My Top Five Things to Do As a Twenty-Something In London

For this week’s post I’ll be steering away from all things ‘Au Pair’ and instead, focussing on life as a twenty-something in London.  I’ve had the privilege of living, studying and working in this beautiful and vibrant city for the past three years.  I first moved to the big smoke in September 2018 as I started my three-year university degree in English Literature.  As I grew up in a small town in Kent, I’d always had the aim of moving to a big city for further education.  After toying around with the idea of studying in a few UK cities, primarily London, Exeter and Norwich, I decided to settle on London.  It was close enough to home that I could easily hop on the high-speed train home from Stratford, but far enough from home that I felt separate and independent from my family (I love my family, but this was my time to spread my metaphorical wings).

 

Living in Mile End, where my university was located (I attended Queen Mary), was so different from the small town where I grew up. The pubs stayed open later, the area was so diverse, and there was so much to do!  Of course I didn’t solely remain in the Mile End/Stepney area, luckily I had made like-minded friends who were more than looking forward to exploring everything that London had to offer.  We definitely made some dodgy decisions (I’m looking at you, first year Molly), but now that I’m three years older - and I’d like to think three years wiser – and have started living in a different area of London, I feel my knowledge of the city’s best hotspots has vastly improved.

 

Now, I’m not saying that these experiences will be suitable for everyone, or that they’ll be everyone’s cup of tea, but I can only offer my own thoughts and recommendations.  After all, I’ve only lived in London three years, and for the majority of that time I was a lowly student living on a student budget. I’ve tried to come up with a selective list that has a little of everything, some more expensive than others.  The main focus surrounds my favourite eateries, bars, ‘adult’ play centres and free sights.  Without further ado, lets get into the list! 

 

 

1.     ‘Otherworld’, Hackney

336 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA

 

 

 

 

 

In at number one, and kicking off my compilation of attractions, is ‘Otherworld’.  A virtual reality experience and bar located in Hackney, with Haggertston as its nearest over-ground station, is situated amongst the most vibrant bars and pubs that the East End has to offer.  I actually booked this place for a second date back in early 2020, bold I know considering I had only met this guy once before and we were diving straight into an intimate VR gameplay experience.  However, it worked as a perfect way to further break the ice between us, as, after meeting for a cheeky drink at a pub en route, we were offered even more drinks that were served to us upon arrival.  

 

The interior design of the place is very futuristic, which fits the VR theme.  I remember thinking I’d entered an episode of ‘Black Mirror’ when I walked in for the first time.  The entire space is coloured sterile white with purple/pink neon lights giving it a slight club feel, helping to intensify the mood (especially after a few cocktails).  All of the staff sport white tunics, which further add to the futuristic feel of the place.  

 

Not only is the décor of the place super unique and edgy, the actual VR experience is amazing.  You receive your own VR kit: headset, microphone and controllers, that are all wired up to your personal VR booth.  Before you enter you get to choose an area of the ‘Otherworld’ island to explore; there are four corners of the island that correspond to the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.  There are various mini-games to be played within these four areas and you can explore the island and play 1v1 games with your partner.  Although you can’t explore your partner’s body in VR as you can in that one ‘Black Mirror’ episode (you know the one I mean).  In the game you clock up coins that can be transferred from virtual currency to real money that can buy you yet another drink from the bar – how cool is that?!

It can be tricky for someone who has ZERO gaming experience (bar opening my brothers’ Fifa mystery packs a handful of times) and I found myself extremely tangled up amongst the amount of wires attached to the VR pod and myself.  However, my date seemed to forgo this tangled fate – and laughed at me when he saw what a mess I’d made.  

 

I would 10/10 recommend Otherworld for a date, or just a day out with some friends.  It is a little pricey but worth every penny for the immersive experience.  

 

 

2.     ‘Rusty Bike Pub’, Mile End

588 Mile End Rd, London, E3 4PH

 

Second up on the list is a nod to my University days and original London roots in Mile End.  The Rusty Bike was my local pub for my last two years of University and boy was I glad it was only five minutes down the road!  It’s a relaxed sports pub, playing the all the latest in sports, from football to boxing.  What my University friends and I liked the most about this pub was the insanely delicious Thai food that was on offer.  The menu has a huge selection, my personal favourites being the Chicken Pad Thai, the Singapore Noodles, and the vegetable gyoza to start.  Despite trying Thai food from a lot of other eateries in and around London, the Rusty Bike holds the top spot for me.  

 

Alongside the great vibes, fun music and scrumptious food, the pub also attracts a lot of young people (yay!) due to it being situated so close to Queen Mary University.  Obviously, when I was a student, this was ideal because I could have a cheeky flirt whenever I found myself in the ‘Rusty’, as my friends and I liked to call it. The staff are absolutely amazing too; in fact, I struck up quite an unlikely friendship with one of the team and now whenever I go back to visit he gets us all a round of shots on the house!  He even remembers what everyone’s liquor of choice is: tequila for me, of course.

 

If you ever find yourself East of London (it’s only a 30 minute walk from Spitalfields Market!) then definitely go and check out the Rusty Bike; you won’t regret it.

 

 

3.     ‘Bunker 51’, Greenwich

3 Herringham Rd, London SE7 8NJ

 

Coming in at number three is ‘Bunker 51’ in Greenwich!  Now, this spot is quite far out from the centre of the city BUT it is totally worth it – especially for birthday parties, work trips or just for fun with a few mates!  

 

Bunker 51 is an indoor laser-tag centre in Greenwich that I had the privilege of visiting as a surprise day out for my 20^th birthday!  It was around a 20-minute tube ride plus a further 15-minute bus journey followed by a walk – I know that sounds awfully tedious but I’m sure there are quicker ways of getting there (we just didn’t know how).  Regardless, the tube and bus journeys were easy to configure, and the walk there provided an element of suspense, as it was a birthday surprise for me so the longer walk filled me with anticipation.  Once we arrived, we were taken through the instructions and safety precautions, which were pretty self-explanatory.  

 

 

 

The laser quest room itself was dimly lit with a dirt-covered floor (which would’ve been nice to know considering I had dressed up in high heeled boots for the day) but despite the dirt, the laser shoot-out games were absolutely immense.  You get a real adrenaline rush as you run through the ‘bunker’ shooting at the opposing team.  It’s like laser-tag for adults as my friends and I were up against a group who worked together – potentially out as a team-building exercise?  Who knows?  Honestly, I hadn’t expected to enjoy myself as much as I did, but you really get your head into the game.  It becomes a question of life or death, seriously.

 

 

4.     ‘Bounce’, Farringdon

121 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD

 

I had the absolute pleasure of visiting ‘Bounce’ in Farringdon last week!  Bounce is an adult’s Ping-Pong paradise; serving up the tastiest cocktails to fuel your tipsy gameplay.  

 

I’d booked it for a date with a guy that I was seeing and we weren’t disappointed, despite my clumsiness when it came to actually getting there by tube – should be easy right?  Not when you’re me and are able to get confused between Chancery Lane and Charing’s Cross.  Yep.  I ended up in Trafalgar Square, only a mere 25 minutes from Chancery Lane (Bounce’s nearest tube station).  After a quick, panicked Uber drive to the location, we were in!  The staff were so accommodating over the phone, pushing our booking back as far as possible to ensure maximum time for gameplay.  

 

Due to my stupidity, however, we managed to get an upgraded Ping-Pong session!  I had booked the basic Ping-Pong table, as the ‘Wonderball’ option wasn’t available (‘Wonderball’ is their name for their interactive Ping-Pong table).  I suppose that due to turning up an hour late for our original booking time, we received an accidental upgrade.  I’m so glad I messed up with the tubes!  There are five interactive Ping-Pong based games, our favourite being ‘Hexogasm’ – I absolutely thrashed my Ping-Pong partner, much to his disapproval.  Although, on reflection, I had come to the realisation that there was little to no skill involved with this game, unlike actual Ping-Pong, so my high was short-lived.  

 

 

 

At only £6 per person, Bounce is definitely a place to visit!  I’m already planning my next visit!

 

 

5.     ‘Greenwich Observatory Park’, Greenwich

Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ

 

Last up on the list is a free activity that is best suited to a summer trip to London, due to the nature of the activity being outside.  Greenwich Observatory Park is the perfect summer destination for picnics, drinks and good vibes with a cracking view. 

  

 

I’ve been to the Park, situated just below the Observatory – which is also another great place to visit – a few times with my University pals.  We’ve travelled out to Greenwich to watch the sunset over the city skyline while knocking back several beers and munching on the ultimate picnic foods - how dreamy does that sound?  As the night sky turns darker, the bright city lights sparkle in the distance, illuminating your love for London city.  From sitting higher atop the park hill, you’re able to get a better view of the city overlooking the Thames to the North.  It’s a perfect summer date location if you’re looking for a romantic al fresco evening, especially at sunset – how picturesque? 

 

If you find yourself in London during the hotter months, definitely make the trip down to Greenwich Park.  There are plenty of pubs within Greenwich itself too, so when it inevitably gets too cold, you can warm yourself from the inside out with the help of some trusty alcohol (or alternatively, just warm up by the fire over an alcohol-free beer).

 

So, there you have it!  My conclusive, and rather off-the-top-of-my-head, list of my personal top five outings in London.  As I get to know the west side of the city more and more, as I’m now based in Fulham, I may revisit this list or create a new one entirely!  As ever, I hope you enjoyed reading this week’s post and let me know in the comments if you’ve ever been to any of these places, or what you would add to the list!

 

Written by Molly McKenna, 26.11.2021