A Weekend in London for Casino Fans: Where to Play, Eat & Sleep
London is one of the world’s great casino cities. For a weekend, base yourself around the West End: the Hippodrome and Empire in Leicester Square are open to the public, the Grosvenor Victoria (“The Vic”) on Edgware Road is a poker landmark, and Les Ambassadeurs in Mayfair is a members-only club. Bring photo ID, you must be 18+, and gamble within a set budget.
🔑 Key takeaways
- The Hippodrome and Empire Casino (Leicester Square) are open to the public — no membership needed.
- The Grosvenor Victoria (“The Vic”) on Edgware Road is a famous London poker venue.
- Les Ambassadeurs in Mayfair is a members-only club, so plan ahead if you want to visit.
- You must be 18+ with photo ID; set a budget before you go and stick to it.
📑 On this page
Few cities do casinos like London. Within a short walk of the West End you can move from a buzzing, tourist-friendly gaming floor to a discreet Mayfair members’ club, with world-class restaurants and hotels in between. Here is how to spend a weekend if the casino is the centre of the trip.
What to look for in a London casino
All licensed UK casinos require you to be 18 or over and to show valid photo ID. Beyond that, the main split is between venues that are open to the public and members-only clubs. For a weekend visitor, the public Leicester Square casinos are the easy choice; the Mayfair clubs are worth it if you can arrange membership in advance.
The casinos
The Hippodrome Casino. Just off Leicester Square, the Hippodrome is one of London’s largest and most famous casinos — open to the public, with multiple gaming floors, bars, restaurants and live shows. The natural first stop.
Empire Casino. Also on Leicester Square, the Empire pairs a busy gaming floor with dining and a central location, and is likewise open to the public.
The Grosvenor Victoria (“The Vic”). On Edgware Road, The Vic is a London institution — best known as a serious poker destination, alongside the usual table games and slots.
Les Ambassadeurs. A historic, members-only club in a Georgian property in Mayfair. It is one of the city’s most exclusive gaming venues, so entry requires membership and an application in advance rather than walking in off the street.
Where to eat and stay
The West End puts you within walking distance of everything from Soho’s restaurants to Mayfair fine dining, and the Leicester Square casinos have strong in-house dining if you would rather not move. For sleeping, staying around Covent Garden, Soho or Mayfair keeps the casinos, theatres and late-night options on your doorstep — handy after a late session.
Prefer to play online?
If a casino floor is not your thing, you can play from anywhere on a UKGC-licensed site. Our guide to which online casinos have the best payouts is a good place to start, and you can compare fast-paying options on our fast withdrawals page.
Whether you play in person or online, set a budget before you start and treat it as the cost of a night out. If gambling stops being fun, the support at our responsible gambling page is there to help.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need membership to enter a London casino? +
Not always. The Hippodrome and Empire in Leicester Square are open to the public — you just need to be 18 or over with valid photo ID. Some clubs, such as Les Ambassadeurs in Mayfair, are members-only and require an application in advance.
Which is the best London casino for first-timers? +
The Hippodrome near Leicester Square is the easiest first visit — large, central, open to the public and combining gaming with bars, dining and live entertainment.
Can I play online instead while in London? +
Yes. Plenty of UKGC-licensed sites let you play from your phone, and our guide to the casinos with the best payouts is a good starting point if that is your preference.
Matthew is a seasoned iGaming writer contributing to BritishGambler.co.uk with a wealth of experience in crafting engaging casino reviews, how-to guides, and industry news. With a background in Sociology and Criminology, Matthew discovered his passion for writing while teaching English abroad in Spain, Brazil, and Vietnam. Over the years, he has honed his skills and written for platforms such as JeffBet.com, IDNow, and BetinAsia, establishing himself as a trusted voice in the iGaming community.
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