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Best Parks to Play Football in London

Once summer hits in the UK, there’s really nothing better than going to the local park with your ‘mates’ for a little ‘kickabout’ of ‘football.’ If you’re not from England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, that may have all just sounded like gibberish to you. But if you have gone to the park with your friends to play a friendly game of soccer at least once in your life, it is all the same – even in completely different countries across the world. 

If you live in the bustling city of London in the UK, you may think that finding a green space is quite difficult. However, if you have been fortunate enough to visit England’s capital, you will have found that London is home to thousands of acres of green space, containing parks that have spots specifically designed for running, ball games, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. 

Let’s discuss the best parks for a pickup football match in London after a long day in the office. 

Hyde Park

Hyde Park – by Ben Leto – Wikimedia Commons

If you want a great spot for your local league to get together for weekly matches and rivalry games, then the Old Football Pitches on the south side of Hyde Park is a convenient, easy to find, and massive space for all your pals to meet. Unlike other public football spaces, these pitches are well-kept – featuring 12 x 5-a-side pitches for smaller meet-up games and 6 x 9-a-side pitches for a more competitive atmosphere, Hyde Park has it all. 

If you fancy a post-game pint, the Serpentine Bar here is a great spot for a Smithwick’s – or more, if your team lost…

Holland Park

Formal Gardens Holland Park – By By Henry Kellner – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34781040

No other park in London contains Japanese-style gardens, mini waterfalls, and blossoming cherry trees. Not only does Holland Park celebrate our world’s diversity, but it is also home to a junior grass pitch and a full-size 11-a-side pitch that is available to hire for a full 90-minute game. If you get together 22 people to play a proper match, this boils down to less than £4 a person to hash out some old feelings.

Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park bandstand – By By ed g2s • talk – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119355

Known as the biggest outdoor sports area in the entire city of London, Regent’s Park is home to sprawling green spaces, sports pitches, and running trails. Complete with nine full-size football pitches, 25 five-a-side pitches, and two 9-a-side pitches, Regent’s has it all for a full day of football.

Adult pitches are rented at £78 for 2 hours – if you bring 15 mates, this boils down to less than £2.50 per hour per person. Not a bad deal considering a latte at Costa is £3.50. 

Victoria Park

Victoria Park Aerial – By By Matt Brown from London, England – Victoria ParkUploaded by BaldBoris, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16976710

Victoria Park is home to the local Tower Hamlets Football Club, boasting five winter league pitches, two summer league pitches, and plenty of tourists to sit alongside the grass and watch you go head to head with your arch-nemesis. 

Tufnell Park Playing Fields

Tufnell Park Station – By By TheFrog001 – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91384438

If you’re based in North London, this spot is a great park for a variety of team sports. Located by Whittington Park Football Pitch, Tuffnell is north of Marylebone in the N7 district. This park contains Islington’s only full-size grass football pitch, with the football available for hire by calling the Islington Tennis Centre. 

Market Road Football Pitches

Football Goal – By By Manuel Heinrich Emha – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=509546

If you take your football training seriously and want to rent a 4G astro pitch for an intense tactical session for you and your friends, head to Market Road to rent one of their two 11-a-side turf pitches or three 5-a-side pitches. 

Corams Field Pitches

Coram’s – By By ClemRutter – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63377120

Located in central London, Corams Field is home to three, 3G 8-a-side pitches – the best part? These pitches are FREE to use for you and your friends under 16 years of age. These guys know how hard it is to make minimum wage, go to school, and still have money for recreation – so they make it so you don’t have to stress about having a kickabout with your mates. 

With a full floodlight exterior, even if you get off work late, you can still come here for a small-sided game with your friends. If you are officially an adult and over 16 years old, the price of a full-field rental for an hour is around £130, coming down to around £8 per person. 

However, if you are between 16 and 25 years old, Corams has created a discount policy for young people. For 50% off the rate, coming to £55 per hour, this is a great deal for a weekend match for you and 15 friends for an 8-a-side game. 

Burgess Park Football Pitch

Burgess Park – By By Robin Stott, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76024805

Burgess Park has one 11-a-side football pitch on a 3G surface for hire. Located in Southwark in South London, you can get off the tube right at the Oval stop and walk on foot to this well-kept pitch. 

Open Monday to Friday from 10am until 10pm and the weekends from 9 am until 8pm, this park offers a pay-as-you-play basis to keep the costs low and the rewards high.