Hello there, this is a message to the members of the Holland Park Tennis Club. I am a tennis player…read moreand I would love to have a chance to play on grass one day! Since I am not a member myself and I am only going to be in London for the next 5 weeks, I was wondering whether I could play with one among you and so fulfill this little dream of mine. Thanks for your kind attention, Nino

This place is so much more than a tennis club; it's my second home. Tennis clubs and I have known…read morea few can be elitist, cold places, full of cliques and rules. Take Hurlingham, where if you're not wearing 87% white, some haughty octogenarian will shuffle over and delight in ticking you off. And where despite the fact they boast dozens of often deserted, pristine courts, you can't book for more than an hour. And don't get me onto the 10-year waiting list. HPLTC is infinitely friendlier with far more sensible rules. What makes it special is the fact it's small enough to encourage a community feel, but not so small as to feel claustrophobic. The grounds are also wonderful. If you don't have any outdoor space at home as I don't you can while away summer days with a few sets on grass courts, before collapsing with a newspaper and Pimms in a deckchair on their generous lawn. The club, tucked away in Holland Park, has a unique atmosphere and is the type of place where you can turn up alone and find someone to chat to and probably play with. There's a club night on Wednesday with a dinner afterwards, a singles league, tournaments, barbecues in the summer and a dedicated core of regulars. Really, if you're tennis-mad, as I am, there's no better place to be on a sunny day...and no better tennis club in London.

I recently stayed with my friend who is a member here…read more The facilities here are fantastic with an indoor and outdoor pool, a steam room, a sauna, a kids training pool and a jacuzzi. It was very lively too, with lots of people making use of the facilities. One weird thing is that a one day guest pass was £12 yet a 5 day one was £10 - go figure!

In our child-free days we were members here and should we be able to afford it in the future we…read morewill rejoin. It is one of the more expensive gyms in the area but you do get what you pay for. There are two gyms (general and women only) along with a separate free weight area, and one studio. There are two pools, one of which is outdoors. This is lovely in the summer and a big hit with families. The main thing that distinguishes this from other gyms are the tennis courts. There are two types of membership. The cheaper option is the Health and Fitness which is everything except the tennis, and then there is the full membership which does include the tennis. There is a lovely club area with a costa coffee and a nice air conditioned lounge.

This system of not being able to speak to the staff at The ITC. is useless and has been operating…read morefor quite sometime now. All I want to do ,not very often, is just to confirm a booking at The Tennis Centre,on the indoor or outdoor court, and I cannot do that,let alone speak to a human being. On top of that it still is one of the most expensive places to play tennis on an an outdoor public court in London ,which has very low maitenence,with the lines badly painted.Its been like this for at least 25 years, and Islington Council should be ashamed of what a shoddy example of taking money, when they took over from David Lloyd.Things do not improve. Peter Alton

Um, yeah, it is pretty good…read more But really, if you don't like Tennis you're not going to really care much for Islington Tennis Centre are you? But then again, if you don't like Tennis why are you reading this? What's wrong with you? Huh? Anyway, at ITC you get 6 indoor hard courts (medium pace) and 2 outdoor courts that are always closed because it rains a lot and they close them if it rains the night before. Wet balls, you see. Yep. Also, someone might fall and hurt themselves, I guess. I love Tennis though, so I love ITC. The instructor led courses are really well priced and the instruction seems to instruct you on Tennis quite well, which I find is often the point. Indoor courts means the Tennis is year round and there are lockers, showers, a gym and a super expensive racquet shop with stringing service should you need it. You don't have to be a member to book a court, but it is more expensive if you aren't and you can only book 5 days in advance with 7 days in advance for a member. ITC's downside it its popularity; it is often very difficult to book a court and even if successful you can only book for an hour (around 20 pounds on this date). That isn't nearly enough time for me to flail about unconvincingly and still feel that I got my money's worth so for that reason (as well as price) it loses a star. However, it is one of the best places to play Tennis in London and well worth checking out. They also have drop-in Tennis sessions, where I imagine you show up and get schooled by a surly mustachioed club pro. Or perhaps own the court with your penetrating backhand line drive. Either/Or.

This is a wonderfully old-school and sophisicated London members club - perfect for a game of lawn…read moretennis or just hanging out drinking tea and reading a book in one of the beautiful conservatories or on the terrace (I did the latter!) You can only get in here with a member - and most people are either married into or born into membership at Hurlingham because the wait is around 15 years - but luckily members can bring a bunch of people at a time. The grounds are gorgeous and with a perfect weather weekend you can spend hours wandering around and taking in the beautiful scenery. If you decide to opt for a membership, by the time your name is at the top of the list 15 or so years down the track, you may just be about nearing the right age to fit in with the clientele here. Yes, I'm talking OAPs. This club is a million miles away from the media crowd you find in most well known members club, this really is a place for the old-school English gentleman in his suit - which gives it a special vibe. Oh and don't forget your crisp whites on the tennis courts, no other gear allowed here!

This private club is a wonderful sanctuary in the middle of busy London…read more Its grounds are simply divine and the view onto the Thames is really gorgeous. You feel like you've stepped into some alternate universe where everyone is friendly and nice. There's a great playground for children, an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi i think, tennis courts, croquet lawns etc. There are the usual rules regarding wearing only white. The restaurant is also quite yummy though I wouldn't say it's mind-blowing. The BBQ in the summer is delicious though! Obviously the down-sides are that it's ridiculously expensive to become a member and the waiting list is close to almost a century.

Nestled in the natural womb of Crouch End, under the…read moreraging heights of the always obtrusive, sneering snobbery of Shepherds Hill, Coolhurst is a home for those who seek the thrill of sport , tempered with an egalitarian enviroment . Truly , all are welcome , princes and paupers , proffesors and ill-read , gay or straight , black or brown or white or yellow ,( or even green -- hee, hee ) . Party politics, is left at the door , all philosophies are welcome - red , blue, yellow , - ( even green -' hee , hee hee ) , oh and Remoaners ,so I've been told. Fun for all the community, and all the family. All this of course, it depends on If really can stomach the mind numbingly tedious game of lawn tennis and it's aficionados Hours of fun to be had for all.

Talk about a foiled plan, but we went for a game all prepared with paraphanelia and turned out…read morethere were not courts free. So my friend and myself just landed up using the sufficient cafe and watched the others play. Watching is good too, since you get to talk about the style and technique of players. Haha. The have a small shop selling basic tennis equipment. So please book before you go to play. The courts seem fine, by the standards I've seen elsewhere in Lawn tennis. Coaching facilities available for young and adults. They have 12 courts.

Alverstoke Lawn Tennis, Squash and Badminton is a truly family oriented rackets club. There are 10…read moretennis courts including a locally unique indoor court, a flood lit outdoor court and eight other all-weather outdoor courts. Add in two squash courts and the facility to play badminton and racketball and you have an unbeatable opportunity for young and old to learn, improve and compete in a variety of racket sports. With a Clubhouse, licensed bar and regular socials, the Club offers a total solution for all the family.

Alverstoke Lawn Tennis, Squash and Badminton is a truly family oriented rackets club. There are 10…read moretennis courts including a locally unique indoor court, a flood lit outdoor court and eight other all-weather outdoor courts. Add in two squash courts and the facility to play badminton and racketball and you have an unbeatable opportunity for young and old to learn, improve and compete in a variety of racket sports. With a Clubhouse, licensed bar and regular socials, the Club offers a total solution for all the family.

A great badminton club. The courts are dedicated badminton courts and some of the best in the…read morecounty, with half sprung wooden floor and court heaters. Showers and changing facilities could do with a referb, but where doesn't! There is large windows for good viewing of the on court action, and most importantly a nice bar (with pool table and sky sports) for post match drinks! I would note that the bar currently doesn't accept card. For squash and tennis players, those facilities also look top notch.