Revolution Karting occupies a set of railway arches on Burdett Road in Mile End, and has been running for over twenty years, making it one of the longest-established karting venues in the country. It is an independent single-site operator rather than part of a chain, and it holds a genuinely unusual position in London: an outdoor tarmac circuit within easy reach of the centre, two stops from both Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. Every other karting venue in this part of London is indoors.

The circuit is 450 metres of outdoor tarmac, floodlit for evening racing, and the operator describes it as the fastest track in Central London. Being outdoors and on real tarmac changes the driving: grip varies with the weather, the racing line matters more, and a wet session is a genuinely different challenge from a dry one. The venue leans into this rather than apologising for it, pointing out that wet-weather racing demands more skill and rewards drivers who adapt.

Revolution Karting operates all year round and continues in all but extreme conditions. In wet weather the venue can provide waterproofs or an extra layer of race wear, and it recommends bringing a change of clothes. Showers are available for private events if the track has left its mark. Anyone booking here should treat the weather as part of the experience rather than a risk to the booking — sessions are not cancelled for rain.

The fleet is 36 Bowman Storm EV karts, fully electric, reaching speeds in excess of 40mph. The operator’s reasoning for choosing electric is straightforward: more torque and acceleration than petrol karts, better environmentally, and simpler to maintain. For a visitor the practical difference is instant power delivery out of corners and no exhaust fumes, which matters less outdoors than in but still makes for a cleaner session.

There is no age limit, but every driver must be at least 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall. The karts are heavy and take real physical effort to control, which is why height rather than age is the deciding factor. In practice this means most children under about twelve will be too short to race. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign their disclaimer, even if that adult does not race. The four competitive private formats — Grand Prix and Endurance, in both Mini and Full versions — additionally require all drivers to be over 18.

Open Racing is the standard drop-in session and the easiest introduction to the venue, at £29.50 per driver for 16 laps split into two eight-lap races. Every race is timed and lap times go onto the venue’s leaderboard. Sessions run against other drivers who have booked the same slot, and bookings are taken for between one and twenty-four people. All races in a session must be completed by the same driver and cannot be shared or split across visits.

Five private formats are available, all with exclusive use of the track. The Mini Grand Prix at £65 per driver runs practice laps, three qualifying heats and a final over an hour; the Full Grand Prix at £75 extends this to six heats and an hour and a half. The Mini Endurance at £65 and Full Endurance at £75 put small teams against the clock over two and three races respectively, with the highest total lap count winning — a format that works particularly well for team building. All four are for eight to 150 drivers and require participants to be over 18. The Fun Hour at £450 covers an hour of private track and kart hire, all inclusive for up to ten drivers, with no age limit beyond the height rule, which makes it the natural choice for younger birthday groups.

Bookings are taken online for up to sixteen drivers, or up to twenty-four for Open Racing. Larger groups are arranged through the sales team, and the venue has hosted groups of up to 200. A booking fee of £3.50 per person is added at checkout, covering a balaclava and gloves. Gift vouchers are available and are periodically discounted. The venue runs regular offers including money off Friday and Sunday sessions, so it is worth checking the offers page before booking.

Karting here is physical, and clothing should suit that. Flat shoes, plimsolls or trainers are recommended; heels, open-toed shoes, sandals and flip-flops are not permitted. Trousers or shorts with a t-shirt work for summer, with extra layers in winter, and race wear or waterproofs can be provided on top. Loose clothing, scarves and loose jackets must be removed before getting into a kart. Drivers are asked to arrive 30 minutes before their booked time to complete paperwork, suit up and attend the mandatory safety briefing — arriving late risks losing race time. Alcohol and drugs before racing are not permitted, and anyone believed to be under the influence will be removed without refund.

Parking on site is minimal and shared with other businesses in the arches, so the venue recommends using the paid car park at the leisure centre next door. Public transport is the easier option. Mile End on the Central line is a ten-minute walk; Limehouse on the DLR is seven minutes. Buses D6, D7 and 277 stop directly opposite the track at Ackroyd Drive and St Paul’s Way. On a fine day the walk along Regent’s Canal is worth taking. The what3words reference ///Fields.caged.rocks leads to the site entrance, which is useful given the arches setting. Lockers are on site for £5, refunded when the key is returned.