I’m always on the lookout for new places to visit. I love exploring and it’s always such a treat to find out that you have amazing places that are just on your doorstep. I think that Leicester is truly a city full of hidden gems. I’m always finding new spots to eat or drink at and there’s so much to offer.
I love gaming, though I’m more of a Sims person than a first-person shooter person — I kind of suck at games like that. One thing I always find is that there’s not a lot of places that are gaming-related around Leicester. There’s places to buy games, like CEX or HMV, but I wish that there were proper old-school arcades to go and spend an evening at.
Luckily for you, I’ve been doing some research. So keep reading to learn about the best arcades in Leicester, because there actually are some after all!
Super Game Shack (Leicester city centre)
Whilst technically not an arcade, it is the best place to shop for games in Leicester. There are all kinds of video games to browse, plus a collection of horror memorabilia and cute figurines that could be for decor. I love to go there and buy mystery packs, it’s so fun to see what you end up with.
You can even buy older consoles from there at reasonable prices, which is so nice to see. It also features an amazing TARDIS replica — so if you’re a Doctor Who nerd like me, you should definitely go check it out!
It’s located inside the Silver Arcade shopping centre on Cank Street, and can be accessed either round the corner from the Subway or opposite the Caffe Nero.
Super Game Shack ‘Level 2’ (Leicester city centre)
Just when you think that it can’t get any better, the games shop has a second level upstairs!
This super cosy place is where you can go to browse even more games or play in the only arcade in Leicester city centre. They also serve absolutely delicious food and often have seasonal drinks on offer. I love the atmosphere there so much, it truly is a hidden gem in the city and arguably is the best arcade ever, not just the best arcade in Leicester.
More people really need to visit this place, because it truly is amazing!
Lane7 Leicester (Leicester city centre)
Now the rest of the arcades in Leicester are ones that are inside bowling alleys. But that’s okay, it just combines gaming with another fun activity! Plus I love a good sports bar.
Lane7 is such a cool place, there’s so much that you can do here. There’s a karaoke room that’s really visually appealing, plus a few gaming-themed rooms to go take photos in. The PacMan one is my favourite. It’s got a decent arcade area as well.
The vibe is also really pleasant, they have a stunning drinks menu and they do not disappoint! I love how many different types of cocktails they do. All the food and drinks are relatively well-priced too, so a trip here won’t break the bank.
This place is across from the Showcase cinema, and is opposite the Novotel — so nice and central.
Claw Kingdom (Highfields, Leicester)
I’m really looking forward to going here, I just haven’t found the time yet. This place was recommended to me through word-of-mouth, but it looks really cool!
My favourite type of arcade game are the claw machines because they’re so addicting. I’m definitely that person who spends all their money just trying to get one thing out of the machine — but that’s probably just because I never have any luck. So if this is the sort of vibe you want to go for, then this is the arcade in Leicester for you!
There’s such a range of arcade games to choose from, plus a few classics like the basketball game can be enjoyed here too. They have little shopping trolleys to carry around your winnings in, which is so cute!!
You can visit it in Highfields, near the General Hospital. Plus several buses run that way so you can get there pretty easily.
Hollywood Bowl (Enderby, Leicester)
I think that we can all agree that Hollywood Bowl is pretty well-known for having some of the best arcades, and the one in Leicester is no exception. The bowling alley area is a decent size, but the arcade area is actually quite big. There’s a lot of variety that you can enjoy — with shooting games, claw machines, and the like.
The main benefit of visiting here is that you can book a group to go bowling (and include food, too!) and then you can spend a couple hours at the arcade afterwards. I would say that it’s got the best range of arcade games out of all of the arcades in Leicester.
The only downside? It’s in Meridian Business Park, which is a bit of a trek to get to. But going is really worth it because it’s well-priced to visit. Plus there’s a lot of food options to choose from after an evening spent racking up tickets in the arcade.
So, there you have it! That was the best arcades in Leicester. I still have to visit Claw Kingdom, so I’ll have to update once I do, but all of these sound like great places to hang out with friends. Hopefully as more of us visit, these places can start to branch out. A lot of places in the city centre are shut down now, so it’s really important to support local businesses where you can!
If you liked this one, then read about the best places to grab 2 for 1 cocktails in Leicester — something that will definitely compliment an evening at the arcade quite well!
I’m a third-year English Language student at DMU. I live in Leicester but am originally from Northamptonshire. In my spare time I can either be found writing poetry or snuggled up on the sofa with my nose in a book.
