Bowling in London

Expect roughly £6 to £12 per person per game in London, with shoe hire usually included. Off-peak daytime slots are cheapest. Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes charges about £10 per game for walk-ins (less for students midweek), Lane7 starts from around £11.50 per person, and Hollywood Bowl at The O2 has offered two games plus a drink for about £14.50 per person. Rowans in Finsbury Park uses a low flat admission instead, starting from around £5 for adults.

Many London venues accept walk-ins subject to availability, but lanes fill up fast on weekend evenings and during school holidays, so booking ahead is strongly recommended. All Star Lanes and the larger Tenpin and Hollywood Bowl centres take both walk-ins and reservations, but Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes does not hold lanes for walk-in customers, so you should pre-book there to guarantee a slot.

All Star Lanes (Holborn and Brick Lane) is a top choice for groups, with packages for 10 or more that combine lanes, food and drinks, plus private areas for larger parties. Lane7 Camden can host full-venue takeovers across bowling, darts, beer pong and arcades, which makes it ideal for corporate events and Christmas parties. Hollywood Bowl and Tenpin also run group and party packages.

For central London, Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes sits between Russell Square and Holborn, and All Star Lanes Holborn is a short walk from the same stations. Lane7 Victoria is steps from Victoria station. Use the map at the top of this page to find the closest alley to wherever you are and check its current opening hours.

It depends on the venue. Family-focused centres like Hollywood Bowl, Tenpin and Rowans welcome children, often with bumper-rail lanes, though Rowans requires under-18s to leave by 22:00. Bar-led venues are stricter: Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes becomes an over-18s venue in the evenings, so it suits adult groups rather than late family outings. Check each venue's policy before booking.

Hours vary by venue, but most London alleys open late morning and run into the evening, with bar-led spots going later at weekends. Rowans in Finsbury Park, for example, stays open until the early hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Always check the specific venue's hours on this page or its website before you travel, as times change on holidays and for private events.