Take yourself back to the 80s, when neon headbands and disco balls were all the rage, as you try and dance to Agadoo on wheels with this choice of London’s best roller discos.
Words by John Rogers
Hark back to the era when questionable fashion was the order of the day as you roll your way around some of the best rinks London offers while vibing to the grooviest sounds around.
Whether you’re looking to spend a family afternoon in the rink or are ready for an all-out party at an over-18’s event, London’s got some of the coolest roller disco offerings.
Get your skates on – it’s time to party.
Best Roller Discos in London
Flippers
Located outside West London’s enormous shopping mall at Westfield, Flippers is West London’s premier skating rink that transforms three days a week after dark into a rip-roaring roller rave site.
Opened in November 2022, this West London site joins its sister venture in New York City to provide skaters and music fans with the best roller disco experience.
A self-styled “Roller Boogie Palace,” Flippers combines food, music, and a roller rink in one location over two floors in a disused power station.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights see Flippers open until the small hours as the best in London DJs and live music acts provide the banging soundtrack for skaters to get their vibe on without a care in the world.
Skating Haven
Newham
Skating Haven is a roller disco that offers a heavenly skating experience to people of all ages and all abilities. The Leisure Centre will supply you with skates, helmets and pads before being taken off to skating boot camp to earn your wings (or wheels!).
Once you’re steady on your skates, it’s off to dance.
Skating Haven holds regular 18+ flashback nights with their in-house DJs, where adults get a mix of the best 70s, 80s, old skool RnB, Soul and reggae beats while making use of a fully licensed bar and hot food options.
Meanwhile, families can fill their empty Sunday afternoons with their family-friendly Roller Disco skating fun between 1 and 3 pm every week. A mix of 70s and 80s disco, fused with pop and even a dash of funky house makes this the ideal way to spend an afternoon with the kids.
Roller Nation
Tottenham
Now in new premises in North London, Roller Nation began life in Vauxhall, across the river, quickly becoming one of London’s best-known skating nightclubs and private party venues.
Rollernation offers skaters and music fans various nights depending on what feeds their musical soul. There’s something for everyone from Classic Disco nights to Roller Boogie, from Rollout’s Sunday night urban music-fest to Thursday nights’ mellow Soul Skate sessions.
As well as the adult-only nights, Rollernation caters to families with its Saturday afternoon Family Jam sessions and Sunday afternoon Open Age skating. With food, drink and a garden area to soak up good weather, we think you’ll love Rollernation’s eclectic mix.
Play Tone
Southwark, Bruce Grove
A combination of skating, tuition, fitness, music and even hula-hooping is available from PlayTone.
While the focus of Play Tone’s offering is mainly around exercise and fitness, the music-influenced sessions are infused with disco fever, making them some of the most fun you can have on eight wheels.
As well as their regular sessions, which run in South and North London, Play Tone also runs regular pop-up Roller Discos that fuse fun, frolics and disco beats. They run sessions for private parties and appear at events and festivals, so keep an eye on their website for details of where you can catch them.
However, if you’re just looking for enjoyable roller dance classes set to the grooviest beats imaginable, Play Tone is the place for you.
Practical Tips for Exploring the Best Roller Discos in London
- If you have your own skates, check with the venue before bringing them along. Some venues allow you to bring your own wheels, and others require you to hire their equipment.
- If you do bring your own skates, ensure they include safety stops to stop you from careering into the barrier perimeter or, more dangerously, other skaters!
- While roller skating is fun, it’s also full of potential for bumps and bruises. Ensure you always wear helmets and knee and elbow pads to protect yourself from too much pain the following day.
- We hate to sound like your grandma, but listen to any safety briefings in full before you get started. These will minimise the danger and maximise the fun of your roller disco experience.
