Top 11 Fun Things To Do In North London With Your Friends In 2026
Quick summary
- For an easy start with your mates: pick up coffee at Pret, Smatcha or Macchiato Bar at Brent Cross, and follow it with a slow wander through Florescenza Garden Centre.
- For competitive groups who want to play: Race your friends on electric go-kart tracks and hit the bowling lanes at TeamSport, solve puzzles in Game Over's themed escape rooms, ducking into Lost City of Atlantis or Alice in Wonderland for a proper challenge.
- For shoppers and foodies in the group: pick up something polished from Fenwick, Reiss, Phase Eight or Space NK, refuel at District, The Pizza Authority, Shake Shack, Marugame Udon, SushiDog or Chaiiwala, then round things off browsing MINISO, Anthropologie, M&S, The White Company, JD Sports and Foot Locker.
- For fresh-air friends who like to wander: roam Highgate Wood, soak up the city views at Waterlow Park, stretch out on the Kenwood House grounds, or take a stroll along Parkland Walk.
Looking for fun things to do in North London with your friends but tired of the same old routines?
We have pulled together 11 of the best things to do in North London with friends, covering everything from indoor thrills at Brent Cross to some of the area's most beautiful outdoor spaces:
Kick the day off with coffee at Brent Cross
Before the group properly tackles the day, Brent Cross has three different coffee corners worth choosing between, depending on whether your gang wants quick, playful, or properly Italian.
Pret a Manger
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP
Pret a Manger is the predictable, reliable starter for a group, with organic coffee, fresh pastries, breakfast pots and hot wraps stocked behind the counter.
The big pitch of Pret is that everything’s made fresh throughout the day, which means that you can grab both a cappuccino and a fresh sandwich.
Smatcha
Location: Inside District, Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP
Smatcha brings something a bit different to the morning routine, with creamy matcha lattes, yuzu spritzers and Japanese-inspired drinks served alongside lighter snacks.
It's a softer wake-up if anyone in the group isn't a coffee drinker, and it photographs well, too.
Macchiato Bar
Location: Prince Charles Drive, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP
Macchiato Bar pours Tonino Lamborghini Italian coffee with espresso, cappuccino and biscotti served by baristas.
Worth the move for anyone in the group who wants the proper Italian espresso experience first thing.
Race your mates and roll some strikes at TeamSport
Location: Level 4 of the Red Car Park, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London NW4 3FP.
TeamSport Indoor Go Karting and Bowling at Brent Cross is one of the most action-packed ways to spend a day with friends in North London.
The venue features electric indoor go kart racing across three tracks, so whether your group are seasoned racers or complete beginners, there is a track to match your speed.
Once you have had your fill of the track, you and your buddies can head to the eight ten-pin bowling lanes for another round of friendly competition.
Beyond karting and bowling, TeamSport also has arcade games, pool tables, and live sports on screen, so there is always something else to move on to.
The on-site bar and food options mean your group can refuel and unwind without needing to leave the building.
Book your spot in TeamSport Indoor Go Karting and Bowling at Brent Cross here.
Wander through Florescenza Garden Centre
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3BR
Florescenza is an unexpectedly calm pocket of greenery sitting right next to Brent Cross.
The space combines a working garden centre with a flower shop, so your group can plant-browse and pick up a bouquet.
House plants, seasonal flowers, and floral design ideas are all stocked if anyone in the group fancies taking something home.
And don’t worry if you fancy a plant that is too large: home delivery is available too.
➡️ Local tip: Visit on a weekday morning when the place is quieter, and the natural light through the glasshouse roof is at its best.
Crack the codes at Game Over's escape rooms
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3RW.
Game Over inside Brent Cross runs a proper line-up of themed escape rooms that work brilliantly for a group of friends who enjoy a challenge.
The set-up is simple: your group is shut inside a themed space, the clock starts, and you have to piece together clues, locks, and hidden messages to get out before time runs out.
Two stand-outs are Lost City of Atlantis (Adventure), which leans into submerged ruins and ocean mystery, and Alice in Wonderland (Fantasy), which goes full down-the-rabbit-hole with surreal puzzles and shifting scale.
Both rooms have enough easy wins to draw newcomers in, while still throwing in trickier moments for groups who have done a few escape rooms before.
Walk-ins are accepted when there is space, although booking ahead locks in the exact theme you want.
Pick up something polished at Brent Cross
When the group's in the mood to elevate the day with a proper shop, Brent Cross brings four polished names together within a few minutes' walk.
Fenwick
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Fenwick is one of the centre's flagship department stores, spanning 3 floors with a curated mix of designer fashion, beauty, gifting and homeware products.
You can also book a personal shopping session with one of Fenwick’s expert stylists or drop in for beauty advice.
Reiss
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Reiss leans into elevated everyday pieces, with sharp tailoring, tonal knitwear, and outerwear that pulls a polished look together for both men and women.
A solid shout for friends after a wardrobe lift that lands somewhere between high street and designer.
Phase Eight
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Phase Eight covers wedding outfits, occasion dresses, and everyday pieces with a bit more polish, with sizes from 8 to 26 plus petite fits across the collections.
The dress section is the strongest pull, with cut-flattering pieces sitting alongside accessories that finish a full outfit for any sort of event.
Space NK
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Space NK gathers niche and established beauty brands into one boutique, covering everything from fragrance and make-up through to the latest skincare drops your group's been seeing on TikTok.
The dedicated beauty room hosts personal consultations and seasonal masterclasses, which turn a quick stop into more of an experience than a counter browse.
6Refuel with flavours from across the world at Brent Cross
When the group needs a proper sit-down break, Brent Cross packs a serious amount of variety into one trip.
District
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, opposite M&S.
District is Brent Cross's street food destination, where each member of the group can pick from a different stall and meet back at the table to share.
Pasta Remoli's hand-rolled pasta and Roman-style pizza sit alongside Yaay Yaay's punchy Kaprow chicken, Smoky Boys' towering burgers, and Three Uncles' bao buns and Cantonese roasts.
The Pizza Authority
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3FP
The Pizza Authority sends out Naples-style sourdough pizzas with a long topping list that's worth arguing over before you order.
Calzones and a vegan-friendly base mean most groups can land on something everyone at the table will eat.
Shake Shack
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP
Shake Shack covers the American comfort-food side, with smashed-style burgers, crinkle-cut fries, hot dogs, and milkshakes you can choose yourself.
Reliable, fast, and exactly what most groups want around mid-afternoon.
Marugame Udon
Location: Unit S2, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, NW4 3FB.
Marugame Udon hand-rolls its noodles in the kitchen each day, with udon and rice bowls served alongside a tempura counter you queue past on the way to the till.
Watching the chefs at work while you wait is half the fun, and the portions punch above their price.
SushiDog
Location: Prince Charles Dr, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
SushiDog builds rolls, bowls, and salads to your choice at the counter, which suits anyone in the group after something fresh and quick mid-shop.
Watching the staff put your order together on the spot turns the lunch break into a small piece of theatre.
Chaiiwala
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FY.
Chaiiwala leans into Indian café culture with masala chai, hot breakfasts, and street-food classics from a casual counter setup.
A good shout if your group wants something with a bit more spice and personality than your standard food court.
Round out the day at Brent Cross's standout shops
After lunch, the rest of the centre opens up with shops that span everything from viral lifestyle picks to sneaker exclusives.
MINISO
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP
MINISO is a magnet for groups who like browsing, with its rotating mix of viral character collabs, plush toys, stationery, and gifts you didn't know you needed.
Prices are friendly, which makes it easy for the whole group to leave with a small haul.
Anthropologie
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Anthropologie tilts towards the dreamy and curated, with fashion, candles, and homeware pieces that often end up on group photo dumps.
Friends who like a slow browse tend to get lost in the home section, where the smaller decor pieces are particularly easy to walk out with.
Marks and Spencer
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Marks and Spencer covers the steady essentials, from food hall picks to wardrobe staples that everyone in the group ends up dipping into for one reason or another.
The food hall alone is worth a spin for snacks to take home or to graze on between activities.
The White Company
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
The White Company carries a softer territory, where bed linen, fragrance, and classic pieces in calm tones make for easy gifting between friends.
Also, the place to pick up a candle that won't smell like every other one on the high street.
JD Sports
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
JD Sports is the centre's go-to for trainer drops from Nike, adidas, New Balance, and the rest of the rotating sneaker pack, with streetwear racks running through men's, women's, and kids'.
Foot Locker
Location: Unit 7A, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, NW4 3FN.
Foot Locker primarily focuses on trainers and sports footwear, with its Hall of Fame display highlighting the most influential silhouettes from across sneaker history.
Roam the trails of Highgate Wood
Location: Muswell Hill Road, London N10 3JN.
Highgate Wood spans 70 acres of ancient woodland in North London, sitting between East Finchley, Highgate, and Muswell Hill, and is one of the easiest natural escapes to share with a group.
Signposted paths weave through oaks, hornbeams, and dozens of other tree varieties, with foxes, woodpeckers, and the odd muntjac sometimes crossing your line of sight.
There's an information hut and a well-equipped playground at the centre of the wood, both useful regroup points if your group decides to wander off in different directions.
Cycling isn't allowed inside the woods to protect the ancient ground, but walking, jogging, and slow ambling are exactly what the place is built for.
Late spring brings out bluebell patches in the northeast corner, which are worth timing a visit around if your group enjoys a proper photo moment.
Soak up the views at Waterlow Park
Location: Highgate Hill, London N6.
Waterlow Park is a 26-acre green hillside in Highgate, originally given to the public as a "garden for the gardenless" and still very much living up to that brief today.
The park has three spring-fed ponds, mature trees, and sweeping views over central London, all best enjoyed at a leisurely group pace.
Lauderdale House sits on the edge of the grounds and runs a rotating arts programme, with formal gardens around it that suit a slower wander.
Tennis courts, two playgrounds, and well-marked paths at varying difficulty levels mean it works for energetic groups and chilled-out ones alike.
Bring a picnic if the weather is on side, since the slopes facing south-east are made for sprawling out across.
Stretch out across the Kenwood House grounds
Location: Hampstead Lane, London NW3 7JR.
The Kenwood House grounds wrap around 112 acres on the northern edge of Hampstead Heath, and the parkland alone is reason enough to bring a group along for the day.
Entry to the grounds is completely free, so the whole group can spend a full afternoon there without budgeting for tickets.
In summer, the front lawns host an outdoor concerts season that has been running since the post-war years, which can turn a casual group outing into a proper event.
The grounds are made for picnics, and bringing a frisbee or kite is one of the easiest ways to fill a long, sunny afternoon together.
Take a stroll along Parkland Walk
Location: Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, London.
Parkland Walk holds the title of London's longest linear nature reserve, tracing a former railway line that once linked Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace via Crouch End, Highgate, and Muswell Hill.
The full route runs around four and a half miles, passing through cuttings, viaducts, and short tunnels, with embankments slightly raised above the surrounding streets.
The path is mostly traffic-free, which makes it ideal for a chatty group strolling at a relaxed pace, and it's just as popular with runners and dog walkers.
Wildflowers, foxes, and different plant species live along the corridor, while the graffiti-covered walls add a London twist that you won't find on most nature trails.
Capital Ring waymarkers run alongside parts of the path too, so groups exploring the wider walking network can chain it into a longer loop.
Plan a top day in North London with your friends from Brent Cross
Whether you are after indoor thrills, a sit-down meal, or something sweet to round off the day, Brent Cross Shopping Centre has plenty to keep your group entertained in a stress-free setting.
You can plan your visit to Brent Cross here to see all the ways to get to us by car, taxi, train, bus, or bike.
Parking in our multi-storey car park is completely free, so groups arriving by car don't have to worry about feeding meters between activities, and EV drivers are also covered through RAW Charging's points on site.
