Once best known for the BBC and a massive shopping centre, White City has quietly transformed into one of West London’s most social neighbourhoods. Whether you’re arranging a catch-up after work, a Saturday packed with plans, or a spontaneous evening out, this area has more going on than most people realise. From laid-back rooftops to live gigs, from rollerskating discos to proper pubs, there’s something here for every kind of friendship group.

The beauty of White City lies in its walkability. Venues sit just minutes apart, meaning you can drift from one spot to another without the usual London hassle. You can begin with a pint, move on to a live DJ, and end up somewhere you didn’t plan – all without leaving the neighbourhood. That flexibility makes it ideal for groups: there’s no need to over-plan, just show up and go where the night takes you.

This guide brings together nine brilliant things to do in White City with friends. From energetic evenings to slow Sundays, it’s got ideas for every kind of outing. Moonshot Social kicks things off, and the rest of the venues have been carefully chosen to complement its vibe without duplicating it. All are social, group-friendly, and worth the visit.

1. Moonshot Social – Big Hits, Bigger Laughs

Kick off your plans with something genuinely different. Moonshot Social, tucked inside Westfield, offers interactive batting cages, American pool tables, hot dogs, cocktails, and music – all in one stylish venue built for groups. Whether you’re celebrating, reconnecting or just after a fun evening out, it’s designed to keep things lively without overcomplicating the experience.

You and your mates can take turns swinging at digital cricket balls inside private bays, with pace options to suit everyone from beginners to borderline pros. The screens track scores, the vibe stays upbeat, and it all feels effortlessly competitive in the best way. In between, there are pool tables, plush booths, and a bar pouring drinks from craft beers to bourbon-led cocktails.

Food’s no afterthought either – expect loaded nachos, New York-style hot dogs, and sharing bites ideal for groups. There’s no dress code, no pressure to be sporty, and absolutely no chance you’ll run out of things to talk (or laugh) about.

For memorable, active things to do in White City with friends, Moonshot Social is a standout. It’s easy to get to, easy to book, and impossible not to enjoy – especially if you like your nights out with a side of chaos and competition.

2. The Broadcaster – Rooftop Drinks Without the Fuss

If you’re after a more relaxed setting, The Broadcaster delivers the perfect blend of comfort and cool. Located at the entrance to Television Centre, this modern British pub is great for groups looking to catch up over quality food and drinks without sacrificing atmosphere. The rooftop terrace is the highlight – cosy, informal, and ideal for watching the sun dip behind White City’s skyline.

Downstairs, the pub offers a classic setting with warm wood, leather banquettes, and a friendly, unpretentious buzz. Upstairs is brighter and more open, often filled with casual diners, date nights, and mates just passing through. But it’s the rooftop that steals the show. It’s fully heated in winter, breezy in summer, and always popular – so book ahead if you want a spot up top.

The drinks list leans local, with rotating craft ales, proper cocktails and a decent wine list. Food covers all bases: you’ll find crispy pork belly, mac and cheese, fish finger butties, and a Sunday roast that’s one of the better ones in the area. There’s enough variety to suit fussy eaters and enough flavour to keep foodies happy.

Among the more chilled things to do in White City with friends, The Broadcaster is an easy win. It’s got style, substance, and just enough buzz to feel like a plan – even if you only wandered in for “just one drink”.

3. Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace – Skates, Lights, and Laughs

For something totally unexpected, grab your mates and head to Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace. Located in Westfield, this nostalgic roller rink is part disco, part workout, and all fun. With pulsing lights, a cracking soundtrack, and just the right amount of chaos, it’s the kind of group outing that brings everyone together – even the friend who “doesn’t do skating”.

Skates are available on-site (just remember socks), and the team are more than happy to give beginners a hand. Whether you’re gliding round like it’s second nature or clinging to the rails, the atmosphere stays friendly and upbeat. On Friday and Saturday evenings, DJs spin disco, funk and 90s anthems while skaters cruise past with questionable style and plenty of enthusiasm.

Off the rink, you’ll find a retro-inspired diner serving up burgers, fries and milkshakes, along with a licensed bar if you fancy something stronger. It’s great value, well-run, and always buzzing – especially once the neon lights kick in and the music goes up a notch.

Of all the things to do in White City with friends, Flipper’s is the one that gets everyone moving. It’s silly, social, and leaves you with aching legs and stories to tell. And honestly, what more could you want from a night out?

4. Vue Cinema Westfield – Big Screens and Bigger Catch-Ups

There’s something classic – and underrated – about heading to the cinema with friends. Whether you’re catching the latest blockbuster, rewatching a favourite on the big screen, or just looking for something low-effort and enjoyable, Vue Cinema Westfield hits the mark. With massive screens, comfy recliners and Dolby surround sound, it’s a genuinely good cinema experience – and right in the heart of White City.

The best part? It doesn’t need to be the main event. Vue is ideal for wrapping around other plans: start with dinner, finish with a film, or make it the mellow bit in the middle of a busy day. They regularly run discounted screenings, especially in the mornings or early afternoons, and their “Big Screen Events” include everything from National Theatre plays to concert films and sporting finals – great for groups with varied tastes.

There’s plenty of space to lounge in the foyer, grab snacks, and chat beforehand. Plus, being located inside Westfield means you’ve got endless food and drink options either side of the screening. It’s easy, central, and suits a wide range of friendship group vibes – from your film buff mate to the one who just wants pick ’n’ mix and a good laugh.

For low-key, affordable things to do in White City with friends, Vue Cinema is hard to beat. No pressure, no awkward small talk – just a solid film, good seats, and time well spent together, with options for whatever the weather throws at you.

5. W12 Studios – Music, Food, and Laid-Back Vibes

If your group prefers grazing and chatting over battling it out in games, W12 Studios is just the thing. This ever-evolving food, drink and music space near White City Place offers rotating street food vendors, live DJs, and a relaxed industrial-style setting perfect for weekend hangs or after-work unwinds. It’s casual, cool, and full of flavour – both literally and figuratively.

The venue itself is part warehouse, part communal living room. Long tables and benches make it easy for large groups to sit together, while atmospheric lighting and soft background beats set a mellow tone. At the weekends, things ramp up with DJs and live performers, but it never feels overwhelming or clubby – just buzzy and fun.

Food is always changing, with pop-up kitchens rotating regularly. You might find bao buns one week, tacos the next, and something entirely unexpected after that. Drinks cover a wide range too – from craft lagers and natural wines to frozen margaritas and non-alcoholic specials that don’t feel like an afterthought.

It’s also dog-friendly, which means even the four-legged member of your gang can join in. And because it’s slightly off the main Westfield drag, it rarely gets too packed – making it a proper local gem.

Among the more chilled but social things to do in White City with friends, W12 Studios lets you dip in and out as you like. Stay for an hour or make a night of it – either way, you’ll eat well and leave with a smile.

6. Bush Hall – Gigs, Glimmers and a Bit of Grit

Sometimes, the best nights out with friends aren’t flashy – they’re atmospheric, intimate, and all about the music. Bush Hall, located just a short walk from White City, ticks all those boxes. This restored Edwardian dance hall is one of West London’s best-loved small venues, hosting live music, spoken word, comedy nights and even the odd secret gig from big names.

Step inside, and you’ll find chandeliers, velvet drapes, and that slightly faded charm only old music venues have. It’s not about VIP sections or fancy bars – it’s about shared moments, strong acoustics, and that buzz when the lights dim before a band steps on stage. If you and your mates enjoy discovering new artists or catching stripped-back sets in a venue with actual soul, Bush Hall’s the one.

There’s a fully licensed bar serving drinks at surprisingly reasonable prices, and gigs tend to wrap up at a sensible hour – meaning it’s ideal for groups who want a proper night out without the 3am finish. You can always tack on a meal before or a pint afterwards at a nearby pub.

Whether you’re into indie, folk, soul, or something a bit weirder, the gig listings are always worth a look. And because the space is relatively small, you’re never more than a few metres from the action.

For music-loving groups seeking cultural things to do in White City with friends, Bush Hall brings the perfect mix of grit, charm and great sound – without the faff or the queues.

7. Exhibition London – Big Nights and Serious Sound

If you’re after something with a bit more scale and spectacle, Exhibition London delivers. Set in a Grade II-listed former engine house right behind Westfield, it’s one of the area’s most exciting live event spaces. While Bush Hall is intimate and atmospheric, Exhibition is built for big nights — major gigs, high-energy club events, and cultural showcases that pack the place out.

Inside, you’ll find soaring ceilings, impressive lighting rigs, and a crowd that knows how to have a good time. It’s not open daily like a pub or café — this is an event venue, so check listings in advance. Artists across all genres perform here, from chart-toppers to international DJs, plus special events like fashion shows and immersive art installations.

There’s a bar on-site (prices are fair for London), and the space is well run — no endlessly long queues, no confusing layout, just proper crowd flow and a big room feel. For groups who want a night out that feels like something special, it hits the mark.

Among the louder, livelier things to do in White City with friends, Exhibition brings festival energy without the mud. You’ll want to plan ahead for tickets, but once you’re in, it’s the kind of shared experience that bonds you — especially when the bass drops.

8. Pergola on the Roof – Food, Cocktails and Open-Air Buzz

Nothing beats good weather, shared food, and a great rooftop view — and Pergola on the Roof ties them all together beautifully. Perched above the old BBC Television Centre, it offers a lively, open-air setting filled with long communal tables, fairy lights, and rotating food vendors serving everything from tacos to bao buns. It’s casual, colourful, and made for groups.

This isn’t the kind of rooftop where you stand awkwardly with overpriced cocktails and nowhere to sit. Here, you book a table, order your food from one of the stalls, and settle in with a jug of something cold while music fills the air. It’s a sociable space where strangers become tablemates and your group can comfortably spend hours without pressure.

The drinks menu is packed with crowd-pleasers: pitchers, frozen cocktails, craft beer and soft drinks that aren’t just an afterthought. Weekends bring DJs and a slightly livelier crowd, but it never crosses into rowdy territory. You can turn up in trainers or heels, in the middle of a sunny Saturday or for after-work dinner and drinks.

For summery, sociable things to do in White City with friends, Pergola nails the brief. It’s festive without being try-hard, stylish without being pretentious, and somehow always delivers good vibes — whether you stay an hour or shut the place down.

9. The Eagle – Pub Nights Done Properly

Not every hangout needs to involve music, lights and Instagram moments. Sometimes, all you want is a proper pub — and The Eagle in Askew Road (a short stroll from White City) does it brilliantly. It’s got character, cold pints, comforting food and a garden that makes you feel like you’re miles from London, even when you’re just off the Uxbridge Road.

Inside, it’s everything a good pub should be: warm lighting, mismatched furniture, and a steady hum of background conversation. There are board games behind the bar, roasts on Sundays, and a selection of ales and craft brews that keeps even the picky drinkers happy. The bar staff know their stuff, the tunes are well-chosen, and the pub quiz night gets properly competitive.

But it’s the beer garden that really makes this place shine for group meetups. Spacious, leafy, and lined with long wooden benches, it’s ideal for those relaxed evenings that start with “just one” and end a few rounds later with the whole table laughing over something daft. There’s even shelter and heaters, so it works rain or shine.

If you’re looking for unfussy, genuinely welcoming things to do in White City with friends, The Eagle offers everything you need. It’s not trendy, it’s not themed — and that’s exactly why it works.

Conclusion: Why There Are More Things to Do in White City with Friends Than You Might Expect

White City might not be the first place that comes to mind for a social day or night out — but that’s exactly why it works. With less of the crowds you’ll find in Shoreditch or Soho, it gives you space to actually enjoy time with your friends. And the venues? Varied, welcoming, and brilliantly balanced.

From Moonshot Social’s competitive fun to The Broadcaster’s rooftop charm, from rollerskating chaos to candlelit gigs, there’s genuinely something for every kind of group. You don’t have to agree on one activity — you can mix and match, dip in and out, and still stay within walking distance. Whether you’re planning weeks in advance or pulling something together last minute, White City gives you the tools to build a brilliant day without the usual faff.

Each of these venues complements the others without competing — so if you start with pool and cocktails, you can end with street food and sunset drinks, or swap the plan entirely and head to a gig. That flexibility is what makes it such an underrated gem.

So if you’re scrolling WhatsApp wondering where to meet, skip the same-old options and head west instead. There are more than enough things to do in White City with friends to fill your calendar — and once you’ve had a proper outing here, you’ll be coming back for the next one too.