We can be a competitive bunch us Londoners, and sometimes there’s nothing better than smacking a ball with a few mates to let off some steam. Whether you’re wanting to find a bar with ping pong tables or a quiet outdoor spot for some table tennis on a sunny day, then this roundup should have you covered. So, without further ado, here’s our rundown of the best places to play ping pong in London:
Places to play indoor ping pong in London
1. Bounce, Farringdon and Old Street
Bounce is London’s bouncy pair of razzle-dazzle ping pong joints, with venues in both Farringdon and Old Street. Inside each of these quirky bars, you’ll find a distinctly modern space with food, cocktails, and ping-pong tables aplenty. This isn’t your teenage youth club, for sure, especially since Bounce have also made use of some nifty tech to turn table tennis into an epic night out for you and your pals.
In 2017, they revealed the marvellous next step in table-tennis history: WONDERBALL. Like Tron and ping-pong had a game-baby, this augmented-reality, projection-mapping, 3D-scanning immersive ball-hitting experience, features targets and objectives displayed on the surface in real time. They’ve also got beer pong too and a massive selection of drinks available at the bar – what more could you ask for? Cheers!
📍You’ll find Bounce at 121 Holborn, London, EC1N 2TD and at 241 Old Street, London, EC1V 9EY.
🚇 Nearest stations are Chancery Lane and Old Street.
2. Wapping Tavern, Wapping
A friendly spot just a stone’s throw from the River Thames in Wapping, the Wapping Tavern is a great place if you’re looking to try your hand at some ping pong in London. Their games room is located in the basement and contains not only table tennis tables but also pinball, smart darts, shuffleboard, pool, arcade games and even giant jenga too.
Add in 25 different craft beers and lagers on tap as well as cocktails galore, live sports on flatscreen TVs and regular pub quiz nights and you’ve got yourself a jolly good boozer we say.
📍You’ll find the Wapping Tavern at 78-80 Wapping Lane, London, E1W 2RT.
🚇 Nearest station is Wapping.
3. Bat & Ball, Stratford
The Bat and Ball is something of an institution in East London, and it’s pretty easy to see why. They’ve got five championship-sized ping pong tables, pool, live DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, beer and prosecco pong as well as a private karaoke booth with over 20,000 songs.
Based in Westfield Stratford City, it’s a fun and lively spot which is great if you’re looking to hold a hen or stag do or a birthday party too.
📍You’ll find The Bat and Ball at Westfield Stratford City, The Street, London, E20 1EN.
🚇 Nearest station is Stratford.
4. Players Social, Spitalfields
Next up on this roundup of the best places to play ping pong in London is Players Social – a lively joint in Spitalfields offering some pretty great pub grub-style food, classic cocktails and games of course (what would you expect given the name).
They’ve got multiple ping pong tables here as well as foosball and shuffleboard, and if you’re looking for some live music too, then this is the place to come in the Liverpool Street area. There’s Jazz every Friday from 7pm and live DJs will be spinning the decks every Thursday and Saturday.
📍You’ll find Players Social at 1 Crispin Place, London, E1 6DW.
🚇 Nearest station is Liverpool Street.
5. Heathcoate and Star, Leytonstone
As well as having the ‘biggest beer garden in Leytonstone’, the Heatcoate and Star is also a banging spot if you’re looking to challenge your mates to a game of ping pong or two. They’ve got several table tennis tables here, as well as two pool tables too, so however you choose to get competitive then you’ll be well catered for.
Their games room is also equipped with a massive projector screen, which they use to show all the biggest football, rugby, boxing matches and other sporting events too, and there’s banging Thai food rustled up here if you’re looking to replenish yourself pre- or post-match.
📍You’ll find the Heatcoate and Star at 344 Grove Green Road, London, E11 4EA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leytonstone and Leytonstone High Road.
6. The Crooked Billet, Clapton
With one of the largest beer gardens in the area, The Crooked Billet has deck chairs, bowls, a ping pong table and a baseball-style Camden Hells seating terrace, this is the ideal place to chinwag and spend a great afternoon with pals.
They also show sports on the big screen and have plenty of events on throughout the calendar year.
📍You’ll find The Crooked Billet at 84 Upper Clapton Road, London, E5 9JP.
🚇 Nearest station is Clapton.
7. Table Tennis Fight Club, King’s Cross St. Pancras
Rounding off this list of the best places to play indoor ping pong in London is Table Tennis Fight Club – an exclusive club where existing members recommend other players – forming a select membership of high-level participants who meet in secret locations to train and ‘fight’. While that may all sound a bit like a game of ‘Tekken’, they’ve also got weekend sessions in King’s Cross which is open to everyone – whether you’re a member or not.
However, if you’re wanting to join the ‘elite’ part of the club, then you’ve got to beat at least two current members – better get practising then!
📍You’ll find Table Tennis Fight Club on the First Floor of 134 Chalton St, Kings Cross, London, NW1 1RX.
🚇 Nearest stations are King’s Cross St. Pancras and Mornington Crescent.
Places to play outdoor ping pong in London
8. Granary Square, King’s Cross St. Pancras
Kicking off the list of where to play outdoor ping pong in London is Granary Square – the centrepiece of Coal Drops Yard which is famous for its eclectic eateries and steps overlooking the serene Regent’s Canal.
If you can tear yourself away from this particular suntrap – which regularly plays films and Wimbledon matches during the Summer months – then you can channel your inner Nadal playing ping pong on the two tables in The Granary. Best thing of all? It’s covered so no need to worry about the rain…
📍You’ll find Granary Square at 1 Granary Square, King’s Cross, London, N1C 4AA.
🚇 Nearest station is King’s Cross St. Pancras.
9. Burgess Park, Camberwell
One of South London’s most beloved parks, Burgess Park boasts a mahoosive 56 acres of greenness as well as a serene lake which is primed for fishing – and a couple of ping pong tables too for you to practise your swing.
They’re right by the tennis courts on the Western entrance, so you try your hand at both if you’re feeling particularly sporty. In fact, there’s a cricket pitch and even a BMX track here, so you can really go the whole hog!
📍You’ll find Burgess Park at Albany Road, London, SE5 0AL.
🚇 Nearest station is Elephant and Castle.
10. Brockwell Park, Herne Hill
Another one of South London’s green gems here, leafy Brockwell Park straddles the area between Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and Brixton. Spanning 51 acres, it’s a serene spot spanning green, rolling hills, a walled garden and duck ponds – though this changes during the summer months when some of the finest festivals in town take root in the western fringes of the park.
As you amble around, you’ll be able to soak up some of the finest panoramic views of the city and can stop for a dip in the Grade II-listed Brockwell Lido too if the weather’s playing ball. If you’ve still got the energy post-swim, then why not get your blood pumping playing some table tennis on their ping pong table? It’s located right by the lido entrance off Dulwich Road.
📍You’ll find Brockwell Park at Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PA.
🚇 Nearest station is Herne Hill.
11. Whittington Park, Upper Holloway
Taking its name from the popular pantomime character Dick Whittington, Whittington Park is a tranquil spot right by Upper Holloway OG station which offers a wildlife pond, wooded areas and even an RSPB sparrow meadow.
It’s also a great little spot to enjoy some outdoor ping pong in London. There are two tables here for you to get your game on, as well as an outdoor gym and a fully-lit astroturf football pitch.
📍You’ll find Whittington Park at Archway, London, N19 4RE.
🚇 Nearest station is Upper Holloway.
12. Parliament Hill, Gospel Oak
Not only famous for its panoramic views of London Town – best seen at sunset we’d suggest – Parliament Hill is also a good place to go if you’re wanting to play some ping pong. The table here is round and is designed to cater for six different players, so there’s plenty of scope here to get competitive with your mates and make a thing of it.
You’re also not far from the ponds, pubs and rolling green hills of Hampstead Heath – arguably one of North London’s biggest draws – so why not make a day of it hey?!
📍You’ll find Parliament Hill at Heath Lodge, London, NW5 1QR.
🚇 Nearest station is Gospel Oak.
13. Soho Square, Soho
Smack bang right in the heart of Central London, Soho Square is the place to go for creatives, actors and media-types who work in the surrounding area to pull up a pew for lunch – when the sun’s shining of course.
Should you be wanting to be a bit more active than just sunning yourself – then you’re in luck. There’s a ping pong table here right in the centre, so you’ll be able to play in front of some adoring crowds. No pressure then…
📍You’ll find Soho Square at Soho Square, Westminster, W1D 3QJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road.
14. Clapham Common, Clapham
Rounding off this list of the best places to play ping pong in London is Clapham Common in SW4. With plenty of spacious fields and long open paths (excellent for running might we add), this place is amazing for picnicking, getting involved in organised team sports or simply topping up that tan chilling in the sun.
It’s also home to festivals such SW4 and Yam Carnival, and if that wasn’t enough, they’ve also got some ping pong tables here for you to stimulate your competitive streak.
📍You’ll find Clapham Common at Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, London, SW4 9DE.
🚇 Nearest station is (duh) Clapham Common.
So there you have it – a rundown of the best places to play ping pong in London. Whether you wanna get boozed up with pals in lively spots such as Bounce or play a game in a peaceful park – hopefully this list has got you covered.