ALL STAR LANES
For a swish American-style bowling party choose from one of three All Star Lanes venues in Holborn, Bayswater and Brick Lane. Each has a private bowling alley and function room, perfect for private parties. For lanes with buffers, opt for the Bayswater or Brick Lane branches. The Bayswater and Holborn branches can also lay on themed decorations and karaoke. Hearty America-style food is available at an extra charge, with mini beefburgers, chocolate brownies and shakes to sustain all that bowling action.
Best for: Ages 4+
Cost: From £500
Contact: Visit www.allstarlanes.co.uk
BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN'S ZOO
For a hands-on animal experience why not host your child’s party at this friendly children’s zoo? Embark on a fact-filled tour, visiting everyone from the monkeys to the meerkats. Then get stuck in preparing the animals’ lunch and visiting the farmyard for an animal handling session. The birthday child then has the honour of painting a Birthday Brick on the zoo’s special party wall before everyone tucks in to a party tea.
Best for: Ages 2+
Cost: From £250
Contact: Tel: 020 7924 5826; www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk.
Address: Battersea Park Children’s Zoo SW11 4NJ; nearest tube station, Sloane Square
THE GOLDEN HINDE
High-seas adventure beckons from aboard this replica pirate ship. Little pirates are invited to come dressed in their best pirate costumes ready for treasure hunts, pirate hide-and-seek and dramatic tales of life on the waves. After the mayhem, guests can head to the dungeon room, just a few footsteps from the ship on Clink Street, for a celebratory feast. For an added dash of piracy, your child can invite their guests using special scroll-style invitations, available from the Golden Hinde.
Best for: Ages 5+
Cost: From £300
Contact: Tel: 020 7403 0123; www.goldenhinde.org.
Address: Clink Street SE1 9DG; nearest tube station, London Bridge
HAMLEYS
For the ultimate party experience, book in for a sleepover party at the world’s most famous toy shop. Guests are invited to dress to fit the chosen theme, be it racing cars, princesses or pirates. Everyone stops off at the Sweet Factory for some sugar-loaded treats, before charging off on a treasure hunt around the store. For an extra girlie touch, opt for a pampering session courtesy of children’s hairdressers Tantrum, with facials and manicures. Everyone then tucks in to a late-night birthday feast before settling down in their sleeping bags for a movie.
Best for: Ages 6+
Cost: £4,500
Contact: Tel: 020 7479 7319; www.hamleys.com
Address: 188–196 Regent Street W1B 5BT; nearest tube station, Oxford Circus.
MAD SCIENCE
These loopy scientists will ensure your child’s party goes off with a bang. Watch a host of fun experiments, featuring fireworks and fizzing potions, then have a go at making some gooey green slime. Scientists can come to visit your home or a location of your choice.
Best for: Ages 5+
Cost: From £190
Contact: tel: 0845 051 4385; www.madscience.org
MYSTICAL FAIRIES
With a wave of their wand, Mystical Fairies can conjure up a magical party to suit any fairy-mad child. Guests are welcomed into an enchanted garden, decorated with glittering flowers and toadstool seats. As well as classic themes like fairies and princesses, games can be tailored to suit a Mamma Mia fan.
Best for: Ages 3+
Cost: From £375
Contact: Tel: 020 7431 1888; www.mysticalfairies.co.uk
Address: 12 Flask Walk, Hampstead NW3 1HE; nearest tube station, Hampstead
PACIFIC JEWELS
Little girls can create their own keepsakes with a charm bracelet-making party. An entertainer will arrive at your home with a treasure trove of twinkling charms, with everything from mini mobiles to fairy-sized lipsticks and flip-flops.
Best for: Ages 6+
Cost: From £30 per child
Contact: tel: 020 8997 7619; www.pacificjewels.co.uk
QUEENS ICE AND BOWLS
With bowling lanes, an ice rink and a karaoke room all under one roof, this is the ideal place for some non-stop, celebratory fun. The party package covers up to two activities and includes refreshments.
Best for: Ages 4+
Cost: From £130
Contact: Tel: 020 7229 0172; www.queensiceandbowl.co.uk
Address: 17 Queensway, Bayswater W2 4QP; nearest tube station, Queensway.
RAINFOREST CAFE
For a birthday feast with a difference, head to this tropical-themed café in Soho. Orang-utans, elephants and a snappy crocodile peer out from the undergrowth, while you tuck into a menu of burgers, chicken bites and fries. The package includes party bags for every child and a yummy free birthday cake if there are more than six guests in your party.
Best for: Ages 2+
Cost: From £14.50 per child
Contact: Tel: 020 7434 3111; www.therainforestcafe.co.uk
Address: 20–24 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7EU; nearest tube station, Piccadilly Circus
RIEA'S EVENTS
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you put 20 or so superheroes all together in one room? One thing’s for sure, you’d want a calm arbitrator on hand to oversee proceedings. Cue Riea, the queen of all party organisers, who has been creating bespoke celebrations for over a decade. She was our first choice for my son’s party, having previously created magical parties for my daughter (from a Cinderella theme to catwalk fashion shows). But the challenge now was this: how would she cope with exuberant boys?
We needn’t have worried. Having worked as a baby wrangler (keeping child movie starlets calm and contented before their starring roles), Riea is adroit in spotting any signs of wavering concentration, moving swiftly from one activity to another. With a touch of Poppins-like disapproval, she can chasten an errant toddler in a flash with no more than a firm glance, but what really comes across is that she understands what children want – and delivers. And with her expertise in organisation, she’s a mummy’s best friend, too!
For a bunch of four-year-olds and a birthday boy who is Power Rangers crazy, Riea donned her best Cat Woman outfit (with just a hint of fetishism in her slinky black leggings and spiky heels) and brought along her Batman sidekick and face-painter extraordinaire who transformed each little face into the hero of their liking. She also transformed a bland church hall with a fantasy mural and an arch of balloons before having her audience captivated by her tales of lost super powers, and having to keep an eye on her sidekick who was prone to fits of naughty giggles and jigging behind her back (apparently, the Joker had put a spell on him, you see). There were traditional party favourites, like pass-the-parcel, and fun games under a giant parachute.
After two hours of fun, 20 happy superheroes headed home, goodie bags in hand.
Best for: All ages
Cost: Tailor-made parties from £290
Contact: Riea’s Tailor Made Parties And Events, tel: 07855 387054; 01707 324 990; www.rieasevents.co.uk; riea@hotmail.co.uk
SEA LIFE LONDON AQUARIUM
If your child is fascinated by the creatures of the deep, this sea-themed party will hit the spot. Guests can explore the new whale skeleton walkway and venture into the coral caves. Find out all about sharks, clownfish and seahorses with a talk or tour from an aquarist. Food isn’t included but you can hire a room for your birthday tea.
Best for: Ages 3+
Cost: From £90
Contact: tel: 020 7967 8002; www.sealife.co.uk
Address: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB; nearest tube station, Waterloo
TANTRUM
They may be a children’s hairdressers, but Tantrum do a lot more than just cut hair. Their dressing-up parties give little girls the perfect chance to don their best costumes, with themes ranging from tropical beach to musicals. Everyone is treated to a pampering session with hair styling and nail painting, followed by party food and cake.
Best for: Ages 2+
Cost: From £300
Contact: tel: 020 7376 3966; www.yourtantrum.co.uk
Address: 398 Kings Road SW10 0LJ; nearest tube station, Fulham Broadway
WESTWAY STABLES
It seems an unlikely place, but tucked under the Westway flyover is a small stables. Their parties offer children the chance meet some of the residents. Start off with a grooming session, followed by pony party games, suitable for all riding abilities.
Best for: Ages 4+
Cost: From £35 per child
Contact: tel: 020 8964 2140; www.westwaystables.co.uk
Address: 20 Stable Way, Latimer Road W11 6QX; nearest tube station, Latimer Road
