A guide to playing tennis in London

A comprehensive guide to playing tennis in London. Whether you're looking for private members' courts, pay-to-play options, or free court locations. Find your perfect tennis spot in the London boroughs and start playing today!

Image: Todd Trapani

Looking for a place to play tennis in London? Whether you're a seasoned player or have recently been inspired by Emma Raducanu's success at the US Open, London has plenty of options to offer. From high-end private clubs to public courts in local parks, there are a plethora of places to play in the capital. You don't have to be a member of an exclusive club to enjoy the sport; there are a multitude of affordable and even free public courts available throughout the city. With the weather changing, tennis fever is starting to pick up again, and this guide can help you find the perfect place to play.

Tennis Clubs

If you're in the market for an exclusive tennis membership, London boasts a number of prestigious clubs with exquisite grounds. From the renowned Hurlingham Club to the iconic venue that hosts the Wimbledon Championships each year, here are the best of the exclusive tennis clubs to choose from in the city.

Holland Park Lawn Tennis Club, North Kensington

Image: Holland Park Lawn Tennis Club.

The Holland Park Lawn Tennis Club is a prestigious private sports club located near Holland Park Avenue in London. With approximately 850 members and a waiting list of 12-18 months for full membership, the club is highly regarded for its friendly environment and high-quality tennis facilities. To become a member, applicants must be proposed and seconded by existing members. The club boasts a historic mansion clubhouse with a main lounge, bar, terrace, changing rooms, and a snug for television or dining. It also features eight courts, including five artificial all-weather courts and three grass courts. The club operates seven days a week from 8am until 9.30pm The day-to-day management is overseen by an elected committee, alongside a full-time club and tennis manager. . The club's serene location on a hilltop offers stunning views of west London's greenery.

 Membership fee: Full membership £650 per year, plus £1,500 joining fee. Location: 1 Addison Rd, London W14 8DU. Website: hollandparkltc.co.uk.

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club,Wimbledon

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon Tournament 2019, © MTotoe

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), is an exclusive private members' club responsible for hosting the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. The club has only 375 full members, including prominent figures such as former champions Tim Henman and Debbie Jevans, as well as the Duchess of Cambridge, who is also the club's patron. Membership is highly sought after, and candidates must have made a significant contribution to the sport or the club. Honorary membership is awarded to past singles champions and other distinguished lawn tennis players, while temporary membership is granted to active players who use the facilities regularly. The waiting list for membership reportedly has over a thousand names on it. Members are entitled to use the club's facilities, purchase two tickets for each day of the Championships, and Full and Life members have a dedicated seat on Centre Court. Wimbledon Debentures are also issued every five years and provide Debenture Holders with tickets for every day of the Championships. The club offers temporary and junior memberships mainly for tennis players who frequently use the facilities and compete with other clubs. Temporary membership, which is renewable every year, is available to around 100 individuals annually.

Membership Fess: On request. Location: Church Road, SW19 5AG. Website: wimbledon.com

 The Hurlingham Club, Fulham

Image: Hurlingham Club

The Hurlingham Club is a highly regarded private member club situated on 42 acres of landscaped grounds by the River Thames in Fulham. Since its opening in 1869, the club's croquet and tennis lawns, botanical gardens, and Georgian clubhouse have made it a sought-after destination for exclusive sporting and social activities. The club boasts exceptional sporting facilities, including an indoor gymnasium and pool, and one of the best outdoor grass tennis courts in the city. However, membership is notoriously difficult to obtain, with a long waitlist, with preference given to the offspring of existing members over new applicants, and members must be proposed and seconded by two current full members of the club.

Membership fee: Full membership costs £1,400 per year plus undisclosed joining fee. Location: Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6 3PR. Website: hurlinghamclub.org.uk.

 Queens Club, West Kensington

Image: Queen’s Club, Photo by Baynes and Mitchell Architects

The Queen's Club, established in 1886, was the world's first multipurpose sports complex. It offers its members the opportunity to play various rackets sports, lawn tennis, squash, and real tennis on some of the finest courts in the world. In addition, the Club provides excellent entertaining and dining facilities, including a museum, bar, restaurant, and the President's Room, all located within the Members' Clubhouse. The Club hosts various world-famous annual events such as the cinch Championships and the World Rackets Championships. Membership at the Club is dependent on being proposed and seconded by two existing members. The waiting lists for membership vary depending on the type of membership, ranging from 6 months to eight years. All applicants need to apply individually and have two existing members propose and second their application, with additional supporting statements. New members over 28 years of age are required to purchase a redeemable share priced at £15,000.

Membership fee:  Membership and joining fee agreed upon application. Registration fee of £207. Location: Palliser Road, W14 9EQ. Website: queensclub.co.uk

Roehampton Club, Wandsworth

Image: Roehampton Club

Roehampton Club is a sports and leisure facility located near Richmond Park, known for its excellent grass tennis courts and 18-hole golf course. The tennis program offers opportunities for both social and competitive play, with coaching available for all ages and skill levels. Members have access to various tennis courts, including grass, cushioned acrylic, synthetic clay, and indoor acrylic courts. The Club also has Padel tennis courts, and the coaching program includes group and private lessons, team training, and social events. Members can participate in inter-club, county, and national competitions at various levels. The waiting list for membership is currently around three years.

Membership fee: From £1,625. Joining Fee £2,995. Location: Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5LR Website: roehamptonclub.co.uk

Pay & Play Tennis

Discover pay-to-play tennis locations throughout London Boroughs with Park Sports (formerly Will to Win), which manages tennis courts in several Royal Parks. Better Leisure Centres offer pay-to-play tennis options citywide, while the exclusive Golden Lane Tennis Courts, located within the Barbican Estates, offer a unique tennis experience.

 Park Sports, Across London

Park Sports, formerly known as Will to Win, offers a variety of courts located throughout the city, available for play starting from just £19.20 per hour. Thanks to their user-friendly 'Pay & Play' scheme, booking a court is a breeze. You can reserve your spot up to three days in advance, so you can plan your game without any hassle. Their courts can be found in some of the most beautiful parks in the city, including Chiswick House Gardens, Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, Lammas Park, Pitzhanger Park, and Regent's Park.

Fee: Courts can be booked from £19.20/hr.  If you're a regular player, you might want to consider getting an Advantage Card from Park Sports. They offer Advantage Cards in certain locations, such as Chiswick where you can get a subscription for £75.00 per year, and Ealing where you can get an Advantage Card valid at both Lammas Park and Pitshanger Park for £50.00 per year.With an Advantage Card, you can enjoy low off-peak tennis court rates, plus a £2 discount on peak courts. You'll also have the privilege of booking up to 10 days in advance.

Booking: To book one of Park Sports tennis courts, you will first need to set up a free account. With a free account you can book up to 7 days in advance, with new court availability released at 7.00am each morning.

Locations: Chiswick House Gardens, Hyde Park, Greenwich Park, Lammas Park, Pitshanger Park and Regent's Park. Website: parksports.co.uk 

Better Tennis, Across London

Image: Better Leisure Centres

Better boasts a wide range of tennis courts to choose from, including 11 indoor tennis centres, 4 outdoor hubs, and over 240 courts located throughout the UK. All of their tennis centres and park court sites are fully registered with the LTA. Better's tennis courts are located in various areas throughout London from Islington to Crystal Palace. Their facilities offer a range of surfaces to play on, including indoor hard courts, indoor dome clay courts, outdoor clay courts, and floodlit hard courts.Better provides affordable court hire with no membership required, making it easy for players to enjoy tennis at their convenience.

Fees: Annual membership from £780 a year ( including gyms and other facilities). Pay to Play from £10.55 for non-members and £8.45 for members.

Booking: Bookings can be made via Better.

Location: Islington, Tower Hamlet, Kensington & Chelsea,Mile End, Stratford, Crystal Palace, Greenwich, Walthamstow, Sutton, Croydon and Barnet. Website: better.org.uk.

Golden Lane Tennis Courts, City of London

Image: Golden Lane Tennis Courts

Golden Lane Leisure Centre, located in City of London, offers tennis facilities to the public. The centre has two macadam outdoor tennis courts available for hire on a pay-as-you-play basis. They can be booked for one-off games or block bookings but are in high demand during summer and evenings, so booking in advance is advised. Customers can pay either a monthly fee or an hourly fee to use the tennis courts.The Golden Lane tennis courts is a bit of a hidden gem, situated next to the Barbican Estate, a Grade-II listed Brutalist masterpiece, its a unique place to play a game of tennis!

Fee: From £56 per month. Pay to play £22 an hour.

Booking: Bookings can be made via Fusion-lifestyle.

Location: Golden Lane Estate, Fann Street, London, EC1Y 0SH. Website: fusion-lifestyle.com

London boroughs

Gain access to a range of tennis courts managed by local London boroughs, which can be easily booked through ClubSpark with a free account registration. With courts located across several boroughs, including Lambeth, Southwark, Hackney, Kensington and Chelsea, playing tennis in the city has never been more convenient. Prices for the courts are affordable, ranging from £5 to £13.35, with some boroughs even offering free court access in select locations.

Image: Will Seaman

Hackney Tennis

Hackney Tennis (HT) manages a total of 28 full-sized and two mini-tennis courts across seven park and garden sites, including Clissold Park, Hackney Downs, Millfields Park, London Fields, Spring Hill, Aske Gardens, and Springfield Park. As a registered charity and dedicated tennis provider, HT has partnered with Hackney Council to deliver a full community coaching program that offers opportunities to play for all ages and skill levels at affordable prices starting from just £4.75/hr.

Fees: from Off-peak: from £4.75/hr, Peak: from £7.25/hr.

Booking: Bookings can be made through Hackney Tennis website via ClubSpark.

Location: Clissold Park, Hackney Downs, Millfields Park, London Fields, Spring Hill, Aske Gardens, and Springfield Park.Website: hackneytennis.co.uk.

Camden Active

Camden Active is a leading tennis court management organisation in the London Borough of Camden. They oversee several tarmac courts, including at Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn, Waterlow Park in Highgate, and Kilburn Grange Park in Kilburn.To make booking a court as easy as possible, Camden Active has an online registration system that allows for seamless scheduling of tennis sessions. Most of their courts are available from 8am until park close at dusk.

Fees: Standard bookings from from £9.50/hr. Concession from £5.05/hr.

Booking: book via Camden Active.

Location: Lincoln's Inn Fields , Waterlow Park and Kilburn Grange Park. Website: camdenactive.camden.gov.uk.

City of London Tennis

The City of London manages four top-quality tennis locations, including Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Fields, Queen's Park, and West Ham Park. With their pay and play scheme, you can easily book two courts per week up to 24 hours in advance. Annual membership offers even more value, allowing you to book up to five courts per week up to four days in advance for just £33.20 per year. Improve your game at some of the best facilities in the city.

Fees: from£10.30/hr. Concession: £6.20/hr.  Annual Memberships from £33.20.

Booking: Booking via ClubSpark. You must register for a free account.

Location: Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Fields Tennis Courts, Queen's Park Tennis Courts, and West Ham Park. Website: clubspark.lta.org.uk/CityOfLondonTennis.

 Lambeth Tennis

Lambeth Council manages several courts in the borough, including those located in Archbishops Park, Brockwell Park, Clapham Common (at the Bowling Green Cafe), Hillside Gardens Park, Kennington Park, Larkhall Park, Myatts Fields Park, Streatham Vale, The Rookery and Vauxhall Park. To book a court, simply visit Play Tennis Lambeth and create a free account. Slots for the following week become available at 8 pm each day. Courts which are free to use include Streatham Vale.

Fees: from £7.15/hr.

Booking: Bookings can be made through Lambeth Council website via ClubSpark/

Location: Archbishops Park, Brockwell Park, Clapham Common (at the Bowling Green Cafe), Hillside Gardens Park, Kennington Park, Larkhall Park, Myatts Fields Park, Streatham Vale, The Rookery and Vauxhall Park. Website: lambeth.gov.uk 

Image: Hoi Pham

Lewisham Tennis

Lewisham boasts a range of fantastic tennis courts, nestled in some of the borough's most beautiful parks. Managed by Lewisham Council in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and London Marathon Charitable Trust, you can enjoy a game at Ladywell Fields, Manor House Gardens, Mayow Park, or Sydenham Wells Park, all of which offer brand new facilities and exciting tennis activities. It's worth noting that there are also free tennis courts available in the borough, located at Telegraph Hill, Chinbrook Meadows, Hilly Fields, Mountsfield Park, Sydenham Wells Park, and Ladywell Fields South (Catford Bridge).

Fees: You can either purchase a Season Ticket for £35 and play on the courts for 12 months with up to 3 bookings per week, or you can use the pay and play option for £5/hr. Note that there will be a small additional charge to use the floodlights (£2 per hour for Season Ticket holders and £5 per hour for pay and play users).

Booking: Bookings can be made via ClubSpark

Location: Ladywell Fields, Manor House Gardens, Mayow Park, Sydenham Wells Park, Telegraph Hill, Chinbrook Meadows, Hilly Fields, and Mountsfield Park. Website:clubspark.lta.org.uk/tennisinlewisham/Othercourts

Chelsea and Kensington Tennis

The London Borough of Chelsea and Kensington has four parks with a total of 15 tennis courts available for public use, as well as netball and 7 aside football pitches. Courts can be booked online at four venues, including Holland Park, Avondale Park, Kensington Memorial Park, and Emslie Horniman.
Fees: You can book tennis courts through a free membership package and book up to 7 days in advance, with a maximum of 2 bookings per day for 2 hours maximum. Rates are £9.55 per hour for adults with an off-peak rate of £6.25 and a floodlit rate of £13.35. Concessions are available for children under 16 or adults over 60, with rates of £4.95 per hour, an off-peak rate of £3.20, and a floodlit rate of £8.75. Kensington and Chelsea residents can apply for a Residents' Membership with an annual charge of £19.15 and book up to 2 hours per day, up to 14 days in advance. Memberships are limited to one standard rate and one concession rate per household.

A free tennis court is available to book on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9am and 10am in Holland Park, and can be reserved up to one week in advance by calling 0207 602 2226.

Booking: Bookings can be made via ClubSpark. You must register for a free account.

Location: Holland Park, Avondale Park, Kensington Memorial Park, and Emslie Horniman. Website: clubspark.lta.org.uk/TennisInKensingtonChelsea

Image: Ben Hershey

Wandsworth Tennis

The London Borough of Wandsworth has an abundance of tennis courts scattered across various sites, including parks, schools, and private tennis clubs. With a diverse range of operators and court facilities available throughout the borough, booking a court has never been easier. All Star Tennis, in particular, offers an extensive membership program with a free basic option as well as the premium Member Plus option, which grants access to all 28 courts in Wandsworth, including popular sites such as Barn Elms Sports Centre, Battersea Park Millennium Arena, Fred Wells Tennis Court, Furzedown Recreation Centre, Furzedown Recreation Ground, King George's Park, Leader's Gardens, Tooting Bec Common, Wandsworth Common, and Wandsworth Park.

Fees: All Star Tennis offers two membership options: Free and Membership Plus. The free option allows for off-peak bookings with variable prices depending on the venue, while peak bookings cost between £6.10-£10.50 per hour, with an additional £14.50 online booking fee for floodlights. Membership Plus costs £52 for individuals or £78 for families of 2 adults and up to 4 children at the same address, and offers access to all 28 courts with 7 days' advance notice and the ability to select specific courts. Off-peak bookings are free with Member Plus, while peak prices range from £3.80-£8.80 per hour, with an additional online booking fee of £12.80 for floodlights.

Booking: Booking via All Star Tennis.

Location: Barn Elms Sports Centre, Battersea Park Millennium Arena, Fred Wells Tennis Court, Furzedown Recreation Centre, Furzedown Recreation Ground, King George's Park, Leader's Gardens, Tooting Bec Common, Wandsworth Common, Wandsworth Park. Website: wandsworth.gov.uk.

Southwark Tennis

Southwark Council manages seven park venues, including Belair Park, Burgess Park, Brunswick Park, Dulwich Park, Southwark Park, and Tanner Street Park. Booking is easy with ClubSpark on the LTA website, except for Geraldine Mary Harmsworth (GMH) Park, which has its own booking system. And if you're near Honour Oak Park, you can play tennis on a turn-up-and-play basis.

Fees: Register for a ClubSpark account or log in if you already have one, and select an available date and time to book. The booking charges start at £3.15 for a 30-minute booking or £6.30 for a 60-minute booking. If you're under 18, you're entitled to their free youth membership, which allows you to book once a day for 30 minutes with no charge. Annual membership fees are £60. This membership entitles members to discounted fees when booking a tennis court.

Booking: via ClubSpark. Click here for GMH Park’s booking system.

Location: Belair Park, Burgess Park, Brunswick Park, Dulwich Park, Southwark Park, Tanner Street Park, Honor Oak Park and Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park.
Website: clubspark.lta.org.uk/TennisInSouthwark

Free Tennis and Tennis Leagues

Discover two organisations working to make tennis experiences in the city better. The first, Tennis for Free, is an organisation looking to provide free and inclusive tennis in London and the UK. Secondly, Local Tennis League helps people discover where they can get involved in tennis leagues in their local area.

Image: Marvin Ronsdorf

Free Tennis

Tennis For Free (TFF) provides free inclusive tennis sessions across the UK in public parks, targeting those who need it the most. TFF partners with organisations like the NHS, local councils, and community groups to provide specialised sessions for mental health, disabilities, schools, and clubs. TFF believes that free sport should be accessible to everyone. Click here to discover where to find free tennis and how you can get involved.

Local Tennis Leagues

Local Tennis Leagues provides a platform for individuals who are interested in playing friendly, yet competitive tennis in local parks or venues. With more than 8,000 players participating in its leagues every year, the company has experienced significant growth throughout the UK in the last 15 years. Whether you're new to tennis or an experienced player, finding your local league and signing up is a great way to play fun and competitive tennis in a nearby court. Click here to discover your local leagues in London now.