Bowling in London

Where to go Bowling in London

From bowling dens to polished retro US-style chains and friendly lanes safe for the whole family to enjoy, London has a fine selection of tenpin bowling venues to choose from. Even if you prefer to sit on the sidelines and leave the bowling to the Jeff Lebowskis, there is usually plenty of food, drink and alternative entertainment on offer.

All Star Lanes – Bayswater, Brick Lane, Holborn, Westfield

With its American retro-style and 21st Century gloss, All Star Lanes was a concept waiting to happen, and with barely a decade having passed since their arrival, the small chain of four bowling venues has built up a strong reputation amongst Londoners. All four venues follow the same general model with a mixture of public and private bowling alleys, American-style cuisine and décor (think low lighting and polished leather).

Holborn also offer the popular ‘Shake, Rattle ‘n’ Bowl’ nights for those who like to glam up in 50s attire and jive the night away under the gaze of that era’s poster boys and girls.

The Stratford branch is situated in the famous Westfield shopping centre and is the place to go if you want to eat ethically. The menu includes free-range meat, fresh veg and sustainable fish and there is also the obligatory milkshakes. As for the bowling, there are 14 lanes on offer in the Westfield.

The East End is also covered, with an ASL branch on Brick Lane.

Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes

There are customers who adore the unpolished beauty of the Bloomsbury and go there just to soak up the atmosphere. In terms of facilities on offer, there is no disputing that this retro-style bowling den, tucked away in the basement of the Tavistock pub, deserves its recommendations. In addition to the eight bowling lanes, there are four karaoke rooms, vinyl booths, pool and ping-pong tables and even cricket nets. You can grab a burger (with fries) at the tattered Bloomsbury Diner before boogying on down to some classic tunes (they even do dedicated hip hop, funk and live music nights).

Whereas All Star Lanes looks the part, parts of Bloomsbury Bowling quite literally are the part, with some of the wood comprising the bar sourced from the famous Lucky Lanes of LA. You will also find the only above-lane ball return mechanism outside of the States.

Rowans Tenpin Bowling

If you’re looking for a quality bowling experience in North London, then Rowans Tenpin Bowling, near Finsbury Park, might be for you. Rowans boasts an impressive 24 lanes of bowling and, if those are all taken, there are still 19 electronic pool tables to keep you and your friends occupied in the meantime, with bar snacks available. There is also the obligatory karaoke (including private booths), from £5 an hour with 8,000 tracks available and numerous overhead TVs broadcasting sports action. For those who actually want to bowl, Rowans often runs competitions (with prizes) and there is also a bowling league.

Rowans is an ideal venue for families and corporate dos, and offer reasonable prices. Entrance is free apart from on Friday and Saturday evenings (£2), and Saturday and Sunday daytimes (£1). Games cost from £3.90 to £5.20 (50p off for children under 12), and there is a £1 shoe hire fee. The venue is open seven days a week from 10.30am, closing just after midnight apart from on Friday and Saturday nights when the fun goes on until after 2.00am. This is another retro-style establishment complete with red and blue neon signage for that authentic touch.

London Palace Super Bowl, Elephant & Castle

Situated on the top floor of the Elephant & Castle shopping centre, south of the rive is the London Palace Super Bowl. If you are interested in improving your strike rate, then this Southwark establishment has all you will need. There are a staggering 26 lanes to choose from, split between two centres, and plenty of fast food refreshments. The London Palace Super Bowl offers a friendly atmosphere and facilities for everything from a couple of hours fun play to corporate get-togethers and birthday parties, complete with party food, hats and balloons. Games cost just over £5 (£3.45 to £4.95 for children under 16 and students with an NUS card). Students can also benefit from dedicated nights on Monday and Tuesday, where they can get a game for less than £3 a person and a four person platter for an extra £7.90. The London Palace also offers a host of members-only benefits, including a Family Club and ‘switch off’ deal, which must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

The Elephant & Castle has its own tube station and is close to the Imperial War Museum.

Queen’s Ice & Bowl

Another family friendly venue, the Queen’s Ice & Bowl offers exactly what it says – ice-skating and twelve lanes of bowling, complete with lane hosts, to help you master the basics, and a state-of-the-art scoring system. There is also karaoke, with room for up to 20 singers, plasma screens and over 5,000 tunes to select from. You might even get a glimpse of a celebrity singer, with Gareth Gates, Madonna and Guy Ritchie among the faces seen in the venue. There is also a cafe serving hot and cold food. The Queen’s is well situated in the Bloomsbury area of Central London.