FAQs and Support
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
VENUE INFORMATION
F1 Arcade currently has two UK locations, in London and Birmingham.
F1 Arcade London is located in the heart of the city, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral. We are on the ground floor of One New Change, opposite the entrance to Ivy Asia.
1 New Change
London
EC4M 9AF
F1 Arcade Birmingham is located in the City Centre near Town Hall.
2 Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3AX
London
We are centrally located opposite St Paul's Cathedral. The following stations are nearest to our venue:
- St. Paul’s - 2 minute walk
- City Thameslink - 6 minute walk
- Bank - 8 minute walk
- London Blackfriars - 11 minute walk
Birmingham
We are right next to the Town Hall and a short walk from the main transport links.
- Birmingham New Street - 10 minute walk
- Nearest Tram Stop: Town Hall, directly alongside Paradise estate with access to the Metro
London
It’s a little tricky parking around here as we are so central! There is a National Car Park around a 10 minute walk away. Just to note the venue is also within the London Congestion Charge zone.
Birmingham
Paradise Car Park is open to the public on weekday evenings between 7pm to 7am and throughout the whole weekend.
To locate the car park, either use the postcode B3 1DE or tribe.waving.dices on what3words.
More information on costings of the space can be found here.
Yes! We also hold watch parties on some bank holidays – check out our calendar of watch party dates here.
London is 18+ only after 6pm.
Birmingham is 18+ only after 8pm.
We do not operate a dress code, so please come dressed as you see fit and we always encourage wearing your F1 gear to support your team!
No, but fear not! We have coat hooks and areas to pop your bags throughout our venues, so there’s plenty of space to settle in and make yourself at home.
Unfortunately, not unless they are a service dog – our venues are loud, thrilling, and busy and may be over-stimulating for our four-legged friends!
Please email londonsupport@f1arcade.com or birminghamsupport@f1arcade.com stating the item you have lost with a description and date of your visit and a member of the team will be in touch.
BOOKINGS
We don’t want you to miss out on our state-of-the-art racing simulators so we strongly recommend booking in advance. However, we do have a limited number of racing sessions available for walk-ins each day, but these are allocated on a first come, first serve basis and do fill up quickly in busy times.
Check-in time is 15 minutes before your booking start time. Please do arrive at your check in time to make sure you get your full racing duration. If you are running late, please let us know as soon as possible, although we can't guarantee availability, it may be possible to amend your start time. Why not come early and enjoy some pre-race food or drinks in our Octane Bar?
If you would like to change or cancel your booking, the fastest way to get help is to respond to your confirmation email. Please include your full name, booking reference & contact number with any amendments you would like to make.
Please remember we are unable to make changes or cancel bookings within 48 hours for standard bookings, or 28 days for events.
Additionally, changes in group size may adjust the duration of your booking and number of racing sims allocated.
Our full booking policy can be found here.
Racing pricing varies dependant on date and time. For exact pricing and availability for your location please click on the below:
Certainly! We have a fantastic range of semi-private and private events spaces to suit any group size.
Our private events space in London, The Briefing Room, can be booked for groups of 30 and above. It’s a perfect space for daytime meetings, celebrations, team building or brand activations.
For more information on any of the private or large group booking areas, please contact our specialist events team.
Perfect for awards ceremonies, training days or team meetings.
Food & drinks packages available for breakfast and lunch including our full package offering both.
Host your meetings in The Briefing Room, our dedicated private events space, available mornings through to early afternoon.
We ensure that your meetings are complemented by an exceptional service including an 85” presentation screen and private AV. The seating is a casual dining layout, with a mixture of lounge and high tables, rather than cabaret or theatre-style seating.
This is great for informal presentations and networking.
Of course! We show practice sessions, Qualifying, and the Grand Prix. We also show sprint shootouts and sprint races.
For practice, sprint and qualifying sessions, you do not require a ticket so simply come along and watch the action unfold on our big screens.
Every Grand Prix will be shown during our ticketed Watch Party events. For tickets and information visit our Watch Party page.
Live commentary will be available for Qualifying and Grand Prix, with subtitles for Practice.
Yes, you can give the gift of racing by purchasing gift cards here.
All gift cards can be used in any of our venues for food, drinks, and racing.
To redeem a gift card, simply go to https://f1arcade.com/uk/redeem-gift and select your preferred venue, date and time. Please ensure you enter your gift card number in the Special Requests box.
We show England Euro and World Cup games in our venues with the sound off unless you book a private space.
Of course if you want to see the sport we're famous for, why not join us for one of our F1 Watch Parties?
Absolutely - there are plenty of ways to enjoy our venue! Whether you’re seeking a beverage at our dazzling champagne cocktail bar, or craving a dish from our exquisite menu, there’s something here for everyone. Our food and drink menus have been crafted to be just as unforgettable as the racing!
Book now and grab a table!
We'd love to celebrate with you at the F1 Arcade! If you are planning to bring decorations please call or email at the venue you've booked and our Guest Relations team will be happy to advise on what decorations you can bring. We do ask that you do not bring anything to put on the walls or our simulators.
Racing at F1 Arcade is a social experience first and foremost and designed to introduce the thrills of F1 sim racing to everyone. As such, solo racing is not available to book online.
We do hold back walk-in slots every day, so if you did want to drop in, enquire with the in-venue team for the next available slot.
Please check your junk folder as it may be hiding there! If not, please pop our team an email at londonbookings@f1arcade.com or birminghambookings@f1arcade.com with the date and time you’ve booked for, and they'll be happy to help.
If your group size reduces or increases from the number you’ve originally booked for, please let us know no later than 48 hours before your booking so we can arrange a refund or send an additional payment link for you. Anything later than 48 hours will not be entitled to a refund.
For more information please check out our booking policy.
EVENTS AND GROUPS
Food at F1 Arcade is designed for sharing – think flat breads, tacos and small plates. You can eat and drink both in the playing areas and bar spaces and our Octane bar boasts a variety of booths, seating areas and tables should you want to dine before or after your race.
We unfortunately can’t offer the ability to bring your own entertainment or band/DJ unless you privately hire a whole venue.
Our venues are always playing great music, and we have our own DJs on select evenings.
Our London venue can host informal meetings and conferences. Check out our meeting packages in London here.
A minimum spend commitment grants you access to one of our event spaces. The area will be just for your group throughout and give you the space and time to really get into the F1 experience, and ensure that everything will be ready in advance, so you can just arrive and enjoy!
You can use your minimum spend to pre-order a selection of packages and anything left over will be turned into a pre-paid bar tab for use on extra food and drinks on the day! For more information please check out our booking policy.
Absolutely! We are the perfect venue to host large events and love hosting full venue buy outs! Please enquire for London and Birmingham to discuss all of your event needs and we will ensure it is a success!
For all large group bookings we require a pre ordered package, this is to ensure that your group has the best possible experience in venue. We are flexible to dietary requirements and happy to swap certain items on this basis. You can order additional food and drink on the day in venue but by pre-ordering our delicious food and drinks packages, you shouldn’t have to!
For events with a minimum spend, we ask for a notice period of 28 days before your booking to cancel the event. Cancellations after this period will not receive a refund. For more information, please view our booking policy.
Of course, you can pre-pay for a bar tab before your arrival (recommended) or set up a tab with a member of the team in venue.
GIFTING
Yes, you can give the gift of racing by purchasing a gift card here.
All gift cards can be used in any of our venues for food, drinks, and racing.
To redeem a gift card, simply go to https://f1arcade.com/uk/redeem-gift and select your preferred venue, date and time. Please ensure you enter your gift card number in the Special Requests box.
If purchasing online, you can select an e-gift card that will be sent via email, or you can get a physical gift card sent in the post.
Racing: book by emailing londonbookings@f1arcade.com or birminghambooking@f1arcade.com with your preferred race date and unique gift card number.
Food & Drink: use your gift card in venue at The Octane Bar.
Watch Party Tickets: email londonbookings@f1arcade.com or birminghambookings@f1arcade.com with the Watch Party you want to attend and your gift card number and the team will help you!
Gift Cards purchased in the UK can be used at either of our UK venues (London or Birmingham).
Book racing at F1 Arcade by emailing londonbookings@f1arcade.com or birminghambookings@f1arcade.com with your preferred race date and unique gift card number.
Gift Cards are valid for 1 year after purchasing.
Yes!
Email londonbookings@f1arcade.com or birminghambookings@f1arcade.com with the Watch Party you want to attend and your gift card number!
Gift Experiences in the UK can be bought here.
These can be used at either F1 Arcade London or F1 Arcade Birmingham
If purchasing online, you can select an e-gift card that will be sent via email, or you can get a physical gift card sent in the post.
Email londonbookings@f1arcade.com or birminghambookings@f1arcade.com with your preferred race date and unique number.
The Race & Refuel package consists of 3 head to head races which is approximately 30 minutes, followed by the food and drink included in your packages.
The Drive and Dine package is Team Racing for 4 people which lasts for approximately 1 hour, followed by food and drink!
RACING EXPERIENCE
Team Racing
Pricing from:
£15.95pp Daytime
£18.95pp Off Peak
£20.95pp Standard
Head to Head
Pricing from:
£15.95pp Daytime
£18.95pp Off Peak
£20.95pp Standard
You eat, you drink, you race and earn rewards. Here are our top tips for how to make the most of your experience.
If you have a booking we ask that you turn up 15 min before your reservation so we can explain how it all works and show you to your sim.
You race in a full-motion simulators and choose what skill level so don’t worry if you have never done it. Before, during or after you can choose incredible food items and seriously good drinks. Stick around after your booking, join us in the bar and enjoy the evening while DJs pump up the volume.
Find out about our race modes here.
Team Racing (for 4+ people) is the ideal race mode to give you the ultimate F1 Arcade experience. Your group will be randomly allocated into teams where you will then compete against each other to see who comes out on top. Best of all, we’ve designed this to be just as appealing to first-timers as seasoned pros. Our bespoke points system and five skill levels get you out on track and competing on a level playing field. Each team has its own simulator so there’s plenty of time to eat, drink, and cheer on your teammates around the track.
For example, in a 12-person booking, you will be split into 4 teams and allocated 1 racing sim per team, so there will be 4 sims in play.
These bookings will last a minimum of 1 hour and increase with group size.
Find out about our race modes here.
Head-to-Head (for up to 3 people) gives you a shorter and more intense driving experience. When it’s just you and a couple of friends, you can jump into your own sim, race 3-5 races against each other back-to-back, then head to the bar to order yourself a well-earned drink!
For Head-to-Head sessions, there are two options available:
3 races which will last approximately 30 minutes.
5 races which will last approximately 45 minutes.
A group of more than 3 guests will be split into teams. A team is the people allotted to a racing sim, representing an F1 constructor, e.g. Mercedes, Haas, Alpine, etc - So, if 16 of you showed up, you would be put into 6 teams of four people each, with each sim getting their own sim against the other teams.
Your booking duration will depend on the game mode you’ve booked and the size of your group.
Team Racing is our longer, more social experience and a booking time will range from 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on the size of your group.
Head to Head will last approximately 30 minutes and is a more intense session for smaller groups.
F1 Arcade is designed for all different abilities with 5 levels available. As you set up the game you’ll select your difficulty level choosing from Rookie, Casual, Semi Pro, Pro or Elite. This ensures everyone can race together, regardless of skill level.
Find out more about the different skill levels.
We recommend starting on Rookie or Casual if you haven't raced before but you can choose a different skill level each race so if you want to go up or down a level, you can.
Don’t worry, you’ll only ever race against those in your booking party.
If you’re a large group, we set you up as teams.
You get more racing time when you are a group and it’s more fun.
You get mixed up as a team, so you compete against each other and there’s a team winner.
You get loads of points for different actions, so everyone is contributing.
This is Social Gaming. So as a larger group you’ll be allocated an event space with a number of sims to race, eat, drink, and socialize.
When split into Teams, you will still get to race in a sim against other teams in your group, the same amount of (approx) four-minute races as the Head-to Head racing, it’s just a much longer booking so everyone has time to race - you’ll alternate with your teammates, race as a team and (hopefully) win as a team.
It is possible. But bear in mind, this game has been designed with you in mind!
When we say that F1 Arcade is Racing for All – by ‘All’ we mean those of you who don’t think they want to race and those of you who are not confident in your racing ability. That’s why we built a whole new game – one that’s super fun and can be enjoyed by newcomers just as much as racing and gaming fans... zero embarrassment factor!
We built this to be accessible for all, and four-minute race in a full motion sim is an intense and thrilling experience, more than enough for almost everyone.
If you are seasoned existing sim racer or race gamer, and you really want a longer session, check out our Head-to-Head game mode for smaller groups and you can select 5 races for 6 minute each.
Each race will be a random track so you can experience a number of iconic F1 tracks, from Suzuka to Silverstone, and test your skills!
There are very short breaks, 1-2mins, in between races for Head to Head bookings.
For Team Racing, you will each take it in turns to race so there is plenty of time between races.
It isn't the official F1 game but our in-house tech team have developed a personalised experience leveraging racing simulation platform rFactor2.
Your lap times and stats will be displayed on screen after you finish your race so you can see how you did but at the moment you cannot download or access these after you leave.
At the moment, we only have 2 race modes, Head to Head and Team Racing but we are in the process of developing our next race mode... coming soon.
The Arcade Hub is the centre of our universe, and it is where you can access your Arcadian balance, find the latest news, access exclusive content and enter prize draws to win huge prizes.
All drivers require an Arcade Hub profile to race.
Arcadians are our in-venue credit system/currency and can be earned when you race in-venue.
You can create a profile for drivers under 13 when you arrive in venue by selecting 'Guardian' and following the steps. You cannot create a kids profile before arriving so we recommend arriving early to get everyone signed in.
FOOD & DRINK
Before you order your food and drinks, please speak to our staff if you have an allergies or intolerances. It is also important to list any dietary requirements on your booking.
Despite efforts to prevent cross-contamination, we do use allergens in our kitchen and any of our dishes may contain traces of allergens.
You can see our menus here.
We’d love you to join us for food and drink at the Octane Bar! There is no need to book a table, simply come along at a time that suits you. We can’t always guarantee a table at super busy times however we have plenty of space to accommodate those who wish to enjoy our venue without racing!
Just to note, you are not permitted to bring in your own food and drink into the venue. If you have any specific allergies/dietary requirements we will do our best to cater to them.
Yes, we have a great range of gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options on our menu. Take a look at our menus.
Some of our food items can be made Halal but unfortunately, we don’t provide Kosher meals although we are happy to work with an external supplier should a guest in your party require a Kosher meal (semi-private & private bookings and events only). Please speak with a member of the team at the initial point of enquiry noting your requirements.
We take our menus seriously and use the best high-quality ingredients. Nothing gets on our menu unless everyone in the team loves it and everything is made fresh in our open kitchens.
There is a range of options, individual mains, perfect sharers and lighter bites.
This is not arcade food – we pride ourselves on our premium selection that will leave you craving more.
Food Packages can be booked in advance to take the stress out of planning and we have Gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options so everybody is catered for.
We have one of the biggest lists of bubbles, so every moment feels like a celebration.
We take cocktails seriously with over 200 different top-quality spirits available, we'll be sure to shake up your event.
We don’t just offer standard spirits; we find unique brands to push flavour boundaries. Premium vintage Champagne cocktails and reimagined classic cocktails make you feel like you are a VIP.
We do! Take a look at our options here.
Yes we do! Take a look at our Kid's Menu.
Not always, but for large groups we would certainly recommend a pre-order to ensure the smooth running of your event. There may be certain times during the week where pre-orders are required to secure a booking.
Of course! You're welcome to pre-order food and drinks up to 48 hours before your visit using the 'Manage your order' link which can be found on your confirmation email. We highly recommend this to ensure the best experience possible and for a seamless delivery.
Confirmation emails are sent out automatically, so please check your junk/ spam folders if you can't find it. If you've already placed an order and would like to change it, just reply to your confirmation email letting us know what you'd like to change & we'll be happy to help.
If you prefer to order on the day, our bar tenders and waiters will be happy to take your order but please note that waiting times vary on peak/off peak days.
We don’t allow any food from outside the venue however our team are happy to help you make your birthday special at no extra charge with a complimentary birthday dessert.
If you’d like to surprise your birthday guest with something extra special, check out our packages here.
Unfortunately not; only food and drinks purchased at F1 Arcade can be consumed in our venues. Don't worry though, we have a menu packed full of vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options, so there's something for everyone!
Please visit our menus page and select the venue you're visiting. Our menus are downloadable for you to view in your own time.
Our standard kitchen opening hours are as follows:
Monday to Wednesday: 12.00pm - 10.00pm
Thursday & Friday: 12pm – 11pm
Saturday: 9am - 11.00pm
Sunday 10am – 10pm
Operating hours may differ during seasonal periods.
We always recommend pre-ordering all food and drinks prior to your arrival – this will ensure you have the best possible experience when in venue. Each simulator has small tables adjacent to them to rest your drinks on but if you require more space for food – a semi-private booking will be the best option for you.
We always advise booking a bar table before/after your booking to enjoy your food and drink pre or post game and to get the most out of your experience.
Yes! Our delicious menu is available all day! Feel free to make a booking or pop into our Octane Bar, and we will do our best to accommodate you!
AGE & HEALTH RESTRICTIONS
London
We welcome all ages until 6pm, but drivers must be 7 years old and over to race on the simulators. After 6pm the venue has a strict 18+ age policy.
Children under the age of 14 need to be supervised by an adult at all times. With a ratio of one adult to every four children.
The game is suitable for children as we have five different difficulty levels suitable for all players.
Birmingham
Our Birmingham venue welcomes under 18s into the venue until 8pm Monday-Sunday, however all under 18s must be accompanied by an adult of at least 21 years. We reserve the right to change our minimum age policy for special events. Management also reserves the right to refuse entry or remove guests from the venue at any time.
From 6PM onwards, we are an over 18's venue, so guests who are lucky enough to look under 25 will be asked to provide a valid photo ID in its original form on arrival as we operate a strict Challenge 25 policy.
Acceptable forms of IDs include valid passports, UK driving licenses or any card with the approved PASS logo. Please note Watch Parties have different hours.
Our London venue has a DDA lift for venue access and DDA WC facilities.
Our Birmingham venue is located on the ground floor and easy to access.
Although the simulators do not accommodate wheelchairs, each simulator has paddles that can be used for accelerating and braking for any guests who may have issues reaching or operating pedals. For any accessibility questions feel free to get in touch support@f1arcade.com.
The racing simulators are designed to simulate a motorsport driving experience using professional grade components that provide full motion movement of the simulator body.
You should avoid racing in our simulator if you have any of the following:
- High blood pressure
- Heart condition
- Undergone recent surgery
- Back or neck conditions (or a history of such conditions)
- Motion sickness
- Pregnancy
If you have been diagnosed with or think you might suffer from epilepsy, please refrain from using the simulators. As part of the activity and at times throughout the venue, there may be flashing lights, images and videos, and may not be suitable for guests with epilepsy or photosensitivity.
Sadly not! Due to the haptic motion system as you take on the twists and turns of the track, the simulator is not recommended for guests who are pregnant.
We do not have any height or weight restrictions.
However your comfort in the simulator is important to us, so if you have any concerns please get in touch with support@f1arcade.com.
You can create a profile for drivers under 13 when you arrive in venue by selecting 'Guardian' and following the steps. You cannot create a kids profile before arriving so we recommend arriving early to get everyone signed in.
There is an emergency stop button below the motion rig.
Driver profiles will be added soon to further customize simulator experience.
To use simulator in play with no motion, the tech team will work to accommodate a guests needs.
PAYMENTS
You can order and pay for food and drinks using the QR codes on the screens & tables, and they’ll be brought directly to your table or simulator. If you’d prefer to order with our team, you can pay using card or contactless. Unfortunately, we do not accept cash.
No, you don’t need to bring it with you. If you order food and drinks in the venue, we’ll ask you to provide a card for payment, but this does not need to be the same card you made the booking with.
Send us an email at bookings@f1arcade.com and please include the value of the bill you need a VAT receipt for, the time/date of your visit and bar tab number/booking reference.
We’re afraid not. We require the deposit and minimum spend to be pre-paid along with any additional items that have been pre-ordered.
We accept all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and Amex.
Get in touch
Whether it’s a question, a request, some praise or a concern, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
