London hosts some of the UK’s biggest poker tournaments throughout the year. Major events like Victoria Deepstack and Hippodrome Lightning attract players from all over Europe with prize pools reaching six figures.
Poker in London offers something for everyone, from small daily games to high-stakes championship events. Most tournaments run at famous venues like The Hippodrome and Victoria Casino, creating an exciting atmosphere.
This article explains London’s seven best poker tournaments, top playing venues, and essential tips to help you.
7 Best Poker Tournaments In London
London’s poker tournament calendar features world-class events offering a wide range of buy-in levels and massive guaranteed prizes for all types of players.
Here are 7 poker tournaments in London, each bringing unique features and prize structures.
| Tournament | Club Name | Dates | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Deepstack | Grosvenor Victoria Casino | 27–31 Aug 2025 | £300 + £40 |
| Hippodrome Lightning Tournament (Aug) | Hippodrome Casino | 5 Aug 2025 | £1,000 + £100 |
| BPS Carnival London | Genting (Aspers) Casino | 13–17 Aug 2025 | £260 + £40 |
| Women’s Summer Festival | The Clermont London (Hippodrome) | 12–17 Aug 2025 | £400 Main / £1,100 HR |
| 888poker LIVE Festival London | The Grosvenor Victoria Casino, London | 4-14 Sep 2025 | ~£1,100+£150 |
| BPS 200 London (Autumn) | Genting (Aspers) Casino | 9–14 Sep 2025 | £200 + £35 |
| London Poker Festival Main Event | Aspers Casino | 4-9 Nov, 2025 | £400 |
These are some of the best poker tournaments in London. Here is a detailed overview of each poker tournament.
1. Victoria Deepstack
The Victoria Deepstack runs at the famous Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London. This tournament offers a £100,000 guarantee with a £340 total buy-in, £300 + £40 registration.
Poker players get great value with big starting stacks and longer blind levels, making it ideal for skilled play. Several Day 1 flights run over the weekend, so it’s easy to find a time that suits you.
2. Hippodrome Lightning Tournament
The Hippodrome Lightning Tournament features a premium £1,100 buy-in (£1,000 + £100 registration fee). This single-day event attracts many premium players looking for quick action.
The other upcoming dates of the tournament are 2 September and 7 October, 2025. This tournament has a starting stack of 20,000. The play is at Hippodrome Casino, located in the heart of Leicester Square.
3. BPS Carnival London
Aspers Casino, now called Genting Casino, is hosting the British Poker Series main Carnival poker festival. This big carnival festival offers a guarantee of £200,000 with a buy-in of £260 + £40.
The BPS carnival 2025 in London is running from 13 August to 17 August. The tournament attracts both new and professional players, making it one of London’s most exciting poker festivals of the year.
4. Women’s Summer Festival
The Women’s Summer Festival runs at The Clermont London, which is part of Hippodrome Casino. The main event for this special poker tournament has a £400 buy-in, and the High Roller costs £1,100, both only for female players.
This unique tournament celebrates women in poker with special events. The main event guarantees £100,000 in prizes, making it one of Europe’s biggest women-only poker tournaments.
5. 888poker LIVE Festival London
The 888poker LIVE London Festival 2025 will run from 4 September to 14 September at Grosvenor Victoria Casino, London. It features exciting tournaments, including a Buy-in of £1,250 for the main event.
Players can join through online satellites starting from 1 cent or buy in directly. The event offers side tournaments, friendly competition, and a chance to enjoy London’s vibrant poker scene.
6. BPS 200 London
The BPS 200 poker tournament has an entry buy-in of £235 (£200 + £35). This tournament offers a £100,000 guarantee, providing good value for mid-stakes players.
The tournament offers a well-structured format, attracting players of all levels. It promises deep stacks and exciting poker action in a popular London venue. It is going to be run from August 7 to 10, 2025, at Genting (Aspers) Casino.
7. London Poker Festival Main Event
The London Poker Festival is a major poker event held at Stratford in London. The tournament features the main event buy-in of £400 and is hosted at Genting Casino.
The Main Event features a guarantee of £200k. This means players compete for a large prize, and the casino guarantees that amount even if fewer players join.
Tips To Play Poker Tournaments in London
Success in London’s competitive poker tournament requires proper preparation, bankroll management, and understanding of local playing styles to maximize your chances of cashing.
- Arrive early to register and get comfortable with the venue.
- Bring proper identification and cash for buy-ins and tips.
- Study blind structures and starting stack sizes beforehand.
- Learn basic tournament strategy for different stack depths.
- Network with other players during breaks for future games.
- Take notes on opponents’ playing styles and tendencies.
- Manage your bankroll, never risk more than you can afford.
- Stay patient during early levels with deep stacks.
These tournaments attract skilled international players, so skill up on your game before entering. Many venues offer practice cash games to warm up before major events.
Top Poker Rooms/Clubs in Soho
London’s Soho area hosts some of the world’s most famous poker venues, combining rich gaming history with modern tournament facilities and year-round cash game action.
1. The Hippodrome Casino
The Hippodrome Casino, known as London’s most iconic poker venue, is located in a beautiful Victorian building in Leicester Square. Every year, there are many tournaments held at this venue.
The casino hosts a wide variety of poker tournaments and has been home to the UK & Ireland Poker Tour. Cash games run from Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 6 am, and continuously over the weekend from Friday through Monday.
2. The Grosvenor Victoria Casino (“The Vic”)
Grosvenor Victoria Casino, also known as The Vic, is a popular casino in London with a modern and fully refurbished state-of-the-art poker room. The poker room is open 24/7 and offers a wide range of cash games and some of the best poker tournaments in the UK.
Along with poker, The Vic has a stylish restaurant and a relaxing outdoor terrace where players can enjoy great food and drinks. The casino also offers online gaming options, so you can play poker and other casino games from home.
3. Aspers/Genting Casino
Aspers Casino in Stratford, now known as Genting Casino, represents the largest casino and poker room in London. It hosts the popular poker events like the British Poker Series tournaments.
Along with poker, the casino offers a full entertainment experience with over 150 slot machines, live table games, and sports betting at Tanzibar. You can also enjoy upscale dining at Clary’s Restaurant and rooftop entertainment at the Sky Bar.
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Conclusion: Enjoy the World-Class Poker Tournaments In London
The poker tournaments in London attract poker players from all over the world. From Victoria deepstack to BPS carnival, London offers exciting events for all types of players.
London’s Soho has famous poker rooms and clubs that host many big poker tournaments. Popular Casinos like Hippodrome Casino and Aspers Casino are located in London, offering the best place for poker players.
So, plan your London poker trip around these major tournaments, practice your game, and prepare for some of Europe’s most exciting tournament poker events in London.
FAQs
The Victoria Deepstack is one of London’s most popular recurring tournaments, attracting hundreds of players with its £100,000 guarantee.
Most London tournaments require a minimum of 8-10 players to run, though major events like BPS Carnival and Victoria Deepstack regularly attract 200-500+ participants.
The GUKPT Goliath at Grosvenor Coventry is the UK’s biggest tournament by field size, while London’s BPS Carnival main event offers one of the largest guaranteed prize pools.
PokerStars leads UK online poker, though many London live players also use 888poker, partypoker, and GGPoker for online satellites to live tournaments.
Poker winnings are generally not taxed for recreational players in the UK. However, professional players who make their living from poker may need to pay income tax on winnings.
I started my career as a chef at The Vault Soho, where I learned the art of creating amazing dishes and paying attention to detail. Over time, I discovered my love for writing and decided to share my knowledge and ideas with a wider audience. I often explore topics like gaming tips and trends in the casino industry. When I’m not writing, I love trying out the latest tech, spending time outdoors, and experiencing different cultures.
