Where To Play Sport In London

Netball

A favourite since school, netball is still available all across the city for those who aren’t quite ready to hang up their bibs. Whether you’re an individual looking for a tournament, a small group looking to team up with some other ladies, or a full team that needs a court, Go Mammoth has netball options to cover all bases, with beginner and recreational course everywhere from Shoreditch to Acton – check out their timetable to find a spot near you. Netbusters social netball club also lets you join as an individual or team at varying levels across North, South, East, West and Central London, with private coaching if you need to get up to scratch before a game. Play Netball also has a league table for new players to join.

Football

If you fancy yourself an Abby Wambach in the making, you can head down to one of London’s many football pitches with your friends for a kick-about. Smaller games are on the rise, and you can find five-a-side pitches all over the place – just take a look at MyLocalPitch.com to find available spots in the likes of Vauxhall, Finsbury, Chelsea and Battersea. If you want to play but don’t have anyone who loves football as much as you, check out 5aside.org and PowerLeage.co.uk to join a league. They organise five-a-side leagues and tournaments in various venues across London. 

Athletics

Summer’s coming, so there’s no better time to get into the great outdoors and channel your inner Jessica Ennis. Whether you’re someone who did well in every school sports day or just want to improve your hurdle technique, there are plenty of athletic centres and track sites to help you up your game. Battersea Park is particularly popular throughout the year, but there’s so many places in London that offer sprinting and long-distance running clubs – London Athletics will show you all the running clubs, and you can take a look at Runner’s Guide To London to find a London track to suit your needs.

Badminton

If you’re more of a calm sports player and fancy something that’ll be social but still give you a workout, there’s a number of badminton courts around London. It’s offered in most sports halls, but if you’re keen to just try it out without commitment, give No Strings Badminton a go, where you can pay and play as you go in sports centres across Wembley South Croyden and Southall.

Basketball

The great thing about basketball in London is that there’s free courts all over the place – My Local Pitch is the place to find them, from parks to schools to residential estates, for a casual game. If it’s a tournament you’re looking for, Go Mammoth offers some London basketball leagues for both teams and individuals.

Boxing

The popularity of boxing is continuing to rise, primarily thanks to its all-round health and fitness benefits, but it’s also a great place to meet people. Miguel’s Boxing Gym has something for everyone – as well as one-to-one training, they also offer women-only classes, sessions for over-60s and a ‘beat obesity’ course. Box Clever Sports in West London cater to those who are short on time, offering ‘wake up’ sessions and 30-minute ‘lunchtime express’ classes. Plus, if a group of your girlfriends are also into sparing, you can book private lessons for between three and five people. To find boxing classes across the rest of London and the UK, you can use England Boxing Vault’s Club Finder.