Bloomsbury Lanes
UK, Central London · Soft Play
The long read worth saving for nap time
What’s it actually like?
Bloomsbury Lanes is an indoor entertainment venue with bowling, karaoke, arcade games and an American-style diner. It sounds like the sort of place that tries to do everything and, to be fair, mostly gets away with it for a family outing or a group trip. The big plus is variety: there’s enough going on to keep older children entertained, and one reviewer called it a “fun venue” with “so many different spaces”. Families also liked the music and friendly staff, and the fact you can just turn up in your own trainers is pleasantly un-fussy. The downsides are the usual London ones: pricey drinks, no allergen info mentioned on the menu, and a place that some visitors felt looked a bit tired. There was also a very unhappy review about broken bowling screens and poor management, so it’s worth going in with modest expectations rather than imagining a polished West End miracle.
Two-minute orientation
Quick read
Bowling, karaoke, arcade games and a diner-style setup in one indoor venue. Best for school-age children, tweens and mixed family groups who want a bit of noise and activity. Expect decent fun, but not a bargain, and some reviews mention tired rooms and patchy service.
Best for ages
Strong score for mixed-age siblings
The boring brilliant stuff
Need to know
Indoor vs outdoor split
Mostly indoor
Parking detail
Full parking wording is landing soon — meanwhile check Maps plus the venue’s own FAQs.
Dog-friendly?
Probably not
Most indoor venues don't allow dogs. Worth confirming if you'd need to bring one.
Pram-friendly?
Likely yes
Indoor venues like this are typically pram-friendly.
Baby change?
Likely yes
Venues this size usually have baby change facilities.
Food on-site & BYO
Yes: Food available on-site — cafe or kiosk.
Locate it
UK, Central London
THINGS PARENTS ASK
Common questions
Is it good for children?
Yes, mainly for school-age children and tweens. Bowling, arcade games and karaoke give it enough variety to keep them busy.
Is it suitable for toddlers?
Not really. The reviews suggest it’s better for older children than for very young ones.
Can you eat there?
Yes. Reviews mention freshly made pizza and an American-style diner menu.
Is it expensive?
Yes. Reviewers called the drinks seriously overpriced, and the venue itself is listed at the expensive end.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Real review quotes
"freshly made pizza"
"drinks are seriously overpriced"
"the place looks a bit tired"