic crowd ready to fill the dance floor when the top indie and rock tunes hit the speakers. Uncover the myriad things to do in Camden London By day and by night, there are a huge number of things to do in Camden London. But if you’re still looking for more to fill your days in the UK capital, the British Museum is just a short distance away, alongside the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema and Freud Museum. Visit these attractions with Go City and you’ll make incredible savings on admission costs, meaning there’s even more reason to take in the sites of this small part of north London!
Ian Packham
Revelers at a Pride parade
Blog

Things to do in London for Pride Day

The Pride in London festival is one of the biggest, brightest and best on the planet, with around 30,000 participants and 1.5 million spectators. A month-long celebration of love, diversity and all things LGBTQ+, it comes complete with theatrical cabaret and drag performances, world-class nightlife, LGBTQ+ film screenings and, of course, the all-important Pride Parade that brings the festival to a flamboyant close in late June or early July. Raise your rainbow flag and dive in for our guide to all the best things to do in London for Pride Day. The Pride Parade There are stacks of fun LGBTQ+ events taking place around London in the weeks leading up to the annual Pride Parade. We’re talking community socials, live theater, movie screenings, tours and more. But, by the end of the month it’s all about the Pride Parade, when the West End fills with festival atmosphere, and vibrant, eye-popping floats lead a procession of thousands of revelers through the streets. Here, all roads lead to Trafalgar Square for the biggest party of the year. Find a spot along the (relatively short) route from Hyde Park to watch the floats cruise colorfully by. Expect plenty of dancing, singing and wild, wild costumes at the Trafalgar Square party, accompanied by live shows from some of the planet’s biggest stars – previous performers include Idina Menzel, Rita Ora, and Queen’s Adam Lambert. If Trafalgar Square feels a little too hectic for you (and, believe us, it does get pretty hectic), there are several other satellite events dotted around the West End, including a family area at Victoria Embankment, and revelers tend to spill out into the surrounding neighborhoods (particularly Soho) to keep the party going through the day and indeed well into the wee small hours. Pride in London is a free and unticketed event, but those with deep pockets can choose to book a seat in the grandstand on Haymarket for around £50. You’ll need to book early though – seats are very limited and tend to sell out in the blink of an eye. Find about more about this year’s Pride in London events and timings here. LGBTQ+ Art & Culture There are many ways to spend Pride Day in London without spending endless frustrated hours jockeying for position at overcrowded bars. For example, you could soak up some of that vibrant LGBTQ+ culture in a rather more low-key fashion at the Queer Britain Museum. This excellent Kings Cross museum was established to celebrate Pride’s 50th anniversary in 2022, and its exhibition contains photography from previous parades. There are also talks, workshops and a small shop. Some of London’s more established museums – the mighty British Museum and the Tate among them – also run tours highlighting key pieces of LGBTQ+ art in their collections in and around Pride month. And, if you do happen to find yourself at the British Museum, you’re also just a 10-minute stroll from London’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookstore. Gay’s The Word has been trading here since 1979, and acts as a thriving community hub as well as an outlet for some of the best in new (and old) LGBTQ+ writing. A fine place, in other words, to while away an hour or two, as well as supporting a small LGBTQ+ business during Pride. See London’s Top Sights Hey, just because the streets are thronging with crowds doesn’t mean you can’t also squeeze in a little light London sightseeing while you’re in town. There are some themed walking tours included with attraction passes from Go City, or you can go full Pride and take a Dragged Around London tour, in which a fabulous drag queen, drag king (or other gender-bending performer) will take you on a frankly unforgettable tour of some of the city's sights. Tour titles like ‘West Mincer’ and ‘Wild Wild West End’ should give you some idea of what to expect! Spoiler: high heels, lip-synching and karaoke are all par for the course. There are plenty more attractions worth checking out when in London for Pride Day. Many, including the London Eye, even light up in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag in honor of the festival. You can also save up to 50% on entry to bucket-listers including the London Eye with a London pass from Go City. Other attractions on the pass include: Madame Tussauds London The View from the Shard Kensington Palace, former home of Diana Princess of Wales The fabulous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Tower Bridge … and many many more! Find out more and get your London attractions pass here. Pride Day Nightlife in London London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene is a riot at the best of times, so you can only imagine what it’s like with the fun turned all the way up to 11 for Pride Day. Iconic nightlife venues abound in and around the streets of Soho where, handily, many of the day’s scheduled events will also take place. The bars that line Old Compton Street are practically the stuff of legend, and they get even more lively during Pride. Try the Admiral Duncan for one of the most convivial hangouts in town – it’s been around since the 19th Century and a popular LGBTQ+ hangout since at least the 1980s. Mix it up with a hop just across the street to lively Comptons, another fine stalwart of the LGBTQ+ scene that's been trading here since 1986. Later, Soho clubs including G-A-Y, Heaven and the Freedom Bar are just some of the neighborhood’s most popular choices, though there are plenty more within stumbling distance of Old Compton Street should these be too busy. Just south of the river, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is a grade II-listed former Victorian music hall where high camp and high-kicking drag acts are the order of the day. Expect top live performers and high-energy floor fillers late into the night. The nearby Cock Tavern is another firm favorite with Pride revelers on the big day. Or don your most extraordinary Pride outfit and strike out for East End hipster joints like Dalston Superstore – think vegan food, colorful craft cocktails and contemporary club classics that cater to a slightly younger crowd. And finally (if you have any energy left), there’s FOLD in Canning Town, for dance, electronic and techno beats that will keep your feet moving long after sun-up. Save on London Attractions, Tours and Activities Save up to 50% on admission to London attractions with a pass from Go City. Check out @gocity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
A cable car crossing the Thames at sunset
Blog

Things to do in Greenwich London

History seeps from every cobblestone street and blade of grass in Greenwich. An area first recorded more than a thousand years ago in 918, it sits on the south bank of the River Thames to the east of central London, stretching around the banking center of Canary Wharf and docklands. Overflowing with royal heritage, and the meeting point of the eastern and western hemispheres, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is not to be missed. From its parks to its panoramas of London, here are the top things to do in Greenwich London. Head back in time Standing proud in dry dock close to the entrance of Greenwich foot tunnel, the Cutty Sark was once one of the most important ships in Britain’s merchant fleet – tasked with transporting tea from Shanghai as quickly as the winds would allow. Becoming the fastest vessel to ever undertake the 3.5 month journey, it is the only ship of its kind in the northern hemisphere and provides an immersive way of experiencing what life must have been like on the high seas during the 1800s. Pass through the colonnaded central avenue of the Old Royal Naval College – created so views of the Thames from Queen’s House weren’t obstructed – and you’ll reach the National Maritime Museum. With the navy integral to Britain’s history, the museum has managed to collect over two million objects since it was opened in 1934, including Turner’s largest ever painting and the jacket that Nelson was wearing when he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar. Take in the views Views back towards central London’s neighborhoods aren’t hard to find, with Greenwich Park providing ample. However, Greenwich doesn’t disappoint when it comes to vistas beyond the ordinary either. Those with a head for heights can scale London’s O2 Arena for uninterrupted 360° views not only of Greenwich, but also Canary Wharf and the 2012 Olympic Park – including the AcerlorMittal Orbit Tower. Or you could drift over the Thames with the 10 minute one way journey on London’s only cable car, the Emirates Air Line. But given its naval heritage and being so close to the river, the top way to take in the sights has to be aboard a Thames sightseeing cruise departing from Greenwich Pier. With three additional points to hop-on and off, they provide an alternative route to the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s than the city’s Underground network. Enjoy a park full of treasures Despite this range of attractions, Greenwich is most famous for its Royal Observatory, located within Greenwich Park. Commissioned by Charles II in 1675, it became a major center for astronomy and navigation, before also being designated the site of the prime meridian in the nineteenth century. A plaque and green laser mark the point at which the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth meet. Turn south towards the deer park to take in another of the park’s sights – The Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House. (Forget about any signs to the park’s Roman Ruins, which aren’t visible). The red brick edifice of Ranger’s House, by contrast, couldn’t be a better place to explore the 700 piece collection of Sir Julius Wernher. An extraordinary private collection of paintings, Renaissance jewelry, bronzes and carved ivory, it’s a museum which deserves better recognition than it usually receives. Explore modern Greenwich Walking distance from the main historical sites, Greenwich Market brings additional vibrancy to the neighborhood. Protected from the weather, this covered market contains around 120 stalls loaded with antiques, handmade arts and crafts from local creators and street food picks from around the world, including a good range of gluten-free and vegan options. Whilst some of the dishes these stalls produce are worthy of gallery space, the exhibitions at North Greenwich’s NOW Gallery will impress all the more. Its usual focus is on the area’s diversity, sharing the work of artists, designers and creatives from a range of backgrounds. Contemporary art, fashion and photography are all included. To see the latest in funny, check out the Up the Creek Comedy Club, who combine old and new world beers brewed on a daily basis using batch micro-brewing techniques with some of the UK’s top talent. Blackout nights add a talent show feek to the open mic nights. Its Sunday Special nights have been going strong since 2005, and often sees unadvertised performances from household names including Michael McIntyre and Flight of the Conchords. Get involved with special events Sometimes compared to a riverine version of the London Marathon, the Great River Race sees up to 300 oared craft race each other in a handicapped competition from Greenwich to Ham. Growing in popularity each September, every vessel is required to fly a flag and winners are not just those who cross the finish line first 34 kilometers later, but also those with the best fancy dress. Move over the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race! September also sees the city wide Open House event, revealing usually hidden parts of Greenwich to the general public. Sites that have previously welcomed visitors for this special event have included Joseph Bazalgette’s Pumping Station from 1859 and Nicholas Hawksmoor’s Church of St Alfege. Earlier on in the year, at the start of the summer festival season in June, there’s the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. Celebrating the performing arts, the 10 day event has around 200 different individual performances, from small-scale theatrical shows to huge outdoor acrobatic displays. What to do in Greenwich London When it comes to things to do in Greenwich London, visitors don’t have to look very hard, with the complex of royal museums, park and market providing a worthwhile pull east from the center of the British capital. Travel with Go City and you’ll also get incredible savings on attraction admission for many of the neighborhood’s top sites. That way you can straddle the globe’s hemispheres at the Royal Observatory and enjoy a cruise along the Thames towards the Houses of Parliament safe in the knowledge that you could be saving hour after hour and attraction by attraction.
Ian Packham

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

    Thick check Icon