9 Places To Play Grass Court Tennis In London
Wimbledon season usually sees the largest spike in the population trying their hand at tennis. We head out to our local courts to try our hands at copying what we’ve just seen from the likes of Jannick Sinner and Naomi Osaka. And to be honest, what we really want to do is replicate the absolute aesthetic perfection that is the Wimbledon Championships, which means one thing: Finding grass tennis courts in London.
Sadly, they can be hard to come by. Hard courts and astroturf are far cheaper, easier to maintain, and can be used the whole year round, so it’s little surprise that most clubs opt to avoid the hassle that comes with maintaining grass. However, there are a handful of traditionalist clubs that stick to the roots of the game, still offering players the opportunity to play the sport in its purest form. For any tennis fan, it’s a must, so scroll on to see where you can find them in London.
AELTC Community Centre – Raynes Park
Your best bet when searching for grass tennis courts in London to play comes from the Wimbledon organisers, The All England Lawn Tennis Club. As well as hosting the famous Championships every summer, the AELTC runs two community sports centres in Southwest London, aiming to provide access to affordable sporting facilities to local communities. Affordable is the keyword here, and when it comes to grass courts can be exceedingly rare due to the time, funds and dedication it takes to keep the grass tennis-ready.
While a football pitch can be playable in a rugged state, when it comes to tennis, unless the surface is pristine, you really might as well play on the moon. While the centre’s hard and indoor courts are bookable for the public, note that its championship grass courts are heavily prioritised for professional training and official tournaments. Check the schedule directly for seasonal public grass events.
Where: 170 Grand Dr, London SW20 9NB
Website: communitysport.aeltc.com
Roehampton
This is as close as you and I can (legally) get to replicating the true experience of Wimbledon experience. Every June, hundreds of players descend upon Roehampton to take part in pre-qualifying for the Championships – after which they become open to the public.
Run by the AELTC, it is your only chance at playing on what can accurately claim to be professional-standard courts.
Where: Bank Lane, off Priory Lane, Roehampton, SW15 5JT
Website: communitysport.aeltc.com
Holland Park Lawn Tennis Club
There is a case to be made that Holland Park is the most underrated in grass tennis court in all of London. The Kyoto Gardens, the wonderful Leighton House Museum and – you guessed it – grass tennis courts.
How to become a member? A full adult membership costs £650, plus a £1,500 joining fee, and all applicants must be proposed and seconded by two existing members over 18 years of age who have been members of the club for at least 12 months. There is currently a long waiting list for full membership of about 5 years that has now been closed until further notice, so we suggest you start networking hard in the Kensington area if you want to get in.
Where: 1 Addison Rd, London W14 8DU
Website: hollandparkltc.co.uk
Ealing Lawn Tennis Club
The hunt for grass court tennis in London takes one to all corners of the city. This west-side club has six pristine grass courts from May to September, as well as more clay, indoor and hard courts available year-round. Membership is £701, with reductions available for off-peak, over 70s and under 35s. With 600 people on the waitlist, it has been temporarily close, but there is an interest form available on the website. Fill out the interest form and be notified when spots on the waiting list open up.
Fun fact: There used to be an Archery Club attached as well, but they were promptly kicked out during the great Ealing Lawn Tennis Club uprising of 1903 (a minor squabble about space allocation).
Where: Daniel Road (off Creffield Road), Ealing, London W5 3RY
Website: Ealing Lawn Tennis Club
West Heath Lawn Tennis Club
For North Londoners, West Heath might be your best option, sporting three grass tennis courts. The bad news is that beginners aren’t accepted. The good news, however, is that you don’t have to be a member to get coaching lessons, so you can work your way up from beginner to just moderately bad and then join. Unfortunately, the West Heath Lawn Tennis Club has a “long waitlist” for members looking to join. Members looking to join should still fill out the waitlist form, you will be notified when positions open up.
New members can join for a fee of £320, plus a £60 joining fee, which then lowers to £295 once you’re an existing member.
Where: off Croft Way, Ferncroft Ave, London NW3 7PQ
Website: westheathltc.co.uk
Hurlingham Club
Is it physically possible to play grass-court tennis at the Hurlingham Club? Yes. They have the courts, some of the best in the world, in fact. However, we’d be lying if we said they were easily accessible; with a waiting list of over 10 years, you would probably have more chance of success trying to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon.
Where: Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6 3PR
Website: www.hurlinghamclub.org.uk
Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club
These Dulwich courts have one of the more (relatively) reasonable membership rates, currently at £330, coupled with one of the more (relatively) small waiting lists. The list is still over 1,000 long at the time of writing and operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so you are unlikely to be offered a place until next season at the very earliest. Alternatively, if you happen to be friends with a member, they can bring you for the small guest fee of £5 per guest per visit. Or, if you’re under 18 years old, the Junior membership club is accepting new members.
Where: Giant Arches Rd, London SE24 9HB
Website: clubspark.lta.org.uk
Richmond Lawn Tennis Club
If you thought there must be some grass courts hidden away in Richmond Park’s mass expanse of greenery, you would be wrong. However, the Richmond Lawn Tennis Club does have grass courts; they just happen to be right by Kew Gardens instead.
Full adult membership sits at around £415, with scaled options available for midweek, senior, and intermediate (ages 19-26) players. Be sure to check their seasonal registration windows early in the spring, as slots fill up quickly ahead of the summer season.
Where: Old Deer Park, 187 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2AZ
Website: clubspark.lta.org.uk
Putney Lawn Tennis Club
We are cheating slightly here, as these courts are made of synthetic grass rather than the real thing, but when it comes to grass tennis in London, frankly, you take what you can get. Maybe if you’re Roger Federer or Serena Williams, the difference might be noticeable, but for you and me, there’s no room for snobbery.
The club boasts multiple different types of membership options to suit your needs, with prices starting at £220, plus a £125 joining fee, for off-peak and rising to £440 annually for full-time. However, there is a minimum standard qualification, so get practising that chopper grip on the local public courts before taking your shot at membership.
Where: Balmuir Gardens, London SW15 6NG
Website: www.pltc.co.uk
