Looking for immersive experiences in London? Well, good, because I’m the UK’s biggest independent immersive experience blogger. Whenever an immersive experience launches in London, I’m there no matter how weird it is. I have visited more than 100 so far!
Below are London’s best immersive experiences that I have tried and tested, organised by type. This article gets updated regularly, you’ll find 30+ immersive experiences here at all times.
Something needs updating? Give me a shout in the comments, or on Instagram (@travelwithpau).
🫖 Afternoon Tea /Wizard Afternoon Tea, spellbindingly delicious, with a smoky cauldron on the side.
🛏️ Overnight /Key of Dreams, a luxury 24 hour immersive theatre and fine dining experience you can stay in overnight.
This Month’s Highlight
Peaky Blinders: Underworld
The one everyone’s talking about right now. Set in the historic railway arches by London Bridge, Peaky Blinders: Underworld drops you straight into Thomas Shelby’s world, starting in a full recreation of the Garrison Tavern, where you can grab a drink before finding the hidden door down into the underworld beneath. From there you’re free to explore Garrison Lane, The Bookies, Chinatown, and the Small Heath Fairground, bumping into actors, solving puzzles, and stumbling into surprises along the way. Around an hour, fully immersive, and exactly the kind of world-building the show’s fans have been waiting for. Running 13 August 2026 – 3 January 2027, from around £25.
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and one of the most underrated city breaks in the UK. It’s compact, incredibly walkable, and packed with history, culture, and one of the best food and bar scenes I’ve encountered anywhere in the British Isles.
It’s also a city that wears its complex past openly the murals, the Peace Wall, the political taxi tours and that honesty makes it one of the most thought-provoking places I’ve visited. Come with an open mind, and you’ll leave with a genuine understanding of a city that has worked incredibly hard to reinvent itself.
Nowadays Belfast is my second home, as I own short term accommodation properties in the city. I’m constantly advising and engaging tourists so I do dare say I know a lot. So if you are visiting do me a favour and stay in one of them… wink, wink!
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
BELFAST ESSENTIALS
✈️ Getting There / Belfast has two airports, Belfast International (BFS) and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), most UK flights use City Airport, which is closer to the centre. Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups for a stress-free arrival. Search flights on Skyscanner.
🚗 Getting Around / The city centre is very walkable, with most attractions within a 20 to 30 minute walk of each other. For day trips out to Giant’s Causeway or Hillsborough Castle, compare rental cars on DiscoverCars.
🧳 Luggage Storage / If you’re early for check-in or have time to kill before heading home, no stress, there are luggage storage points all over Belfast. Use this website to find one nearby.
📱 Connect / Stay connected the moment you land with an eSIM. I use Holafly, use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.
🛡️ Get Insured / Even for a UK trip, it’s worth having cover. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Wonderful Things to Do in Belfast
Visit the Titanic Belfast Experience
The Titanic Belfast museum is, without exaggeration, one of the best museums I’ve ever been to. Built on the exact slipway where the Titanic was constructed, it takes you through the full story of the ship, from Belfast’s industrial history to the night of the sinking and beyond. The building itself is stunning, designed to resemble the prow of a ship.
Book in advance, this sells out, especially on weekends. Book your Titanic Belfast tickets and include the SS Nomadic visit while you’re there.
Spot the Samson & Goliath Cranes
These two giant yellow cranes are Belfast’s most iconic skyline feature, you can see them from almost everywhere in the city. They’re a symbol of the city’s shipbuilding heritage and make for great photos, especially from the Titanic Quarter waterfront.
Koh Tao was my favourite island in Thailand. I loved all of them, but Koh Tao has a perfect size, beautiful beaches, outstanding diving and snorkelling, as well as the perfect amount of partying, there is some but it’s not at the crazy annoying level. These are my favourite things to do in Koh Tao, as well as where to stay, where to eat and how to get there!
🛵 Getting Around / Walking is the main way to get around, as well as scooters and boats. The roads are steep, so only hire a scooter if you’re confident on one.
📱 Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Thailand, and I always recommend an eSIM, there’s absolutely no need for a physical one! I use Holafly, which gives you unlimited data, plus 1GB of free global backup data with its Always On feature, handy if your plans change. Get yours with my link and use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.
🛡️ Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more, and if you’re planning to dive, you’ll want it.
Best Things to Do in Koh Tao
1. Explore the Underwater World
Koh Tao’s underwater world is probably the number one reason people come here, because the island has the perfect combination: amazing snorkelling and really low prices. A lot of people come just to do their PADI certification. I didn’t do mine because I had already done it somewhere else, but whether you sign up for a PADI Open Water Course or simply snorkel in shallow reefs teeming with marine life, you’re in for a treat. If you’d rather try diving before committing to a full course, the Try Scuba Diving 1-Day Experience is a relaxed way in, and if you’re already certified, Sail Rock is one of the island’s most popular dive sites. For snorkellers, the Islands Snorkeling Highlights Day Tour & Lunch and the Koh Nangyuan & Hidden Bays Snorkeling Tour w/ Lunch are more relaxed days out.
2. Hike to John Suwan Viewpoint and Chill at Freedom Beach
Koh Tao has many beautiful viewpoints, but John Suwan Viewpoint is the best one. You can get to it walking from the centre of Koh Tao, it’s approximately a 40 minute walk in total, or by scooter. You need to pay when you come in, but it’s worth it. The hike is short and easy, approximately 20 minutes, although the top is a bit rocky, so it’s more comfy if you don’t do it in flip flops. Make sure you stay at Freedom Beach afterwards, it’s beautiful, empty, and you can do a bit of snorkelling while you are there as well.
Other viewpoints you might want to check out in Koh Tao are Love @ Koh Tao and Mango Bay.
3. Visit Koh Nang Yuan
Koh Nang Yuan is a small island really close to Koh Tao which is a must visit. It has a viewpoint, and it’s really three small islands connected by a strip of sand so it actually looks really cool, especially from the viewpoint. There are taxi boats that take you there from Koh Tao. You can also kayak to it from Koh Tao or visit as part of a day tour, which is what I did. The island is protected so there is no town, just a small restaurant and a dive resort. Entry to the island is currently 250 THB per adult, paid in cash, so check whether your tour includes it. Book the tour here.
4. Take an Entire Day Boat Tour
This one is a must, I would say if you only have one day in Koh Tao, do this one! We booked an all day tour which was brilliant, total value for money, and loads of fun. It covered pick up from our hotel in Koh Tao and it took us to Shark Bay, Aow Leuk and Hin Wong Bay snorkelling, each one just better than the last. After that our last stop was a couple of hours in Koh Nang Yuan.
5. Hike from Mae Haad Pier to Chalok Bay
A must to do if you want to get off the beaten path when in Koh Tao. It is accessible for every level of fitness. You will get to swim in remote bays, pass through beautiful resorts, enjoy great views, walk through a palm tree forest and skinny dip on a deserted beach. Yes, all that.
From the Mae Haad pier in Koh Tao walk south and leave the sea on your right side. Pass through Sensi Paradise Resort and up to Charm Churee Resort. Then head down to the beach, you’ll reach Jansom Bay. Jansom Bay is only a 15-minute walk from the Mae Haad pier and is so picturesque. There are rafts a few minutes away from the shore that you can float on. So cool! Leave Jansom Bay and continue towards Sai Nuan Beach. It can be crowded at midday, but tourists leave around sunset so this deserted bay will be all yours and is a great spot to take pictures. Just around the corner there is Sai Nuan 2, known for its Banana Rock restaurant, one to check out.
6. Watch the Sunset
Part of why Koh Tao was my favourite island in Thailand was its sunsets. They are absolutely unreal. As the sun goes down the clouds get darker but on the horizon a red fiery strong glow remains. A popular place to watch the sunset in Koh Tao is Mango Bay Viewpoint, but if you are not feeling like hiking up there, then Sairee Beach would also work. I watched the sunset at the beach close to a bar coincidentally called Sunset while having a beer and it was one of those moments where you go “Wow, I’m literally so lucky right now that I can see this!” To see the sunset we hiked from Chalok Bay up to View Point Resort and then down to Sunset bar. It was magical.
7. Party in Sairee Beach
When the sun goes down in Koh Tao, the fun is not over. Head to Sairee Beach for a little bit of partying. If the night is successful you might even end up refreshing yourself in the sea under the stars.
8. Snorkel with Sharks at Shark Bay
Not one from my own list, but it comes up in every Koh Tao guide for a reason: Shark Bay (also called Thian Og Bay) on the south coast is where blacktip reef sharks and green turtles hang out, and you can see them just by snorkelling, no dive certification needed. The sharks are harmless, the little ones tend to cruise the shallows close to shore, and early morning or late afternoon gives you the best chance of spotting them. It’s snorkelling only, so bring your own gear if you can (it can also be rented nearby), and note that the coral here isn’t the island’s best, it’s all about the animals. Shark Bay is also one of the stops on the all-day boat tour in number 4.
9. Rock Jump and Snorkel at Tanote Bay
Also worth knowing about: Tanote Bay on the east coast of the island is surrounded by hills and boulders, and it’s known as the best spot on Koh Tao for rock jumping, with good snorkelling right off the beach too. It’s a good option if you want something a bit different from the west coast beaches.
10. Visit the Turtle Conservation Centre
For something a bit different, New Heaven Reef Conservation at Chalok Baan Kao Bay raises hatchling sea turtles for about a year before releasing them back into the sea. Visitors can watch the turtles being fed in the late afternoon, though you can’t handle them. Opening hours and programmes change, so check with New Heaven before you go.
11. Try Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Koh Tao’s calm bays are made for paddling, and sunrise or sunset is the nicest time to be out on the water. Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented around Sairee Beach (SUP Tao is the best-known paddleboard rental, and you’ll need to be a confident swimmer), and as I mentioned above, you can even kayak across to Koh Nang Yuan if you’re feeling energetic. If you’d rather have it all organised, the Tao-Nangyuan Snorkeling Day Trip with Meals & Sunset includes kayak and paddleboard gear, with kayaking at Hin Wong Bay, Aow Leuk and Shark Bay.
12. Take a Thai Cooking Class
If you need a break from the water, a Thai cooking class is a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon. This Half Day Thai Cooking Class with Sea View takes about 3 hours in a small group between Mae Haad and Sairee, you cook three classic Thai dishes from scratch, and a meal is included.
13. Go Rock Climbing
Koh Tao’s granite boulders and cliffs make it a surprisingly good climbing spot, with outdoor routes and an indoor gym near Sairee Beach. There’s no big tour operator for this one, so book directly with a local climbing outfit once you’re there.
14. Watch a Muay Thai Fight
If you want to see something properly Thai, Muay Thai fight nights are typically held about once a month, they normally sell out, and Island Muay Thai in Sairee sells advance tickets on its own website. The same gym and Monsoon Gym both offer classes if you’d rather have a go yourself.
Day Trips From Koh Tao
Most of the best days out from Koh Tao are on the water. These are the boat tours I’d look at first.
Islands Snorkeling Highlights Day Tour & Lunch: This is the all-day trip I describe above, and it’s a great all-rounder. The route covers Shark Bay, Aow Leuk, Hin Wong Bay, Mango Bay and a couple of hours on Koh Nang Yuan, with a Thai-style lunch on board and snorkel gear and a life jacket provided. It has thousands of reviews and a 4.7 rating, so you won’t be the first to try it. Book here.
Koh Nangyuan & Hidden Bays Snorkeling Tour w/ Lunch: A 7 hour trip with a Thai-style lunch box on board, time to walk the sandbar and climb to the viewpoint on Koh Nang Yuan, and a stop at Mango Bay. Book here.
Tao-Nangyuan Snorkeling Day Trip with Meals & Sunset: If you’d like your snorkelling day to end with a view, this one adds meals and a sunset on the water, and it includes kayak and paddleboard gear too. Book here.
Try Scuba Diving 1-Day Experience: No experience needed, hotel pickup included, and it’s the best-reviewed way to see what all the fuss is about before you commit to a course. Book here.
I really enjoyed my stay at The Beach Club Koh Tao. The hotel is on the beach, and it’s actually beautiful to watch the sunset from there. Maybe depending on where your room is you can even watch it from your balcony. The rooms are spacious, there is complimentary water, tea & coffee and the aircon works wonderfully. But my favourite thing was the pool. It’s a strong green, a really unique colour for a pool, and it’s huge. It also makes the hotel look great as it’s right in the middle, surrounded by trees and by the rooms. Refreshing in the pool in the afternoons after going to the beach was the best. Last, it’s really close to Mae Haad where you’ll find most of the best restaurants in Koh Tao for dinner or breakfast. You can book The Beach Club Koh Tao here.
Want more choice? Below are some of the best hotels on the island, each offering unique experiences and exceptional service, perfect for your stay in this tropical paradise.
Budget Accommodation
Ban’s Diving Resort: A popular and affordable resort for divers, offering comfortable rooms, an on-site dive school, and a large outdoor pool.
Sensi Paradise Beach Resort: A beautiful tropical resort with beachfront villas, a tranquil atmosphere, and excellent service, perfect for a relaxing getaway.
The Tarna Resort: A hillside resort above Sairee Beach with sea-view rooms and villas, a restaurant, and a free shuttle to the beach and the pier. Some rooms open straight onto the pool.
Splurge
Jamahkiri Resort & Spa: A luxury resort offering stunning ocean views, spacious rooms, a full-service spa, and a private beach for an unforgettable stay.
Koh Tao Coral Grand Resort: A beachfront resort with a range of cosy bungalows, an outdoor pool, and easy access to the island’s famous diving spots.
If you only have one meal in Koh Tao, then make it these!
Breakfast/Brunch:Blue Water Café: Famous for its smoothie bowls, pancakes, and oceanfront views.
Lunch:Coconut Monkey: A cosy café offering fresh salads, sandwiches, and vegan-friendly options.
Dinner:Barracuda: One of the island’s top-rated restaurants, known for its fresh seafood and fusion dishes.
How Long to Stay in Koh Tao
3 to 4 days is the minimum I’d suggest, which is enough to relax, explore the beaches, do a boat tour and a viewpoint hike, and either dive or snorkel.
5 days is what you need if you’re getting certified in scuba, and this is IMPORTANT! You won’t be able to do the Open Water course in less.
A week or more if you want to slow right down, add a hike or two, and fit in the sunset spots, the nightlife and a few more days in the water without rushing.
Best Time to Visit Koh Tao
The best time to visit is from December to April when the weather is driest and ideal for diving and island hopping. Avoid October and November, which are the rainiest months due to monsoon season. I visited in May and it was great! Really quiet and not so rainy.
Getting To & Around Koh Tao
Koh Tao doesn’t have its own airport, so most travellers fly into Koh Samui or Surat Thani and then take a ferry, or head overland from Bangkok with a bus plus ferry combo via Chumphon, which is usually the cheapest option but a long travel day, typically 9 to 12 hours, so check current timetables. Search flights into Thailand on Skyscanner. 12Go is a booking platform that covers pretty much every domestic transport option in one search, trains, buses, minivans, ferries, and even combined routes like a bus plus ferry to an island, which makes it the easiest way to book the whole trip from Bangkok. If you’re coming from another island, pre-book your ferry tickets with Ferryhopper. In high season, boats to Koh Tao fill up, so booking a day or two ahead is wise.
Once you’re on the island, walking is the main mode of transport, as well as scooters and boats. Scooters are a popular way to get around, but Koh Tao’s roads are steep and can be tricky, especially in wet conditions. If you’re not confident riding one, consider walking, using taxis, or renting an ATV for safety. There are several ATMs on the island, but they sometimes run out of cash, so bring some Thai baht with you or withdraw at the airport before arriving.
Koh Tao FAQ
How do I get to Koh Tao?
Koh Tao doesn’t have its own airport, so most travellers fly into Koh Samui or Surat Thani and then take a ferry. You can also come overland from Bangkok with a bus and ferry combo via Chumphon. Book your ferry here, or book bus and ferry together with 12Go.
What is the best time to visit Koh Tao?
The best time to visit is from December to April when the weather is driest and ideal for diving and island hopping. Avoid October and November, which are the rainiest months due to monsoon season. I visited in May and it was great! Really quiet and not so rainy.
Is Koh Tao good for beginners who want to learn scuba diving?
Yes! Koh Tao is one of the most affordable and popular places in the world to get PADI certified. There are dozens of reputable dive schools, many with experienced English-speaking instructors and great beginner dive sites. Book your PADI course here.
How many days should I spend in Koh Tao?
A minimum of 3 to 4 days is ideal to relax, explore the beaches, and do some diving or snorkelling. If you’re getting certified for scuba, you’ll want at least 5 days, this is IMPORTANT! You won’t be able to do it in less.
Do I need to rent a scooter on Koh Tao?
Scooters are a popular way to get around, but Koh Tao’s roads are steep and can be tricky, especially in wet conditions. If you’re not confident riding one, consider walking, using taxis, or renting an ATV for safety.
Are there ATMs on Koh Tao?
Yes, there are several ATMs on the island, but they sometimes run out of cash. It’s wise to bring some Thai baht with you or withdraw at the airport before arriving.
Can you visit Koh Tao without diving?
Absolutely. Snorkelling is excellent right off the beaches and on boat tours, and there are viewpoint hikes, kayaking, sunsets and beach bars to fill your days. You don’t need a dive certification to enjoy Koh Tao, and a try-dive is an easy way to see if you like it.
How much is the Koh Nang Yuan entrance fee?
Entry to Koh Nang Yuan is currently 250 THB per adult, paid in cash on arrival, with a lower child rate. Some older pages still show 100 THB, which is out of date. Check whether your tour includes the fee, as some do and some charge it separately.
Traveling to Thailand? Check other Thailand posts here.
My stay at The Beach Club Koh Tao was complimentary, however as always my opinions are my own.
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Monteverde was my second stop in Costa Rica. I chose to visit it as Monteverde has a Cloud Forest, which is the only one in Costa Rica but also one of the few Cloud Forests in the world, as they only represent 1% of the global woodland. A cloud forest is a forest which is constantly covered in clouds at the canopy level and is very, very moist. When I began doing research about Monteverde I found that it is very small, but also that there are a lot of things to do!
A Bit of History
Monteverde’s story starts with a community of American Quakers who settled here and founded the Monteverde cheese factory in 1953, partly to escape the Korean War draft. It became one of the biggest employers in the area outside tourism, and the dairy brand is still on supermarket shelves in town today, even though the factory was sold to an international company in 2014 and the tours stopped. Those same Quakers later worked with scientists to protect the surrounding forest, and in 1972 the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was created, starting at just 810 acres and now covering around 35,800. It helped shape Costa Rica’s reputation for conservation and eco-tourism, which is a big part of why this small mountain town is on almost every first-timer’s itinerary.
MONTEVERDE ESSENTIALS
🚗 Getting There & Around / The easiest and fastest way to get to Monteverde is by car, but the roads getting there are not paved and are in a pretty rough state, so you’ll need a 4×4. Compare rental cars on DiscoverCars, I found them to have the cheapest rates with full insurance included. If you’d rather not drive, this site covers buses and private transfers.
📱 Connect / Stay connected from the moment you land with an eSIM. I use Holafly, which gives you unlimited data, plus 1GB of free global backup data with its Always On feature, handy if your plans change. Get yours with my link and use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.
🛡️ Get Insured / Things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
LAST CHANCE TO PLAY Monopoly Lifesized is closing its doors in London on 3 January 2027. Tickets are still available throughout the festive season at monopolylifesized.com.
Monopoly Lifesized turns the world’s most argued-over board game into a giant, immersive, on-your-feet experience, and it is one of the most fun things I’ve done in London. Instead of shuffling a tiny top hat around a board, you and your team step onto a lifesized board, roll the dice and race around real London streets, and every time you land on a property you have to win it by completing a challenge behind its door.
Here is my honest review of the Classic Own It All board, what’s good, what’s not, and the one big mistake you can avoid.
MY RATING Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) The Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) The Puzzles: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Food & Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
What Is Monopoly Lifesized?
Monopoly Lifesized is an immersive game on Tottenham Court Road where you play Monopoly for real, on giant boards, as part of a team. There are four teams per game and up to six players per team, and each team gets its own human token to guide them round the board. Roll the dice, move to a property, and instead of just paying for it, you head into its challenge room to earn it with a puzzle, a mini game or a hands-on task. The venue advertises 52 challenge rooms in total, and which ones you play depends entirely on where the dice land.
There are four boards to choose from: Luxury, Classic, Classic Own It All and City. The rules are exactly the same on every board, it’s the themes and challenges that change.
How Does It Work?
It plays out in turns. On your turn you roll, move and tackle the challenge for the property you land on. Win it and it’s yours, fail and it goes to auction. When it isn’t your turn you draw a Chance card and get to strategise, which can mean building houses and hotels, or making life difficult for the other teams. Landing in jail is as bad as you’d hope, and getting out means beating a challenge rather than just paying bail.
The property doors, each one hides a challenge
Our Experience on the Classic Own It All Board
We played the Classic Own It All board, the venue’s more cutthroat take on the classic board, where you really have to hustle for the win and the aim is to beat your rivals and own the board. It was properly good fun.
What makes it special is the game show feel. Our host was incredibly charismatic and the whole thing is genuinely immersive, which is rare. A lot of immersive experiences suffer from wooden acting, but here the hosts are brilliant, funny and completely committed to the bit. The costume design is absolutely banging too, you really feel like you’ve stepped into a Monopoly world rather than a room with props.
The hosts and their costumes, game show style
The challenges are a brilliant mix. Some are over in about two seconds, some are maths puzzles, some are properly physical, and a few are hard for the time you’re given, though none are super difficult. We even had to build a house and a hotel by hand, which sounds easy until a clock is running. We also landed in jail, and the challenge to get out was one of the most fun puzzles of the whole game. We won it and escaped, which felt amazing.
On the lifesized board with the hosts
It’s also nicely competitive. If you’re really behind, the hosts will quietly help you out, so nobody is ever completely out of the running.
The One Thing I’d Change: Don’t Play in a Team of Six
We were a group of six, which is the maximum, and I would discourage it. Six people is too many. The property rooms aren’t big enough for a group that size, so we kept getting in each other’s way, and honestly the experience was a bit sub-par because of it. It was still lots of fun, but I’m convinced it would have been even better with a smaller team. If you can keep your group smaller, do.
The Top Hat Bar and Restaurant
The venue has its own themed bar and restaurant, the Top Hat, and we had drinks there. The Electric Avenue cocktail was the best one, and the Strand was a fun one to order because of its sparkly ball presentation.
The Electric Avenue cocktail at the Top Hat Bar
My advice, from experience: leave the drinks until after the game. They really can affect how good you are at the challenges, and you’ll want a clear head for the maths ones.
The Monopoly burgers were my favourite, absolutely delicious. The rest of the food was average.
Which Board Should You Pick?
I can only speak for Classic Own It All, which I loved if you like a competitive edge. The other three are Luxury (an art deco bank with a laser challenge), Classic (the closest to the original board) and City (a night-time tour of London’s streets). Since the challenges change between boards, it’s replayable if you want to try a different one.
Practical Info
Where: 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7PS
Price: standard tickets start from £54 per person, and that includes a £1.55 booking fee. Family tickets save up to 15% with a minimum of four tickets per order.
How long: around 80 minutes, so check the time when you book
Team size: up to 6 per team, and four teams per game
Age: the venue recommends 9 and over (it says it can be flexible), and babes in arms and pushchairs aren’t allowed
Closing: Monopoly Lifesized closes in London on 3 January 2027
For me, yes. The production quality is brilliant, the hosts are the best I’ve come across in any immersive experience, and the mix of challenges means everyone on the team gets a moment to shine. It gets a 5 out of 5 for value from me because of how much is packed into the game. My only real caveats are the team size (keep it under six) and saving the cocktails for afterwards. With the doors closing on 3 January 2027, this is your last chance to roll the dice.
Yes, it’s one of the most fun immersive experiences in London, with brilliant hosts, a great mix of challenges and a proper game show feel. It’s best with a smaller team.
How many people can be in a team?
Up to six, but I’d recommend fewer. The property rooms are small, so a team of six ends up getting in each other’s way.
How long does Monopoly Lifesized take?
The game takes around 80 minutes, so allow extra time if you want to eat or drink at the Top Hat afterwards.
What age is Monopoly Lifesized for?
The venue recommends it for ages 9 and over, though it says it can be flexible. Babes in arms and pushchairs aren’t allowed.
Which board should I choose?
I played Classic Own It All and loved it. The challenges differ between the Luxury, Classic, Classic Own It All and City boards, but the rules are the same.
When is Monopoly Lifesized closing?
It closes its doors in London on 3 January 2027, with tickets available throughout the festive season.
This is a sponsored post. All opinions and experiences are my own.
Enjoyed this article? Support my work by buying me a latte. Otherwise, do me a great favor of leaving a comment and following me on Instagram (@travelwithpau). Feel free to say ‘Hello!’ I don’t bite. And make sure you save the article for later on Pinterest!
Margate has properly reinvented itself over the last decade or so, and it’s now one of the best coastal day trips (or short stays) you can do from London with kids. There’s a genuinely good mix here: a real sandy beach, a free vintage amusement park, an actual mysterious underground grotto nobody can fully explain, and enough hands-on museums and soft play to cover a rainy day too. It’s about 1.5 hours from London on the high-speed train, which makes it a genuinely realistic day trip, not just a long-weekend destination.
We found Margate a lot more chill than other coastal towns we’ve visited as a family, like Southend-on-Sea, and a lot more hipster, with countless lovely specialty coffee shops, quaint restaurants and delicious gelato.
We took our son and he loved the beach so much, that’s the thing I’d plan the day around. Dreamland was lovely too, but more as part of the day than the whole plan, more on that below.
MARGATE WITH KIDS ESSENTIALS
🚆 Getting There / High-speed Southeastern trains run from London St Pancras International to Margate in around 1 hour 26 minutes to 1 hour 37 minutes, with up to 55 services a day. Book on Trainline in advance for the cheapest fares.
🚗 Getting Around / Margate itself is small and walkable, the beach, Old Town and Harbour Arm are all within 10 to 15 minutes of each other on foot. For Quex Park or the other nearby Thanet towns, compare rental cars on DiscoverCars, though the local train also covers Broadstairs and Ramsgate easily.
🏨 Stay / Space, a short walk to the beach and somewhere the kids can run around matter most here. Skip the endless scrolling, these are the ones I’d point a friend toward (full picks in Where to Stay below): Budget: The Burlington Hotel Mid-range: Seaside 2 Bed En-suite Flat by Adliv, where we stayed! Splurge: No.42 by GuestHouse
📱 Connect / Visiting the UK from abroad? Stay connected from the moment you land with an eSIM. I use Holafly, which gives you unlimited data, plus 1GB of free global backup data with its Always On feature, handy if your plans change. Get yours with my link and use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.
🛡️ Get Insured / Even for a UK trip, it’s worth having cover, especially with a beach and soft play activities on the itinerary. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Things to Do in Margate with Kids
1. Marvel at the Shell Grotto
£5 adults, £2.50 children under 16, under 3s free, £12 family ticket. Nobody actually knows who built the Shell Grotto, an underground passage and chambers entirely covered in over 4.6 million shells arranged in mosaic patterns, discovered by accident in 1835. Theories range from an 18th-century folly to something far older, and the genuine mystery is a big part of what makes it fascinating for kids, this isn’t a staged attraction, nobody has ever definitively explained it. Worth knowing before you go down: it’s genuinely a bit eerie underground, low ceilings, dim lighting, and a definite atmosphere, so it can spook very young or nervy kids more than you’d expect from a “shell museum.” Check current opening hours and book here.
2. Ride the Rides at Dreamland Margate
Free entry, pay per ride.Dreamland is a genuinely charming vintage amusement park right on the seafront. We visited with our son and it was lovely, but I wouldn’t treat it as a standalone day out, it works best as one part of a day alongside the beach and something else, rather than the one thing you plan everything around. The historic Scenic Railway (one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world, now under refurbishment) is the headline ride, alongside dodgems, waltzers and a proper old-school arcade. Rides run on a token system (1 token is £3) or wristbands: the Mega Wristband is £24.99 for unlimited rides on anything over 1.2m tall, and the Tiny Tots Wristband is £12.99 for children between 0.8m and 1.2m. It includes the Margate Express, Dreamland’s miniature railway, which is a great one for toddlers. Buy wristbands online in advance, it’s cheaper than on the day. The huge public area in the middle of the park, deck chairs and a big screen showing kids’ films in summer, is free to sit in even if you don’t buy a wristband. For toddlers specifically, Octopus’s Garden, Dreamland’s separate soft-play café with a climbing structure, slides and seaside-themed play buildings, is a good option if the main rides feel a bit much, it’s paid entry on top of general admission, check current pricing on-site.
Dreamland’s art deco neon sign on the Margate seafront
The Margate Express miniature railway at Dreamland
3. Explore Margate Caves
£5 adults, £2.50 children, £12 family ticket.Margate Caves are a genuine 18th-century chalk mine turned smuggling and storage caves, beautifully restored with a new visitor centre, café and exhibition space when they reopened in 2019. The self-guided tour is atmospheric without being scary for younger kids, and there’s enough history woven in to hold older kids’ attention too. It’s a good rainy day option, but the caves are quite small, so a visit can take as little as 15 minutes. Pair it with something else indoors nearby rather than making it the whole plan.
4. Get Hands-On at The WonderWorks
£5 adults, £2.50 children aged 5 to 15, under 5s free, £12.50 family ticket. An immersive attraction built around some of Britain’s best-known hobby brands, The WonderWorks lets kids get hands-on with Hornby model railways, Scalextric slot car racing, Airfix model-building and Corgi die-cast cars. It’s a nice change of pace from the beach and works particularly well for kids who like building and making things. Book WonderWorks tickets here.
5. Burn Off Energy at Widget’s World
From £4.50 entry, or £6.50 with a child’s meal, and you can stay as long as you like (prices at time of writing, check before you go).Widget’s World is a seafront indoor adventure play centre at 36-42 Marine Terrace, with separate play zones for all ages including babies, plus slides, a ball pit, a sensory room and a café on site. It’s one of the best rainy day options in Margate, and handy any day the kids need to burn off some energy. Check their Facebook page for current opening hours.
The ball pit at Widget’s World
6. Beat the Clock at The Escapement Escape Rooms
Around £90 per team (a fixed price at time of writing, check before you book).The Escapement is an award-winning escape room attraction in the town centre, a short distance from the train station, and it’s open to all ages. It was named the UK’s #1 rated escape room on Tripadvisor in 2019 and won a TERPECA award in 2022. There are three 90-minute adventures to choose from (Pirates of Polaris, Egyptian Exodus and The Pit), built with live theatre, cinematic sets and real puzzles, and they’re designed to be exciting without being scary. Another great one for a rainy day, and a good one to do as a family.
7. Take In the Art at Turner Contemporary
Free. Right on the seafront, Turner Contemporary is a proper art gallery that still works well with kids: there’s a dedicated family room to explore, child-friendly exhibitions, and weekend family tours, plus sensory workshops for toddlers. Entry is free, though a donation is suggested, and the café does excellent cake if you need a rainy-day plan that doesn’t feel like a chore for the adults either.
A huge colourful artwork inside Turner Contemporary
Deckchairs on the terrace at Turner Contemporary
8. Learn Something Weird at the Crab Museum
Free. Billing itself as the only museum in Europe dedicated to decapods, the Crab Museum is small, genuinely witty, and far more interactive for kids than the novelty premise suggests, plus a proper souvenir shop worth a browse. Usually open Friday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm, worth checking current days before you go.
9. Spend the Day at Margate Main Sands & the Harbour Arm
Free. The main event: Margate Main Sands is a genuine, proper sandy beach right in the town centre, and our son absolutely loved it, Blue Flag status, gentle tides and lifeguards in season, and it gets busy on a warm weekend for good reason. Walk out along the Harbour Arm, the old stone breakwater lined with independent shops, a lighthouse at the end, and some of the best food in town, for views back over the whole bay.
10. Swim in Walpole Bay Tidal Pool
Free. One of the largest tidal pools in the UK, Walpole Bay Tidal Pool fills naturally with seawater at high tide and stays calm and swimmable as the tide goes out, much safer and more relaxed than open sea swimming with younger kids. It’s a proper local institution, and a short walk from the town centre. Palm Bay next door is another good rock-pooling spot if the kids want to keep exploring.
11. Feed the Machines at Margate Arcades
Free to enter, pay per machine. No trip to a traditional British seaside town is complete without the arcades, guaranteed to drain a pocket of 2ps fast, and kids love every second of it. Margate Amusements on Marine Terrace, opposite the beach, is the largest, or there’s a smaller undercover arcade inside Dreamland if you want it paired with food, drink and a roller disco on a rainy day.
12. Have Breakfast on a Double Decker Bus
Café prices, no entry fee.The Bus Café, on the Sun Deck along the promenade, serves an award-winning breakfast on the top deck of an actual double decker bus overlooking the sea, think crumpet sliders and a full cooked breakfast without the grease. Open Thursday to Monday, 9am to 2:30pm, and genuinely one of the more memorable breakfasts you’ll have with kids.
13. Play a Round at Stokes Adventure Golf
£7.50 adults, £7 seniors, £6 under 12s, second round half price, no booking needed. An 18-hole mini golf course overlooking Westbrook Bay, Stokes Adventure Golf is an easy, reliable hour with kids of pretty much any age, and the sea views make it a nicer round than your average crazy golf course.
14. Cycle the Viking Coastal Trail
Free. A roughly 32-mile circular cycling and walking route around the whole Isle of Thanet, mostly flat and family-friendly, and it passes straight through Margate. You don’t need to do the whole thing, even a short stretch out towards Broadstairs works well for older kids on bikes, and there are e-bike tours available if you’d rather not pedal the whole way yourselves.
15. Wander Margate Old Town
Free.Margate Old Town is a tangle of narrow streets packed with independent shops, vintage stores and galleries, it’s grown into a genuinely creative little quarter since Turner Contemporary opened. Not a single fixed activity, more something to just wander through between the bigger attractions, kids tend to enjoy the quirky shop windows as much as the adults do.
Silly, a quirky shop with a trinket trade box in Margate Old Town
Margate souvenir magnets in a seaside shop window
The Wellington on Duke Street in Margate Old Town
The old Town Hall in Margate Old Town
16. Climb Drapers Windmill
£2 adults, 50p children, £4.50 family ticket. Margate’s only working smock mill, Drapers Windmill is run entirely by volunteers who explain how the machinery works and let kids climb the steep stairs right up to the top for a proper view over the town, there’s also a ground-floor CCTV display and history film for anyone who can’t manage the stairs. Open Sunday afternoons, 2pm to 4pm, from early May to late September, genuinely hands-on in a way most windmills aren’t. Visit the Drapers Windmill website for current dates.
Day Trips
Quex Park, Birchington
A short drive or train ride to Birchington, Quex Park is a proper family estate day out: soft play at The Jungle (£5 for ages 1 and up including 1 adult, £3.50 under 1, extra adults £1.50, term-time pricing, check the site for holiday rates), giant bounce pillows, a toddler village, goat walking, and Quex Adventure Golf, plus the Powell-Cotton Museum next door, where kids can get hands-on with over 400 real objects in “The Cube,” from costumes to small taxidermy animals. Check the Quex Park website directly for current museum and adventure golf prices, they’re each ticketed separately. Easily a half or full day on its own.
Broadstairs & Botany Bay
Free to visit.Broadstairs, a short hop down the coast (under 10 minutes by car or train), has Viking Bay, a calmer, more sheltered sandy beach than Margate’s, good for younger kids and easier swimming, plus Morelli’s Gelato for the best ice cream in the area. We loved our visit to Broadstairs, it’s such a quaint little town. Grab a lovely coffee at Salt, and have fish and chips at one of the restaurants down on the shore. The Old Curiosity Shop Café on Harbour Street does takeaway food and has a small play corner for little ones. One warning: watch out for the seagulls, they love stealing ice cream! St Mary’s Chapel Bar on Albion Street is the oldest building in Broadstairs, a pub and second-hand bookshop with shelves of books from floor to ceiling. Botany Bay, just north of Broadstairs, is known for its chalk stacks and rock pools, a proper fossil and rock-pooling spot at low tide. For a rainy-day backup, Elev8 at nearby Westwood Cross is a trampoline park, soft play and arcade all in one, with weekday specials from around £6 per person in term time.
Viking Bay from above in Broadstairs
Viking Bay beach and beach huts in Broadstairs
Colourful striped beach huts on the boardwalk at Broadstairs
Salt neighbourhood café & bar in Broadstairs
The Boathouse seafood shack at Broadstairs harbour
St Mary’s Chapel Bar, Broadstairs
Ramsgate
Free to visit.Ramsgate‘s Royal Harbour is the only Royal Harbour in the UK, and it’s a genuinely pretty spot to wander with a working marina, Georgian architecture, and a decent beach of its own if Margate’s is too busy.
Where to Stay in Margate with Kids
Budget Accommodation
The Burlington Hotel: A family-run seafront B&B less than 5 minutes’ walk from the beach, the train station and Dreamland. Guests regularly mention the complimentary sticks of rock and biscuits for kids, a small touch that goes a long way. Best for: families who want to be right in the middle of everything without paying for extras.
Mid-range
Seaside 2 Bed En-suite Flat by Adliv: This is the one we stayed in and we had the best time. A spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom flat (one bedroom has bunk beds) with free parking, a full kitchen and a washing machine, rated 9.1 (Superb) from 34 reviews. It’s full of children’s toys and books, there’s enough carpet space for the kids to play for hours, there were bucket and spades galore and some lovely snacks left for us. It’s right in front of an Aldi, there’s a playground nearby, and it’s close to the centre, with the Shell Grotto about 400 metres away and Walpole Bay beach a 6-minute walk. Best for: families who want space and a self-catering base rather than a hotel room.
Walpole Bay Hotel: A genuinely characterful historic hotel with generous family suites, a 6-minute walk from Walpole Bay Tidal Pool. It’s part-museum as much as hotel, plenty for curious kids to look at around the building itself. Best for: families who want somewhere with real character, close to the tidal pool.
Splurge
No.42 by GuestHouse: An upscale beachfront guesthouse in the Old Town, 6 minutes on foot from Dreamland, with a rooftop bar, restaurant and connecting rooms available for families. Best for: a proper treat-yourself trip where the stay is part of the occasion.
GB Pizza Co: A genuine Margate institution on the Harbour Arm since 2012, wood-fired pizza with British ingredients and views over the harbour and Turner Contemporary. Easy, reliable, and kids love pizza, so this rarely goes wrong.
Peter’s Fish Factory: Right opposite the sea, proper fish and chips with good batter and generous portions, and genuinely good value.
Angela’s: On the main parade, a reliable, well-loved seafood spot if you want a proper sit-down meal rather than something to eat on the beach wall.
Melt Margate: The local favourite for gelato, a proper post-beach treat and an easy win with kids of any age.
Morelli’s Gelato: Another one for gelato, a sixth-generation Italian family business that has been making it since 1907, with a parlour on Marine Drive on the seafront serving fresh gelato made every morning. A very easy post-beach stop with kids.
Rise & Bun: Our pick for breakfast. Some unbelievable buns and delicious coffee, in a bakery on King Street in the Old Town that regularly has a queue out the door. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until the buns sell out, so go early.
Rise & Bun on King Street in Margate Old Town
How Long to Spend in Margate with Kids
A day trip is genuinely doable from London: the beach, Dreamland and one more attraction (the Shell Grotto or Margate Caves) comfortably fits into a day, especially with the fast train.
A weekend (2 nights) lets you add Turner Contemporary, the Harbour Arm, and either Quex Park or Broadstairs without rushing.
3 to 4 days covers the whole list properly, including all the day trips, with time to just relax on the beach in between.
5 days is how long I stayed, and I loved it. That’s plenty of time to cover the whole list at an easy pace, with proper beach time too.
Best Time to Visit
Late spring to early autumn (May to September) is when Margate is at its best, the beach is genuinely usable, Dreamland’s outdoor rides are all running, and the tidal pool is at its most inviting. School holiday weeks get busy, especially on the beach and at Dreamland, so weekday visits are noticeably calmer if you have the flexibility.
Getting To & Around Margate
High-speed Southeastern trains run from London St Pancras International to Margate in around 1 hour 26 to 1 hour 37 minutes on the HS1 line, with up to 55 services a day, genuinely one of the easiest UK seaside day trips from London. By car, it’s around 1 hour 45 minutes via the M2 and A299, compare rental cars on DiscoverCars if you want the flexibility to add Quex Park or the other Thanet towns.
Once you’re there, Margate itself is small enough to walk everywhere, and local trains connect easily to Broadstairs and Ramsgate if you want to explore further along the coast without a car.
FAQ
Is Margate good for a family day trip from London?
Yes, it’s one of the easiest UK coastal day trips from London, around 1.5 hours by high-speed train, with a real sandy beach, a free amusement park, and enough indoor attractions to cover a rainy day too.
Is Dreamland free to enter?
Yes, entry to Dreamland itself is free, you only pay for rides, either individually with tokens or with an all-day wristband, which works out cheaper if your kids want to go on more than a handful of rides.
What is the Shell Grotto and is it real?
It’s a genuine underground passage covered in over 4.6 million shells arranged in mosaic patterns, discovered in 1835. Nobody has ever definitively explained who built it or why, which is exactly what makes it such a good one for curious kids.
Is Margate beach good for young children?
Margate Main Sands is a proper sandy beach and generally safe, though Walpole Bay Tidal Pool and Broadstairs’ Viking Bay are calmer, more sheltered options if you want gentler water for younger kids.
How many days do you need in Margate with kids?
A single day trip from London covers the essentials comfortably, but 2 to 3 days lets you add Quex Park, the Harbour Arm and one of the nearby Thanet towns without rushing.
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