New London venue to put couples’ relationships to the test this Valentine’s

A new venue, which originated in North America and has just had its European launch at The O2, looks set to be the perfect place for couples who like to play games to spend Valentine’s Day 2025.

Activate is inviting loved-up couples to experience a Valentine’s Day with a difference and unleash their competitive side and jump, climb, crawl, run and problem-solve their way through this tech-led active, group gaming attraction.

Activate will really put couples’ relationships to the test with 12 real-time interactive game rooms that promise to deliver a high-energy, adrenaline-fuelled adventure with nine games to complete including Strike, Portals, Control, Press, Hide, Laser, Grid, Mega Grid and Hoops.

Each competitive activity takes around 1-3 minutes to complete, and each member of a couple is given an electronic wristband that tracks their progress so they can rack up points, advance through the levels and win a range of Activate-branded gear, as they become more skilful and build up their points, and gain the reputation as the best.

For couples feeling extra competitive, they can challenge other couples in their friendship groups to “Activate” the Valentine’s Day challenge! What’s not to love about this unique Valentine’s experience?

The whole Activate experience lasts an hour and once couples have completed the challenge, they can check out some of the bars and restaurants in The O2 to find out if they truly are a gaming match made in heaven.

Games include Hide, for example, is a reimagined game of hide and seek, where a team must race around the room to complete sequences. But there are four glowing eyes watching the team’s every move, waiting for a misstep so they must make sure to use the pillars to conceal themselves as they complete each level sight unseen. The key to success with this activity is communication, strategy and speed.

Trench is Activate’s take on tactical laser tag, minus the bulky vest and human targets. Trench is a triple-threat treat, featuring a laser maze, glowing targets, and beam blasters. Groups have to accurately shoot targets on the opposite wall then quickly army crawl through the laser beams below to victory. Speed, precision and agility are the keys to success with Trench.

Meanwhile, Mega Grid offers more than 500 touch-sensitive LED floor tiles and light-up wall buttons that require a combination of speed, hand-eye coordination and communication. As the floor tiles come to life, the objective is to step on or avoid certain ones to complete the level. The keys to success with Mega Grid are fancy hand and foot work, agility and multi-tasking.

Activate covers 10,000 sq ft on the upper level of The O2, a stone’s throw away from Outlet Shopping at The O2, and popular attractions such as Mamma Mia! The Party. It is being brought to the UK by We Do Play, leading experiential leisure group and the company that launched the hugely successful entertainment experiences, including Flip Out indoor adventure parks and Putt Putt Social and founded the Boom Battle Bar brand.

Prices are £22.50 per person off peak and £27.50 per person peak for 60-minute sessions with groups between two and five people.

https://playactivate.co.uk/activate-at-the-o2