Even having visited this European city dozens of times, it is unlikely that you will have noticed the presence of this amusement park. And for good reason: it is underground.
When we talk about amusement parks in Europe, large open-air complexes like Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix, Europa-Park or PortAventura World immediately come to mind. Real connoisseurs will also have heard of Efteling, one of the most visited on the continent despite its low popularity; Alton Towers, considered the most disappointing in the world despite its reputation in the United Kingdom; or Energylandia, the gigantic Polish park for fans of thrills. However, there are still amusement parks that escape the general public.
Because faced with the lack of space in large metropolises, certain leisure infrastructures opt for more atypical locations… particularly in the basement. We are not talking to you here about the small, less frequented parks known only to locals, but about spaces literally hidden from our sight. In one of the most visited capitals in the world, there are no rides dominating the buildings: you have to direct your gaze underground… but you still have to know where to look. Even the most seasoned tourists probably haven’t noticed the presence of this unique amusement park in the basement.
As you stroll through Camden Town, a must-see for any self-respecting visitor to London, it is unlikely that you will have seen it. Discreetly located in a small street behind the neighborhood’s emblematic bridge, at 8 Castlehaven Road, it is almost impossible to spot if you don’t know it. Besides, pno one would have imagined hiding a real roller coaster under the cobblestones of a historic capital… but this is the crazy gamble that Babylon Park has taken on in 2022. This extraordinary complex of around 3 250m2spread over three floors, is not a simple arcade room like many of us already know: we actually find this type of retro games there, as well as typical funfair activities such as bumper cars, but also no less than seven real rides, including a free fall tower and a roller coaster!
On site, the price depends on the time you stay: count for example 35 pounds sterling (or around 40 euros) for two hours with unlimited access to all activities. Still little known to tourists, Babylon Park seems the perfect option for having fun with family or friends… without the famous English weather spoiling the fun. The Babylon Park franchise comes straight from Israel where, conversely, the extreme heat has contributed to popularizing these “indoor” and air-conditioned parks for almost 30 years, without however having taken up the challenge of going underground. And following the success of the London project, the idea was also exported to another city in Europe: Madrid. Spain’s capital welcomed its own, slightly smaller, Babylon Park in spring 2024. Like those installed in the Middle East, it is not underground and is located within the Westfield Parquesur shopping center in the nearby suburbs of Leganés.
If the concept of the indoor amusement park has already proven itself across the world, from the air-conditioned mega-complexes of Dubai to the famous Lotte World in South Korea, the idea of burying it underground remains a real rarity. With the exception of the incredible Salina Turda salt mine in Romania, converted into a leisure park more than 100 meters below the surface, no such project existed in Europe. A feat which proves that the best kept secrets are sometimes found right under our feet!
