The Top 10 UK Bingo Destinations: A Guide to the Best Places to Play

Introduction

The UK bingo scene is still alive and kicking. In all four corners of the country, you’ll find regions that still incorporate bingo into their weekly or even daily schedules. If you’re thinking of embarking on a nationwide tour of the best bingo hotspots, this article has got you covered.

Why Bingo is Popular in the UK

Bingo has cemented itself as a firm favourite in British popular culture. Since it was legalised as a form of gambling in 1960, the UK bingo industry has been thriving. By 1963, the UK had an active base of 14 million players. There are various reasons why bingo games have enjoyed enduring popularity, not least the social element of the games and the simplicity of the action. It’s also increasingly accessible. Today, you can enjoy games at a land-based bingo hall or at any licensed online bingo room.

Overview of the Top 10 Bingo Destinations in the UK

We’ve got our fingers firmly on the pulse of the UK’s towns and cities that still have a passion for bingo. Below, you’ll find our top ten destinations if you’re looking to get your bingo fix during a weekend break.

Birmingham

The people of Birmingham live for bingo, with a host of bingo clubs dotted around this West Midlands city – including two of our own Buzz Bingo halls on Kingsbury Road and in Rubery to the southwest of the city.

Birmingham also benefits from being connected closely to other cities in the West Midlands, including Walsall and Wolverhampton. Birmingham has plenty of great transport links, with a handful of mainline railway stations, and the M5 and M6 motorways for company. Birmingham is a city that offers fun for all the family, with attractions like Cadbury World, the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and the National SEA LIFE Centre.

Plymouth

The port city of Plymouth is in the southwest of Devon. Famed as a naval hub, Plymouth has plenty of attractions along its waterfront. It’s nicknamed ‘Britain’s Ocean City’ for good reason. Bingo plays a key role in the city’s suite of entertainment options, with a Buzz Bingo hall located in the heart of the city on Charles Cross. In fact, it’s the most southwesterly Buzz Bingo hall in the UK.

Charles Cross is a stone’s throw from the picturesque Sutton Harbour, which has plenty of hotels nearby. The city of Plymouth is a haven for historians, with no fewer than 37 ancient monuments around. There’s also the National Marine Aquarium, which is home to over 4,000 underwater creatures.

Weston-Super-Mare

Weston-Super-Mare is a popular seaside resort in the southwest of England. Looking out to the Bristol Channel and the Welsh resort of Barry on the horizon, this is still a quintessentially British destination to have fun all year round. That includes bingo, with a string of leading UK bingo venues on the seafront and within the town centre. There is a Buzz Bingo club in Weston-Super-Mare, situated on the Gallagher Retail Park, just off the A370.

In between bingo sessions, explore the stunning Grand Pier and all of its amenities, offering great-value fun for all the family.

Brighton

Brighton is another popular seaside city that’s also taken bingo to its heart. There is an exceptional choice of bingo venues across the city, including our very own Buzz Bingo club on Freshfield Way, just a stone’s throw from The Lanes and Marine Parade. This makes it possible to weave a bingo session comfortably into your itinerary when enjoying a weekend break in Brighton.

Brighton is just 47 miles south of the English capital and has a wealth of attractions, including an iconic pier, beach and the magnificent Royal Pavilion.

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough has fast become the bingo hotbed of the northeast of England. The Teesside town is a favourite for bingo lovers, with a host of bingo venues and events to choose from. At Buzz Bingo, we launched our own UK bingo venue here on Longlands Road. In fact, within a radius of 30 miles, you’ll find five Buzz Bingo halls within reach of Middlesbrough city centre in towns and cities like Darlington, Sunderland and South Shields.

Middlesbrough is a town that’s easily accessible by road and rail. It’s connected to the A1 via the A66 and A19 and is part of the East Coast mainline rail network too. In terms of attractions, Middlesbrough has a wealth of parks and museums celebrating its heritage, as well as an area of natural wildlife at RSPB Saltholme.

Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh is also home to some exceptional bingo venues, not least our Meadowbank venue within walking distance of the London Road area. Games are available across afternoon and evening sessions, with the Main Event session offering jackpots worth up to £50,000.

It goes without saying that Edinburgh is one of the most picturesque and appealing cities in the UK from a tourist perspective. Its imposing castle, the National Museum of Scotland, the plethora of pubs, bars and restaurants, and even the panoramic views from Arthur’s Seat offer plenty of cultural interest outside of the bingo hall.

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city that’s lost several of its much-loved bingo venues, but we’re pleased to say our Buzz Bingo halls in the area are alive and kicking both at Wavertree and Croxteth. The Wavertree Hall is one of the most accessible UK bingo venues as it sits opposite Edge Hill train station. Meanwhile, the Croxteth Club is located just off the M57 via the A580.

The city of Liverpool is another that’s ripe for a weekend break. This maritime city has undergone immense regeneration in the last couple of decades, with the Royal Albert Dock now one of the heartbeats of the city. Of course, the city is passionate about its football with Liverpool and Everton both residing here, while there is a homage to The Beatles in the band’s home city.

Newcastle

As a city, Newcastle is renowned for its party vibes and bingo venues are just one of many entertainment reasons to head to Tyneside. At Buzz Bingo, we love Newcastle and there is so much demand for our bingo sessions that we operate no fewer than five Buzz Bingo venues within a seven-mile radius of Newcastle city centre. Our Clifford Street and Metro Centre venues are the most popular among locals, but you can also find a Buzz Bingo club to play in Wallsend, Washington and South Shields.

Newcastle is supremely easy to visit for a weekend break with friends or loved ones. You can get the train up the East Coast mainline or even fly into Newcastle airport. The city is just off the A1 too, making it easy for people in the north and border regions to drive and stay. In terms of attractions, head down to the Quayside for some fun, explore Newcastle Castle or walk the Tyne Bridge and soak up the scenery.

London

The English capital needs very little introduction, but London is also one of the UK’s bingo hotspots. In fact, there are five Buzz Bingo clubs to be found within the M25 London Orbital. You can play bingo in Stratford, Surrey Quays, Tooting, Enfield and even Barkingside. London was the birthplace of bingo in the UK, with games staged here since the early 1900s. If it's character you're looking for, our bingo venue in Tooting oozes with old-fashioned charm. It's a Grade I Listed property, brimming with Art Deco features. Originally used as a cinema almost a century ago, it now serves a purpose as a stunning, atmospheric bingo hall in the heart of Wandsworth.

London has always been a popular destination for a weekend break, with plenty to see and do before and after your bingo sessions. You can take a spin on the London Eye or head to the top of The Shard to get the best cityscape views. Alternatively, you can head to the West End to watch a show, soak up the atmosphere of Leicester Square or drink in one of the popular watering holes of Covent Garden.

Leeds

The West Yorkshire city of Leeds has long held a love affair with the game of bingo. Creating a sense of community across the city, the bingo halls of Leeds are still a much-needed source of social interaction and entertainment for many. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in our Buzz Bingo hall in Leeds, located in the Stonebridge Mills area, southwest of the city centre.

Leeds is one of the most accessible cities in the north by road, with the M1, A1(M) and M62 in the vicinity. The city is also on the mainline rail network, with the ability to travel to Leeds from London with zero changes necessary. In terms of attractions, Leeds has plenty of things to do before and after a bingo session, with beautiful parks like Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam to explore in the sunshine, historic sites like Kirkstall Abbey and Trinity Leeds, and the Corn Exchange for retail and dining opportunities.