Kids Party Venues in London

With so many fantastic birthday party venues, you have a lot of options to choose from. There's a lot of things to consider, from the theme of the party (do I hear, pirate party?), to which candy and party bags you'll give out. But it all starts with a plan.

The List

It might be a kid’s party, but it’s still an event, and in order for everything to run smoothly, you’ll need to plan effectively. That means one thing: you need to be organised. To do this, you’ll have to make a list of everything that you’ll need in order to make the party a success. Once you’ve got it all down on paper, you can get started with the actual organising!

Who to Invite

Depending on the type of party, the invite list could either be quite small, or really large. If it is a special birthday or a celebration of an achievement, you’re probably going to need to invite a lot more people (bringing absolute mayhem and kidzania). If your party is a more casual affair, you can keep the invite list down to a minimum – work with your child to find out who they really want to invite. Will they have a big sleepover with all of the popular kids, or just a few children they like?

Venue Considerations

If you do decide to go for an outside venue, there are some other things that you’ll need to consider. First of all, it shouldn’t be too far for anyone to travel to, as you don’t want your kid to be disappointed when half of the guest list can’t make it. Many venues are designed to host kids’ parties, and this means that they will have their own set of rules that everyone will need to abide by: make sure that you know what they do and don’t allow to happen on the premises, so you know that all of your party ideas are feasible.

Talk to Your Kid

While you get caught up in the planning, it can be easy to forget the most important part of the whole event; your child. Ask them what they want from their party. If they are quite young, this can be as simple as asking them what colour they want everything to be or if there’s any activity or game they want. As your child gets older, they’ll want to be more and more involved in the decision making, so ask their opinion on things so that they feel that this party is truly theirs. What sort of party would the birthday girl or graduate like best?

Catering Options

One thing you can’t forget about when planning a kid’s party is the dining arrangement: namely, the party food. Everyone’s going to be hungry, but luckily kids’ food will be easy to organise. There are loads of caterers who specialise in just this and your venue will even be able to recommend some. Whatever the occasion, cake is always a must, and so look around to find a bakery who will make you a showstopper cake that everyone will enjoy. Parents will let you know about any dietary requirements, but it’s important for you to have a list to hand with all of this noted.

Entertainment

Depending on your child’s age, you’ll need to also think about hiring in an entertainer to keep them occupied for a few hours. Young kids need constant stimulation, and so searching for experts is the best way to go instead of trying to organise activities yourself. With older kids, if you have some projects for everyone to complete such as party games, they’ll likely to be happy to get on with things themselves. Once you get in to the teenage years, a disco is always a good plan. Hook a sound system up to your phone and get some lights, and you’ll have a ready-made DJ!

Remember the Parents

With all this planning going on, don’t forget that there will be other adults there! Whether the kids are too young to leave, our they just want to stay and chat for an hour, make sure you have enough food to cater to the adults as well. Having drinks for them is also a great idea. While most will be driving, it’s good to have a supply of tea and coffee on the go for everyone to enjoy and well as seats not far from the children so you can all talk while still keeping a close watch on everything that’s going on.

Theme Ideas For Kids Parties in London

There are so many fantastic theme ideas that you can choose from - starting with the following:

1. Harry Potter Adventure

• Location: A private party room or theatre in the city, or a local indoor play centre.
• Activities: Sorting Hat ceremony, potion-making, Quidditch matches, and a scavenger hunt in the garden.
• Types of Events: This is perfect for an exciting children's birthday party, offering a magical standard party package.
• Decor: Hogwarts banners, floating candles, and spell books.
• Party Package: Includes access to the party room, themed dining, and photo opportunities with characters.

2. Pirate Treasure Hunt on the Thames

• Location: Book a garden room or outdoor space in the city for post-hunt activities. You could also rent a boat.
• Activities: Kart party with pirate-themed go-karts, treasure hunt, and games.
• Types of Events: Ideal for a friendly party or kids' birthday celebration.
• Party Room: The birthday child can have a personalised pirate-themed cake and treasure chest gifts in a private party room.

3. London Safari

• Location: ZSL London Zoo, with options to rent a private party room or garden space.
• Activities: Animal encounters, face painting, and a safari-themed picnic area for snacks.
• Types of Events: Great for kids who love wildlife, perfect for a standard party package or an amazing kids birthday.
• Party Package: Includes dining in a cafe, themed decorations, and access to an exclusive party room.

4. Royal Tea Party

• Location: A garden room, theatre, or outdoor spaces at a royal venue or cafe in the city.
• Activities: Royal tea party, crown-making, and photo ops with a 'queen' in the garden.
• Types of Events: Ideal for a fancy birthday child celebration with a friendly party atmosphere.
• Party Room: Enjoy a regal experience with high tea in a private party room or dining at a posh venue.

5. Superhero Academy

• Location: Rent a party room or boardroom in an indoor play centre.
• Activities: Obstacle courses, superhero training, and games in an outdoor space.
• Types of Events: Perfect for high-energy kids' birthday celebrations.
• Party Package: Includes costumes for the birthday child, superhero masks, and exclusive use of a party room for cake-cutting and presents.

6. London Transport Extravaganza

• Location: Rooms at the London Transport Museum or hire a boardroom at a transport-themed venue.
• Activities: Train rides, building transport models, and exploring buses and trains.
• Types of Events: A city-based event for an amazing kids birthday.
• Party Package: A standard party package that includes use of a party room, transport-themed goody bags, and dining in a themed cafe.

How do I plan a simple kids’ birthday party in London?

Organising a children’s birthday party from scratch can be a big ask, so you may be wondering what you can do instead of a traditional birthday party. Why not head to a London activity venue? They’re normally very experienced in throwing birthday parties, plus there’s an inbuilt activity for the kids to do so you know they won’t get bored. Popular options include bowling, karaoke and mini-golf, so whatever your little bundle of joy loves to do, you’ll be able to organise the perfect birthday party for them through Canvas.

How much does it cost to hire a hall for a kid’s birthday party in London?

Hiring a local hall or recreational space can be a really cost-effective way to organise a children’s birthday party in London. Most halls will offer hourly rates, so if you can set-up and clean up quickly you’ll be able to save even more money - it’s worth organising a team of friends and family to help! The halls are likely to be “dry hire”, so you’ll need to provide your own food, drinks and entertainment.

Where are the best venues to hire for a kid’s birthday party in London?

The first step in planning your child’s birthday party is to ask them what they’d like – you might be surprised! Younger kids will prefer a party where they can run around and play games with their friends, but older kids and early teenagers might want something a bit more grown up, like an activity venue, a cinema trip or even a meal. Once you know what they have in mind for their party, start putting together a guest list so you know how big you’ll need the venue to be. Depending on what kind of party it is, it’s not unusual to ask parents to pay for the activity, so don’t worry too much if it’s starting to look really expensive.

Do parents stay at children’s birthday parties?

The only way to know for sure whether you’re expected to stay or leave is to ask the parents organising the party. Depending on the size of the venue there may be fire safety restrictions on how many people can be in the space – alternatively, they may need extra hands on deck to help! If they would prefer you leave, London is the perfect place to find a café around the corner so you can pop back whenever you’re needed.