Published: Wednesday 30 April 2025
Over 500 people including 150 under 16s came to Kensington Town Hall on Saturday 26 April for a day of tabletop gaming and fantasy adventure.
Dragonmeet Call to Adventure saw 30 providers from across the UK host gaming campaigns, miniature painting, family games, puzzles and more. The event was open to all ages with a particular focus on first time and budding gamers who wanted to take their first step into the exciting world of strategy and imagination-gaming.
Tabletop gaming is being increasingly recognised as a valuable tool for young people to build confidence, engage critical thinking, aide problem solving skills, and encourage creativity with real world applications.
It also gets young people off their mobile phones and devices, encouraging real-life socialising.
Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Councils joint Library and Archives service worked closely with Dragonmeet to make this event a reality. It comes following investment from the service into games libraries across the two central London boroughs.
The Councils have invested over £25,000 in purchasing over 400 board games and allocating space and time in their library timetables for people to come and enjoy tabletop gaming for free in a welcoming setting.
Cllr Catherine Faulks, Lead Member for Family and Children’s Services, said: “People learn and thrive in different ways and we know that one size does not fit all when it comes to personal development and finding your voice. Tabletop gaming helps young people grow and develop confidence all while sparking creativity and imagination in a fun, screen-free environment.”
Cllr Aicha Less, Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection at Westminster City Council said: “We really support imagination-gaming initiatives and events such as Dragonmeet as it enables people, especially young people, living in Westminster to improve their problem solving and strategy skills, think creatively and socialise with others face to face, away from screens and wider technology pressures we face in our daily lives.
“It has been great to see so many people at this event today, and just shows how increasingly popular tabletop gaming has become with our residents.”
Dungeons and Dragons is a globally popular game, first launched in 1974, which sees players assume the role of different characters in a fantasy board game world.
If you missed out on Dragonmeet Call to Adventure but want to enjoy all the fun of tabletop gaming, there are events for all ages at our local libraries.