Do you have teenagers at home that you want to get out of their bedrooms and off their consoles? Leicester has a whole host of activities to keep you and them busy and active, whether it’s the school holidays or a random weekend.
Here’s our pick of the best.
Go Karting
Get kitted out, get your helmet on and see who’s got the best lap time of you and the kids. TeamSport Karting in Thurmaston offers a fully indoor race experience with karting available to those aged over 8 for a child’s kart, or over 12 for the adult kart. After your race experience you’ll take to the podium and can enjoy refreshments in the on site bar/cafe as well. Free parking on site. Book via TeamSport Karting.
Ninja Warrior UK
Keep the kids active with a session at Ninja Warrior UK Leicester. Ideal for teenagers who want to climb and swing their way across the course, if you’re a mixed age family you can also keep the little ones occupied on the soft inflatables areas at the venue too. Guaranteed fun for both adults and kids, but how many of you can tackle the Ninja Wall? Book online via the Ninja Warrior UK website.
Axe Throwing
Time to master the art of axe throwing. Leicester city centre is home to both Game of Throwing and Angle Axe Throwing, both of which are suitable for those aged over 10 years old. After a safety briefing you’ll head to your lane to see who has the best blade technique. Game of Throwing also brings an interactive element to the scoring. Book online via the website links above.
VR
Located on the same site as TeamSport Karting, why not add on a full body VR experience to your day out? ROAMDOME offers an incredible VR activity, so immersive you won’t believe it’s not real. Channel your inner Indiana Jones or grab a gun and shoot some zombies, it’s guaranteed to get you playing as a team and a unique experience to remember. The VR arena holds 5 people, with crazy golf and e-darts also available on the same site, as well as refreshments in the cafe. Book online via the ROAMDOME website.
Interactive Cricket
Whether you’re a cricket mad family or not, it’s a brilliant afternoon out for the kids. Sixes Social Cricket offers the perfect combination of cricket and top notch hospitality. Choose your level from beginner to world class, grab a bat and battle it out for top score. Under 18s are allowed in the venue until 7pm and there is a full menu of burgers and pizzas as well as shakes, kids offers, and more. Book in via the Sixes Social Cricket website.
Tank Driving and Paintball
Now for something totally different. Experience the fun and excitement of driving tanks and other military vehicles over courses set around a World War II bombing range in Leicestershire. Armourgeddon in Husbands Bosworth is the worldwide home of Tank Paintball, incorporating Chaos Paintball and Tank Paintball Battle – all the fun of paintball (and without the pain, as it’s the tanks that take the hits) but with you at the controls of a FV432 tank. Tanks, cannons, mud and guns. Whether you go for a Tank Taster Session, or perhaps an Adult & Child Experience, or go for a full group Paintball session, you’re guaranteed fun and action. What more could you want from a day out?! Book via the Armourgeddon website.
Crazy Golf
Crazy golf is always a fun activity and none cater for it better than Caddyshackers. Under 18s are now allowed in the venue until 7pm when accompanied by an adult, and as well as the crazy golf you can now enjoy extra on site activities including shuffleboard, e-darts, arcade games and Leicester’s only Foot Pool (yep, it’s pool with your feet). Enjoy the mix of themed holes and then take to the winners podium at the end and see who came out on top. Book via the Caddyshackers website.
Hovercrafting
Did you know that you can go hovercrafting in Leicestershire? Why not enjoy a thrill-seeking day out with a difference? The UK’s hovercrafting centre, Axceler-8, is near Market Harborough and offers group hovercrafting sessions, where you can take to land and water, take on tricky bends or race against your family and friends. The centre off family friendly sessions for different ages that can be done at a slower pace, just discuss this with them when booking. Book via the Axceler-8 website.
Retro Computer Museum
Did you know that Leicester has its own Retro Computer Museum? Not only that, but these classic systems aren’t just there to admire, they’re there to play on as well. The treasure trove of consoles and computers from the 60s onwards has built over a number of years, and includes models such as the Sinclair Spectrum, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga and Atari 2600, as well as gaming giants including Nintendo NES, Sega MegaDrive, Xbox and PlayStation. Plus the truly unique Virtuality VR systems and the one of a kind CD1200. The museum is located on the Troon Island Estate in Thurmaston and is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 3.30pm with hot and cold beverages plus snacks are available to buy on site. Find out more on the Retro Computer Museum website.
Bowling
Always a family classic, you can enjoy a great day out bowling at both East Street Lanes and Lane7 in the city centre. Both venues allow under 18s in until 7pm and give the opportunity to enjoy a fun venue vibe alongside your family game. Both venues also have a brilliant selection of fun arcade games to enjoy whilst you’re there. East Street Lanes offers a pizza menu and shakes, as well as the bar offer for the adults, whilst Lane7 offers you the opportunity to order in pizza from Pizza Punks to be delivered to your lane. Book online via the website links above.
Board Games
If you’re in town make sure you pay a visit to Re-Roll Board Game Cafe on Granby Street. What a brilliant little venue. Set upstairs and over two floors, there are SO many board games to choose from (over 400). Pick out a classic favourite or ask the team for recommendations and they’ll go through the rules with you. Bagels, cakes, shakes and beers all available whilst you’re playing. Under 16s should be accompanied by an adult and under 18s must be off site by 10pm. Find out more via the Re-Roll Board Game Cafe website.
Gaming
Do you struggle to get your teen off their PlayStation? Well you can at least get them out their room and meeting new people whilst they play. SideQuest Gaming is located in the city centre on Horsefair Street. From FIFA to Fortnite, there are loads of games to choose from. You can book a seat and play solo or grab some friends to play together. They also hold regular tournaments that you can sign up to if you want that extra competitive edge. Priced from just £4 per hour, book online via the SideQuest Gaming Hub website.
Stadium Tours
Is your youngster a big Leicester City or Leicester Tigers fan? Book in for a tour around King Power Stadium or Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium. Get those keepsake photos in the changing rooms and pitchside, whilst finding out more about the history of the clubs. Check available dates and group booking info via the LCFC or Leicester Tigers websites.
Bike Riding
Get outdoors and enjoy a family bike ride starting from Rutland Cycling at Everards Meadows. Explore Leicester with traffic-free cycling into Leicester City centre via the Great Central Way, or enjoy quiet routes out into the Leicestershire countryside.
Whatever your age or ability, Rutland Cycles have just the bike for you from hybrid and mountain bikes to the latest electric bikes, tandems and kids’ bikes, tag-a-longs, and buggies. Finish off with a trip to neighbouring Jenno’s Coffee or Everards Beer Hall to relax after your bike ride. Find out more on the Rutland Cycling website.
FootGolf
An exciting mix of football and golf, the object of FootGolf is to get the ball into the hole with your feet in the fewest shots possible. Leicester’s home of FootGolf is at Humberstone Heights and the game is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. It’s a great way to have fun and keep fit. They have both 9 and 18 hole courses and bookings can be made through the Pro Shop. Find out more via the council website.
The Driving Range
Whether they love crazy golf and fancy taking it to the next level, or perhaps you’ve got a teen who’s keen to pick up some full sized clubs, a trip to the driving range is now a lot more fun and interactive than it used to be. With TopTracer technology in the bays, you can play competitively, or choose between famous courses to see how you manage on the holes. Both Leicester Golf Centre (at the Racecourse) and Forest Hill Golf Centre (Botcheston, LE9), have bays fitted with TopTracer technology. At GolfX at Forest Hill bays are also fitted with Sky TV and you ca order food and drinks to the bay whilst you’re playing. Find out more and book via the Leicester Golf Centre and Forest Hill Golf Centre websites.
A Treasure Hunt
Solve some clues and explore your local area with a family friendly treasure hunt. Treasure Trails have over 1200 trails across the UK and they have plenty available for you to choose from in Leicestershire too. From the city centre to Market Harborough and a number of villages in between, choose the local village or area you want to explore and download your adventure pack. Solve the clues, walk between locations and see if you can uncover the treasure at the end. All treasure hunts are available to explore or buy on the Treasure Trails website.
Escape Room
The escape room craze is still going strong and at Escape Leicester all of their rooms are family friendly. Whether you’re braving your way through The Cabin or tackling Project Area 51 to save the Earth from a meteor, you’ll have to work together to make sure you solve the puzzles in time to escape the room. Escape Leicester is located on Horsefair Street and you can find out more info and book online via their website.