Sometimes, something comes along that seems so totally and utterly bonkers that you just have to be grateful that you’re alive at a time that you get to either witness it or take part in it. Maybe it’s the likes of the moon landing, or perhaps the invention of the Premier League.
For those of you either living in or visiting London, it might well be the presence of Tokyo Karts London. It isn’t a permanent fixture, although it may become one if it’s successful enough, but it is something that promises to entertain and amuse in equal measure for all those who are able to get along and see it.
Tokyo Karts
Tokyo Karts London is brought to you by the people who, you probably won’t be all that shocked to hear, created Tokyo Karts. It promises a ‘real-life adventure like no other’, which is true from the moment that you get involved with taking part. The first thing that you need to do to be included in the Tokyo Karts experience in a general sense is to register your interest. From there, if you’re lucky enough to book on, you will be notified about the meeting point for the race 48 hours before it’s due to get underway, which is all part of the thrill of taking part in one of their events.
As you might well have worked out from the name, this is a go-karting session that takes place on a course, with a maximum of 20 karts in play for any given race period. The course that each race takes place on is closed to regular traffic and fully contained, but sometimes it will be a course that is specifically laid out for go-karts and sometimes it will be an area that has had to be closed off for the event. There are always safety marshals in place in order to ensure your safety and security, meaning that it is an experience that all of the participants get to enjoy when they take part.
What the London Version Is All About
From the 18th of October 2025 until the 21st of March 2026, Tokyo Karts is hosting its Tokyo-style go-karting experience in the English capital. It is the first time ever that the iconic experience will be in London, promising the chance to get involved in one of the must-do events of the year. As with the general Tokyo Karts races, you will only find out where it is that you need to head to 48 hours before the racing is due to begin, with 20 places in each race available to those that wish to be part of the action. The minimum age to take part in the racing is 12-years-old.
You will need to secure your spot in advance, given the fact that there are limited places and they will fill up quickly. If this is something that you want to do then make sure that you do what you can in order to ensure that you’re snagged yourself a space in one of the races. The fact that the karts cannot operate alongside regular vehicles is why the races take place on a closed circuit. You can make the entire experience more fun for yourself, as well as looking Instagram ready, by dressing up as your favourite characters from video games or anime, with costume rental being free.
Who Is It For?
The fact that the Tokyo Kart experience is for those aged 12 and over tells you that this isn’t something for children. The good news is that it also means that you don’t need to have a driving licence in order to take part. Instead, those that don’t have a driving licence, whether because you’re too young or you haven’t passed your test, will be given a go-kart that has its speed limited to 20 kilometres per hour. If you have a licence, however, you will find that you can take part in the event in a kart that goes up to 40 kilometres per hour, making it a genuinely adrenaline-filled experience.
There is a maximum weight limit for those that can use the karts, coming in at 300 pounds or 136 kilograms. That works out at about 21.4 stone, if you’re the sort of person who tends to work in old money. As well as being able to hire a costume for free, you can also enjoy complimentary photos of your experience in the go-karts. That means that the price that you pay to take part will pretty much be the price that you pay, unless you choose to get involved with any other souvenir aspects of the event once you have arrived at the venue and discovered what it is that’s on offer.