So. You Are A Tabletop RPG Fan In London
Whether your are visiting for a few days or moving here permanently, London has much to offer to tabletop RPG and Dungeons & Dragons fans.
This is a modest attempt at creating a "go to" post listing the essential information regarding the hobby in our beautiful city. Something quick and easy to share with fans with plenty of questions.
Please do let me know if something is outdated or missing.
The Main Events
Monthly - London's Le Drinks & Dice
Le Drinks & Dices is hosted monthly by The Rolistes Podcast and Phoenix Games Club. It aims to support friendships across all RPG clubs and individuals fans of the Hobby. It has seen get together members from The Role Play Haven, La Guilde des Rolistes Francophones de Londres, London Indie RPG and Dragon on the Hill.
Any club/association willing is encouraged to join the fun.
It takes place each first Wednesday of the month (see Facebook page for confirmation) at Bad Moon Cafe which has also a range of boardgames available for rent and is located a walk away from London Bridge and even closer from Borough Station.
Yearly - Dragonmeet
Dragonmeet is one of the most vibrant tabletop gaming conventions and the largest of it's kind in London. You'll discover a day jam-packed with things for you to do. Expect new and old games to play, industry panels, book signings, an art show, bring & buy, cosplay events, lots of new traders and big demos, tournaments and of course the chance to make new friends and hang out with fellow gamers!
The Clubs
The Role Play Haven
Webpage - Facebook - Discord - Twitter - Participations The Rolistes Podcast
This one is more than one club, Not only they got branches in Archway, Lewisham & Stratford but they are also a charity supporting the development of tabletop RPG across the UK.
- Stratford Branch
Every Tuesday from 7:15pm to approximately 10:45pm at the Secret Weapon, Princess Of Wales, 25 West Ham Lane, London E15 4PH. - Lewisham Branch
Every Wednesday from 7:00pm to approximately 10:45pm at the Lewis Club (upstairs), University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham High St, London SE13 6LH. - Archway Branch
Every Tuesday from 7:15pm to approximately 10:45pm at the Hideaway Bar, 114 Junction Rd, Archway, London N19 5LB.
Phoenix Games Club
Webpage - Facebook - Participations to The Rolistes Podcast
A Stratford-based friendly bunch of gamers who get together every Thursday evening at the Black Lion Pub in Plaistow, East London.
The London RPG Community Meetup
Webpage - Facebook - Discord - Twitter
This is a young club of enthusiastic and sociable RPG fans who meet twice a week playing a unique open table Dungeons & Dragons (5e) campaign as well as one-shots and mini-campaigns in various RPG systems.
They run multiple beginners’ games weekly and provide opportunities for Game Masters to grow. Games are scheduled via their Meetup page.
- Southwark
Every Tuesday at Bad Moon Café (close to London Bridge) - Tower Hamlet
Every Thursday at Craft Beer Co Limehouse (East London)
The Tuesday Knights
Webpage - Participations to The Rolistes Podcast
This East London club was formed in May 1989 and have been going strong ever since. Games are split into 6 week blocks to avoid cliques with a large range of games being played.
The London Dungeons & Dragons Meetup
This club based on the Meetup platform meets regularly at a variety of locations.
- Various Locations
Every Saturday (1.30pm) and Sunday (12:30pm) at various locations. - City of London
Meeting every Monday from 7.00pm at the Counting House, Cornhill Rd - South Bank
Every Tuesday from 6:00pm at the Mad Hatter, Stamford Street.
Dragons on the Hill
A weekly gathering of London people who like to play Role Playing Games, have a drink and meet up with other gamers. A wide range of nationalities, interests and ages (18+ though - it is in a pub after all!).
London Indie RPG
London Indie RPG Meetup is a friendly and vibrant community that meets regularly to play roleplaying and story games which are typically small press, independent or unpublished.
- Southwark
St Christopher's Inn (see links above for date and times of meetings) - Hackney
Shoreditch Town Hall (see links above for date and times of meetings)
The HATE Club - Hackney Area Tabletop Enthusiasts
The HATE club is dedicated to gaming in many forms, tabletop war gaming, board games, roleplaying games & collectible card games etc.
The club meets every Wednesday from 6pm and Sunday from 12pm at The Bethnal Green Working Men's Club.
Dungeons & Dragons London
I created this one but it's kind of an empty shell. It's only a Facebook page. I include it here because it is often mistaken for a club.
There, I share information quite a few events I hear and also silly Dungeons & Dragons memes. Feel free to post about your own events and tables there. I will be happy to share them on the main section.
Sidenote: It's after giving the same information about RPG in London from people visiting that page that I decided to create the present article. Now I can save time by sharing the link to this page. AH!
La Guilde des Rolistes Fancophones de Londres
A French speaking tabletop RPG club.
No regular scheduled meeting, instead sessions happen on a case by case basis for individual tables and sometimes as part of seasonal mini-conventions.
The Shops
Orcs Nest
6 Earlham St, London WC2H 9RY
The most centrally located RPG and board games shop in London is also the oldest. It's super tiny but kinda cute with some interesting old copies of games on its mezzanine.
Bad Moon Café
159a Great Dover St, London SE1 4GZ
It is my personal FLGS and favourite shop in London. There's quite a lot of space and you can rent tables for RPG or wargaming. You can event rent boardgames for a very modest price.
That's also where wehhost the monthly London Le Drinks & Dice
Dark Sphere Waterloo
186 Hercules Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7LD
Another large space, with a vast collection of wargames.
Dark Sphere Shepherd's Bush Megastore
Leisure Games
100 Ballards Ln, Finchley, London N3 2DN
Much less central than the above but that's where you will find the more extensive offer of tabletop RPGs to purchase.
