Whether you want to keep your birthday lowkey or gather your friends and book a unique venue for an unforgettable night, London won’t leave you short of options for birthday celebrations. In this list of 10 Best Things to Do on Your Birthday in London, we have covered options for thrill seekers, food lovers, partygoers, and those looking for a laidback day out.
10 Best Things to Do on Your Birthday in London
Bottomless Brunch
Whether or not you head out to taste the London nightlife afterwards, booking a brunch at one of London’s top eateries is the perfect way to kickstart your birthday the right way. London’s brunch scene is now just as thriving as New York’s after many of the top restaurants have started to throw open their doors early to welcome foodies looking to have their fill of Bloody Marys and Eggs Benedict.
Head to Camden for a Jamaican Brunch, which comes with bottomless drinks at Ma Petite Jamaica. Hip Hop Brunches also frequently pop up around the city in secret locations; if one coincides with your birthday celebrations, make a meal of it – literally! The Vegan Bottomless Brunch Cookery Class hosted at The Avenue Cookery School in Wandsworth is the perfect option if you’re looking to master a few new recipes while sipping cocktails. If you would prefer a little Eastern flavour to celebrate your birthday, the Bao Bun Brunch and Bottomless Bubbles at the infamous Yuu Kitchen in Aldgate is one of the hottest Brunch spots in London. Be sure to try the Manga buns, which almost look too good to eat!
Grab Some Gig Tickets
London is a music Mecca. While you won’t be able to convince your favourite artists to land in the city on a date that coincides with your birthday, there are always gigs throughout the city. For a swanky night out soundtracked by jazz, Old Street Records in Shoreditch, East London, is a great place to gather your friends while you drink in the sultry tones, explore the 2-4-1 cocktail menu and have your fill of artisan pizzas. If jazz isn’t your cup of tea, and your music tastes are a little more refined by your love of alt-rock and metal, the Underworld in Camden is always a lively location for birthday revellers.
Hip-Hop fans are also spoilt for choice when it comes to choices of venues to hit. Supa Dupa Fly often hosts up-and-coming talent; when London’s rising luminaries aren’t on the bill, there are surprise appearances from the likes of Professor Green and Amerie. Always expect the unexpected when hitting Supa Dupa Fly. The Doctor’s Orders has also become a hot spot for hip-hop fans; you would be hard-pressed to find bigger hip-hop club nights in London, and the club is constantly mixing up its events with everything from rap battles to boat parties to hip-hop brunches.
Virtual Reality Experience
If you are serious about wanting your birthday celebrations to be an out-of-this-world experience, multiple experiences in and around London will future-ready your birthday. For the masterminds and detectives, Outscape Games will push your critical thinking skills to their limits. Tasked with the responsibility of taking down a heist bigger than what you have seen in Oceans 11, the Augmented Reality (AR) experience will have you hot on your heels as you storm through London, piecing together clues as you race against the ticking clock. If you have always wondered how you would fare in a zombie apocalypse, you can put your survival skills to the test at OTHERWORLD VR in Hackney.
Taking on zombies is far from the only virtual reality experience available; you can also transcend into outer space through an immersive VR experience. Once safely back in this dimension, you can explore the space-themed arcade and quench your thirst in the futuristic cocktail bar. If you want to put the pedal to the metal and experience life as a Grand Prix driver, the advanced state-of-the-art tech at Supercharged VR will help you to see what you are made of while competing with your friends.
Cabaret Night
Few UK cabaret clubs are as revered as The London Cabaret Club in Holborn. It offers a sophisticated entertainment experience combining fine dining with world-class performances and impeccable service. Set around distinctly British themes, the shows celebrate the rich heritage of British culture, past and present. Featuring stars from London’s West-End, dazzling choreography and stunning costumes, The London Cabaret Club offers an unforgettable evening to London’s night life scene.
Unleash Your Inner Foodie
If you prefer cakes to cocktails, there is no need to miss out on birthday fun! Brigit’s Bakery in Covent Garden is just one of the afternoon hotspots that will allow you to catch up with friends and sample the delicious treats from the quintessentially British menu. Restaurant Ours is famous for pairing breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with immersive entertainment. From serving breakfast to the soundtrack of Mamma Mia to sunset brunches enlivened by the sonic offerings of top London DJs, there is always an element of eccentricity to revel in at Restaurant Ours.
If the weather permits, book a table at the London Bridge Rooftop, which provides unparalleled views of the London skyline. Live DJs will keep the atmosphere pumping while you are sampling the tapas menu at the revered The Black Pig with White Pearls Restaurant. If sitting down for a meal seems like a too sedate way to celebrate your birthday, one of the 10 best things to do on your birthday has to be heading to Oche The Strand, where award-winning chefs will prepare your plates, and you can keep your group entertained by playing darts while your food is being prepped.
Unique Cocktail Bars
While cocktails and escape rooms don’t seem to go hand in hand, they fit like hand in glove at the cocktail-infused escape room, The Grid. Your invite list won’t be able to resist the invitation to the quirky experience, which will see you sneaking around enemy headquarters while concocting delicious cocktails. If you don’t escape before the time is up, at least you will have had boozy fun in the process!
If busy cocktail bars aren’t your scene, The Brig is a hidden gem of a location. The intimate setting allows you to enjoy having a private bartender, removing the need to spend most of your night at a bar. You can also put your own playlist through the speakers and get the chance to make your own cocktails. However, all of this comes at a cost of £130 – £260. For cocktail lovers with a sweet tooth, The Chocolate Cocktail Club in Farrington has the best menu for desert lovers. Taste your favourite desserts reimagined as inventive cocktails, many of which complement the cake and dessert menu. If getting a pamper session and sipping on cocktails sounds too good to be true, London Grace in Shoreditch will be your birthday celebration dream come true. If you prefer not to sip on cocktails while your treatments are done, enjoy some barista coffee or items on the food menu instead.
Book a Masterclass
Masterclasses don’t need to be boring; take the masterclasses at Merchant House for example. Book a masterclass here and learn everything there is to know about the selection of world-class rums, whiskeys and gins. The Exhibit in Balham is always adding exciting workshops to its roster. Pick up a new skill guided by one of the professionals that are all too happy to share the secrets of their craft. From art classes led by professional artists to comedians showing beginners the ropes, there is always something intriguing afoot at The Exhibit.
If you are a big believer in the adage that spice is the variety of life, turn up the heat by creating your own personalised hot sauce and learning all the tricks of the spicy trade in the masterclass. Snacks will be provided throughout the day as you learn the ins and outs of the Scoville Heat Scale. Always wondered if you have what it takes to win the Great British Bake Off? Before you test your baking skills on TV, enter the competitive baking session at The Big Bakes. At the end of the day, you will be asked to present your baked goods, but only one baker will be crowned the winner!
Go to a Comedy Night
Hit one of the infamous comedy clubs for guaranteed belly laughs. In the list of 10 best things to do on your birthday in London, heading to the Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green easily comes out as one of the top options. Even when world-renowned comics aren’t featured on the bill, there are up-and-coming comedians who are more than capable of making a memorable evening.
The Double R Club often draws fans of all things dark and twisted. From comedy nights with a dark edge to Lynchian cabaret displays, a night at The Double R Club will undoubtedly be one to remember. Every Tuesday and Saturday, The Boat Show Comedy Club hosts some of the funniest acts on the comedy circuit. On Saturdays, you can pair your entertainment with a two-course meal; the chefs are yet to earn themselves a Michelin star, but foodies won’t have any complaints while sampling the menu here.
Hit the Water
If you feel like venturing off dry land on your birthday. London gives you plenty of opportunities to do so. The Silent Sounds Boat Party fuses a cruise down the Thames with a silent disco; disco and house anthems will feed directly into your ears via headphones as you party with your birthday crew during the unique experience.
If the prospect of silent discos doesn’t fill you with excitement, London Party Boats may be your kind of atmosphere. With sunset sails down The Thames to bottomless brunch parties, there’s an option for everyone – just be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment! Thames Lates gives birthday celebrators to get their adrenaline fix while exploring the city by boat. The speedboat will give you some high-octane thrills, and once you are back on dry land, Thames Lates will provide a seasonal drink at sunset – stunning views and top tunes are guaranteed.
Get Active
Who says that birthdays have to get less fun as you get older? For the past few years, Ballie Ballerson in Shoreditch has been helping Londoners celebrate their birthdays in childhood nostalgia style. Go easy on the retro sweets that are sure to bring you back to simpler times to take advantage of the unlimited pizza on offer once you have re-emerged from the glow-in-the-dark ball pit. QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl has all the big-kid birthday celebration options under one roof. Whether you want to do a few laps around the ice rink, put on your bowling shoes and knock down a few pins or have a celebratory feast at the revered MEATliquor restaurant, QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl has you covered.
