TOCA Social: The Honest Parent Review
If you're wondering whether TOCA Social is a good activity for families with young children, we recently tested it out for ourselves.
We headed to the O2 Arena in London to see whether TOCA Social lives up to the hype - especially with two young children in tow, aged seven and five.
Here’s our honest experience, including pricing, game difficulty, and whether it’s actually worth the money. Watch our full experience below:
@robswan87 Family visit to the football-themed TOCA Social at the O2 Arena in London. Worth the price with young children? Here’s my verdict ⚽️ 🧑🧑🧒🧒 #familydayout #kidsfootball #tocasocial #familyfun #thingstodo ♬ original sound - robswan87
First Impressions: The Arrival Experience
One thing kids absolutely love about visiting the O2 Arena is that it feels like an adventure before the event itself even begins.
The escalators up through the dome, the dramatic tunnel entrance after check-in - it all builds excitement.
Before you even reach your private booth, there are loads of food and drink options, which adds to the ‘big day out’ feel for us parents and kids alike.
For young kids especially, that sense of spectacle matters.
How TOCA Social Works
Once inside your private booth, setup is simple:
Take your player photos
Add your names
Choose your game
Select difficulty (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
Within minutes, you’re playing.
One thing we really liked: each player can choose their own difficulty level. That makes it much more inclusive for mixed ages and abilities.
Is TOCA Social Suitable For Young Children?
This was our biggest question going in.
Our five-year-old was visiting for the first time and isn’t massively into football yet.
Even on Beginner mode, the balls come out fairly quickly, so he needed help at times.
However, we can safely say this: He still absolutely loved it.
Even when he wasn’t scoring, he had fun:
Picking the balls up and throwing them
Watching the rest of us play
Winning a mini tournament (yes, really!)
He went home happy with his pre-purchased medal and said he’d love to come again.
If your child enjoys active games and doesn’t mind a bit of chaos, they’ll likely have a great time.
Best TOCA Social Games for Families
We tried several games, but two stood out:
🧟 Zombie Attack 🧟
A huge hit with the kids. Fast-paced, simple concept, and easy to understand.
🎯 Eliminator 🎯
Perfect for family competition. Also apparently perfect for everyone ganging up on me (fellow dads will be able to empathise!)
There’s enough variety to keep it interesting for adults too - this isn’t just a kids’ activity.
How Much Does TOCA Social Cost?
Now let’s take a closer look at the costs.
We visited early on a Monday in January and booked an Early Bird slot with 25% off.
Here’s what we paid:
£55 for 45 minutes (family of four)
£20 more to extend by an additional 30 minutes
So £75 total for 75 minutes.
Is 45 Minutes Enough?
Like anything where you’re having genuine fun, 45 minutes at TOCA Social absolutely flies by - especially if you’re playing as a family and taking turns.
If your budget allows, adding extra time is worth it.
It’s not cheap - but compared to other London family activities, it’s fairly competitive, especially with discounts.
What Happens After Your Session?
You don’t get rushed out immediately.
There are:
Food and drinks
Leaderboards
Photo opportunities
Merchandise
Big screens showing live football
It feels more like a social venue than just an activity centre.
That makes it more enjoyable for parents too.
Final Verdict: Is TOCA Social Worth It For Families?
Despite the price, this is a genuinely brilliant family activity.
It works especially well if:
Your kids love football
You’re a football-mad parent
You want something active and different from soft play
Would we go back?
100% yes.
Summary
Best for: Football-loving families
Age suitability: 5+ (with some help on Beginner mode)
Value for money: Better with Early Bird discounts
Time recommendation: Book extra time if you can
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TOCA Social suitable for young children?
Yes, although younger children will need help even on Beginner mode.
How much does TOCA Social cost?
Prices vary depending on time and discounts. We paid £55 for 45 minutes with an Early Bird discount.
Is 45 minutes enough at TOCA Social?
It goes quickly - adding extra time is recommended if your budget allows.