• By Sam Parton
• In Blog
• Sep 4, 2012

Best Free Tennis Courts in London

According to our friends at Tennis For Free, there are 2,588 free UK public tennis courts out of a total of approximately 21,000 UK public tennis courts (LTA 2012). However sadly this number has declined in recent years due to government and council funding cut backs. This is something that OpenPlay wants to help fight and get more people playing tennis. Many Londoners erroneously believe that to play tennis in London you need to pay through the roof for courts. This isn't true, there are plenty of free London tennis courts, however unfortunately they are often in terrible shape with very little spent on their maintenance. That's why we urge you use your local couts and add them to OpenPlay to help get the equipment and funding these tennis courts need. However despite the dilapidated condition of many of the free London tennis courts, there are still some absolute gems which are crying out to be played on. So dust off your racquet today and head down to the courts below or use our Tennis Court Locator to find a tennis court near you.

Top 10 free public Tennis Courts in London.

1. Southwark Park, Bermondsey, London, SE16

Southwark Park is an expansive East London park complete with an attractive lake, bowling green, football pitches and a children's playground. Hidden amongst the trees and fairly inconspicuous to the public eye are two excellent public tennis courts. They are completely free to use and make the top of this list due to their unique location, embedded to the Western side of Southwark Park. Bermondsey underground station is approximately The Southwark Park Café is a good place to grab a drink after a game of tennis in Southwark Park 10 minutes walk away to the North West of Southwark Park. Surrey Quays station is towards the South East of the park, approximately 15 minutes walk away from the free park tennis courts. For a post match drink, head to the Cafe overlooking the quaint Southwark Park lake for a picturesque beer and sandwich. Alternatively and if you cannot be bothered to walk across the park, the Stanley Arms is literally a minutes walk from the courts on Stalham Street.

For further information about the Southwark Park Tennis Courts, including opening hours, amenities, changing facilities and directions, please click here.

2. Bruce Castle Park, Tottenham, North London, N17

Bruce Castle Park has seven excellent tennis courts which are owned and operated by Pavilion Sports who took them over from Haringey Council. They were recently resurfaced and in all honesty it is very difficult to find better tennis courts which are available for free in this part of North London. Furthermore they can soon be booked online via OpenPlay although free tennis will only apply to children or adults playing with children. The courts are used by local coaches and schools but otherwise it is a case of simply turning up and playing. Also Local Tennis Leagues operated on these courts in case you need to find people to play with.

For further information about the Bruce Castle Park Tennis Courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.

3. Croydon Recreation Ground, Beckenham, London, BR3

There are 8 free tennis courts at Croydon Recreation Ground which are managed on behalf of Croydon Council by the Parklangley Club. Although the tennis courts are free to use, there is a £25 one-off cost to purchase a  key fob to access the courts. However despite this cost, the tennis courts are in excellent condition and there is an online booking system to help you plan when you want to play.

For further information about the Croydon Recreation Ground Tennis Courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.

4. Streatham Vale Park, Streatham, South London, SW16

There are three community tennis courts in Streatham Vale Park in South West London. The public tennis courts are run by Lambeth Council and are completely free to use, simply turn and play. The courts are in reasonable condition and often empty so getting a court is rarely a problem. Parking is available on the streets nearby and Streatham Vale Park also offers a multi-use games area (MUGA) with basketball hoops and football goals. The nearest train station is Streatham Common which is literally 5 mins walk away. For further information about the Streatham Vale Park tennis courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here. The Dulwich Park Tennis Courts are in the pleasant setting of leafy Dulwich Park

5. Dulwich Park, Dulwich, London, SE21

There are four tennis courts in Dulwich Park which are maintained by Southwark Borough Council. The Dulwich Park tennis courts are found in pairs at different sides of the park and are completely free to use. The reason these courts make the list is because the park itself is incredibly picturesque with a boating lake, large grass area, sinuous paths through the trees and quaint café for a post tennis match drink. Transport links to Dulwich Park are not great as the nearest stations are North Dulwich and West Dulwich stations which are both approximately 15 minutes walk away. Arriving by car or bike is the best option as there is plenty of parking available.

For further information about the Dulwich Park tennis courts, such as the opening hours, amenities and address details, click here.

6. Bush Hill Park, Enfield, London, EN1

There are 10 free tennis courts in Bush Hill Park in North London making this one of the largest free tennis centres in the whole of London. The courts are used for coaching sessions and local tennis leagues so it is worth looking out for these. However in general you can simply turn up and play, with no booking or payment required. For further information about the Bush Hill Park tennis courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.

7. Cheam Recreation Ground, Cheam, Surrey

There are four excellent tennis courts at Cheam Recreation Ground which have been relatively recently refurbished. Their macadam surface is extremely flat and crisp making these some of the best free tennis courts in terms of condition that the capital has to offer. Like the rest of Sutton Borough Council's tennis courts, they are completely free to use, just turn up an play et voila!

For further information about the Cheam Recreation Ground Tennis Courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.

8. Old Dagenham Park, Dagenham, Essex, RM10

There are two public tennis courts in Old Dagenham Park which are completely free to use. Both courts have a hard, macadam service and in good enough condition to satisfy even the most serious of players. Tennis coaches regularly offer tennis coaching at the courts and it is certainly worth checking for lessons as they will get priority use of the courts.

For further information about the Old Dagenham Park Tennis Courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.

9. Sutton Common Recreation Ground 

There are three very good free tennis courts in Sutton Common Recreation Ground in Ewell, Surrey. There were originally six courts but three seem to have been decommissioned, leaving three which were relatively recently refurbished. To use them simply turn up and play as Sutton Borough Council do not charge for the use of any of their tennis courts. The Sutton Common Tennis Courts are accessed along Sutton Common Road (best place to park) or otherwise St Helier station is only 10 minutes' walk away.

For further information about the Sutton Common Recreation Ground Tennis Courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.

10. Ropemaker's Fields, Limehouse, London, E14

The Ropemaker's Fields Tennis Courts make our free London tennis courts list. simply due its fairly central London location within easy reach of Canary Wharf. There are two courts available which are owned by Tower Hamlets Borough Council and you can simply turn up and use them. Whilst the surface is probably not good enough for serious club players, you will not find any other free tennis courts near Canary Wharf. However there are some very reasonably priced tennis courts at Poplar Recreation Ground which have been more recently resurfaced. The nearest station to Ropemaker's Fields is Westferry on the Docklands Light Railway, but if you want the tube you will need to head to Canary Wharf (10 mins walk).

For further information about the Ropemaker's Fields Tennis Courts, including opening hours and directions, please click here.