Here are 5 great parks, rich in sports and fitness facilities:
Tooting Common
Wandsworth’s biggest open space, perfect for personal trainers in London who want to get their clients outdoors for open air sessions.
There’s an athletics track at Tooting Bec, with 8 lanes, fully floodlit. It’s used by Herne Hill Harriers athletics club. Next to the track there’s a modern pavilion with a fully equipped gym, and changing & showering facilities. Ring 020 8871 7171 for more information.
Check out Tooting Bec lido, a huge outdoor swimming pool, a real gem for London swimming enthusiasts.
If you’re into horse-riding, there are horse-riding tracks through Tooting Common.
For keen runners, there are running routes ranging from 1km to 3km and 5km.
Battersea Park
Home of the Battersea Park Millennium Arena & All Weather Sports Ground, accessed from Albert Bridge Road, London SW11 4NJ.
Facilities include a running track, tennis courts (with an extensive tennis coaching programme), and two astroturf football pitches, also marked for hockey.
Wandsworth Common
Dorlcote Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 3RT.
175 acres of open space, with six hard tennis courts (ring 020 8871 4706 for booking details and tennis coaches), and sports pitches.
King George’s Park
Mapleton Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 3HS.
55 acres of open space for outdoor fitness and personal training sessions.
The park has a leisure centre, sports pitches, and 10 hard tennis courts.
Barn Elms Sports Centre
Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London SW13 ODG
This huge sports facility is great for outdoor tennis. There are 10 tennis courts, 6 astroturf tennis courts, and it’s a popular venue for tennis coaching. For bookings and opening times ring 020 8876 9873.
There are rugby pitches, football pitches, and (in the summer) cricket pitches and cricket nets. Changing rooms available.
Dominic Londesborough is a personal trainer in west London.