London’s biggest and best gaming venues revealed

It doesn’t matter whether you enjoy video or PC gaming as a casual hobby or as a serious pastime, London ticks all the right boxes when it comes to computer and card gaming. In fact, there are several tailor-made gaming venues in the English capital.

As the British Esports scene has grown at a serious rate of knots, it’s perhaps no surprise London is at the forefront of this niche. Below, we explore some of the most popular gaming destinations in LDN.

Platform, Shoreditch

Platform on Worship Street in Shoreditch is one of the capital’s most impressive yet intimate gaming venues. Established as a dual-purpose gaming venue and cocktail bar, Platform has developed its niche successfully over time. Describing itself as the “home of social gaming”, Platform aims to make video gaming a more inclusive experience for all.

It’s possible to book gaming booths for 90-minute sessions, with snacks and refreshments capable of being delivered to your booth throughout. The booths typically have PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch consoles installed, ensuring plenty of options on the “gaming menu”. A quick glance at the menu covers most popular titles including FIFA 23, Call of Duty, Rocket League, UFC, Tekken and much more. Other sports are embracing competitive video gaming like FIFA, with F1 simulators proving exceptionally popular at the Oxfordshire-based Williams Racing Experience Centre.

Red Bull Gaming Sphere, Shoreditch

A stone’s throw from Platform, Shoreditch is also home to Red Bull’s now-iconic Gaming Sphere. This popular Esports studio and venue is designed to support budding Esports content creators as well as the biggest Esports athletes. The Sphere is regularly home to Esports competitions, workshops and bootcamps, aimed at honing the skills of semi-professional gamers and taking them to the next level.

The Sphere also has free open days throughout the year, inviting the public in to try out the venue’s state-of-the-art gaming hardware. Esports fans can also head to the Sphere to watch the live action unfold on the complex’s “JUMBOTRON” 190” screen.

A quick glance at the upcoming events in the calendar at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere include tournaments for Smash Bros, Reversal, as well as student nights tailored exclusively for open-world gamers.

PokerStars LIVE, Leicester Square

In the last two decades, poker has well and truly established itself as one of the most popular subsectors of the British gaming scene. As far as competitive gaming goes, poker has long been the most keenly contested of all the active card games in the UK. The nation is home to some of the biggest poker tournaments in the continent, with legs for the European Poker Tour (EPT) and UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) often staged here.

One of the most used venues for UKIPT and EPT events in London is the PokerStars LIVE room at The Hippodrome Casino in London’s West End. It’s one of the two best venues for live action in the poker world, alongside one in Manila, the Philippines. The Hippodrome’s poker venue is situated on the third floor, with 17 state-of-the-art tables ample for most cash game and tournament requirements.

Twickenham Esports Facilities, Twickenham

Twickenham Stadium is the home of English rugby, but it’s also one of the leading Esports venues in Greater London. The venue has everything an Esports tournament organiser needs to host a large-scale competition, with dozens of VIP practice boxes, exclusive athletes lounge, and a sizeable 1GB bearer with real-time backup.

Smash Bros may have been staged at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in recent times, but Twickenham has also been used for its “Boss Battles” events in recent months. The 1,000 sq. m Rose Suite provided ample space for more than 200 gaming monitors to stage the competition for a gamer and viewer perspective.

New Meta Gaming Arena, Islington

Islington’s New Meta Gaming Arena is a haven for arcade and video gamers in North London. Situated in Islington Square, it’s rapidly become a popular venue for competitive gamers in the heart of the capital. It’s seen by some as a gaming café and others will view it as a competitive Esports arena, depending on your preference. There are no fewer than 40 state-of-the-art gaming stations, providing a true professional Esports experience.

New Meta is not only attracting casual old-school gamers, but it’s also launched its own Esports Academy, designed to hone the talents of the next generation of gamers. New Meta believes its Academy will help improve the critical thinking of the next generation, improving their thought leadership and communication skills alongside their gaming attributes.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to London’s gaming scene, even if it’s arguably the pinnacle for casual and seasoned console and PC gamers. London is certainly staking its claim as the Esports capital of Europe.