We all love to embrace our playful side when we can – after all, part of the joys of being a grown up is that you can let go of all those serious everyday bores when you want to. And London has plenty to offer for those who love to play.
In recent years, there’s been a huge trend with the rise of “kidult” activities, combining nostalgia, escapism and good old fun. Revisting the childhood games you might have once played as a youngster, lots of venues across the city are giving them a fresh new appeal for a new generation of adults, who want to let go and have fun as they used to all those years ago.
If you’re staying at the Park Grand Hotel Hyde Park and looking for a fun alternative to a night out which doesn’t have to involve sitting at a restaurant all evening, or want a more quirky activity to help get conversations flowing between friends, read on for some great ideas.
Ballie Ballerson
If you remember those giant ball pits you could dive into when you were a youngster, then you might just fall head over heels in love with Ballie Ballerson. Located in Soho and Shoreditch, this outstanding venue is a great choice when you’re in Hyde Park accommodations as it’s convenient to get to, and offers a night out you will certainly remember.
Ballie Ballerson isn’t just about a giant ball pit, though. To give it that extra adult edge, you’ll also get live DJs blasting out the latest dance tracks, glow in the dark balls, bottomless brunches and delicious cocktails. Perfect to enjoy on a long weekend or a night out with friends, you’re sure to have endless giggles here.
Bounce
While you can now find ping pong bars all over London these days, it’s worth making a special trip to Bounce, which is really where it all kicked off in style in the city. Bounce has a number of locations around the capital, so you won’t be too hard pressed to find one if you’re staying in the Park Grand Hotel Hyde Park, and it is the perfect place to celebrate when you’re with a group of people.
They offer a number of tables where you can get stuck in with an old fashioned table tennis game, but be warned, it might unleash your competitive side. If you’re coming with a larger group of six people or more, it’s a good idea to book ahead, to ensure that you don’t have to wait for a table.
As well as great ping pong, Bounce also offer a fantastic variety of food and drink at the bar, and excellent music to dance to.
Trampoline parks
Perfect for anyone who has a serious amount of pent up energy and needs to let it all out in style, trampoline parks provide a great way to get active and have fun doing it.
You’ll find several trampoline parks across and around London, including in easy travelling distance of Hyde Park accommodations. Once you’re there, grab a pair of their special jumping socks, and get ready to bounce, flip and leap around.
Fans of gymnastics might love to play around with all kinds of impressive twists and turns while they bounce, but it’s also a great activity for complete beginners too. Afterwards, enjoy refuelling with a tasty snack or a comforting treat.
Junkyard Golf
Guests at the Park Grand Hotel Hyde Park who love a good game of mini golf won’t want to miss out on the surreal and fun-filled wonder that is Junkyard Golf, located in Shoreditch.
As the name suggests, Junkyard Golf offers crazy golf that takes its inspiration from the junkyard, with all kinds of weird and wonderful UV-paint splattered courses crafted out of junk. The courses range from dark and dystopian, to something straight out of a surreal sci-fi film set, and with their delicious cocktail menu to keep you in good spirits, you’ll have a fantastic time.
Drink Shop Do
For a little more variety when it comes to enjoying kidulting in London, Drink Shop Do is the perfect venue. Drink Shop Do is based in Kings Cross, making it easy to get to. The fun and quirky event space has a packed calendar of activities through the month, ranging from dance classes to teach you the steps from your favourite music video, to making Lego brick monsters or getting crafty with clay. Perfect for a more low key activity with friends, or as a warm up before you head out elsewhere, you’ll always have a lovely time here.
In case you worry these activities might get a little childish, there’s still plenty of great grown up food and drink on the menu, and many of their events will often have a special theme to get your inspiration going.
Draughts
Going back to your childhood roots doesn’t have to mean lots of high energy activities, and the recent rise in board game cafes has brought back a much more relaxing side to the kidult scene.
Under the colourful arches by Waterloo Station at Leake Street, you’ll find the cosy and inviting space of Draughts, a fun café and bar that is stocked with virtually every kind of board and card game you could ever imagine. If you’re looking to enjoy some laid back time with friends, this is the perfect place to do it. Simply choose a game off the shelves, order some drinks and tasty snacks, freshen up your memory on the rules and get stuck in.
It’s a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t enjoy a busy night out in a bar or club, and offers a wonderful way to reconnect with people, with a break from social media on your phone. If you’re visiting with a larger group, make sure that you book a table ahead of time, as this lovely spot does get busy at peak times.
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