Golf Courses in London, England: Where to Play, What It Costs & How to Get On (2026)

The men who invented modern golf course design lived and worked in London. James Braid, J.H. Taylor, and Harry Vardon — the Great Triumvirate, with 16 Open Championships between them — designed or redesigned most of the city’s established parkland courses. Harry Colt, the architect behind Sunningdale and Pine Valley, shaped Dulwich & Sydenham Hill. Alister MacKenzie, who went on to build Augusta National and Cypress Point, reworked Stanmore. John Abercromby designed Mill Hill in 1923. The oldest golf club in England — Royal Blackheath, founded in 1608 — is 12 miles from Trafalgar Square.

And yet London barely registers as a golf destination. Which means: less competition for tee times, real availability for visitors, and green fees that start at $23 (£18) for a municipal course designed by a five-time Open Champion.

This guide covers 30+ courses bookable through online platforms, from a £18 municipal round in Epping Forest to a $303 championship links in Kent. Most London courses operate on an inquiry basis — you’ll submit a booking request rather than getting instant confirmation — but visiting golfers are genuinely welcome at the majority of clubs, provided you follow the system. Here’s how it works.

All prices are in USD with GBP equivalents. Estimates are from club websites and booking platforms as of March 2026 and are subject to change.

London’s Golf Legacy in One Number: 16

Sixteen Open Championships won by three men who all designed courses you can play within an hour of central London. That’s not a statistic you’ll find attached to any other city on earth.

James Braid (five Opens) redesigned Royal Blackheath in the 1920s, shaped Muswell Hill and Bush Hill Park, and put his stamp on Chingford — which today charges £18 for a round on a course touched by one of the game’s greatest minds. J.H. Taylor (five Opens) designed Addington Palace in 1930, co-created Hendon with Vardon, and advised on Northwood. Harry Vardon (six Opens — still the record) worked on Bush Hill Park alongside Braid and contributed to Hendon.

Then came the Golden Age architects who took London’s parkland canvas and elevated it. Harry Colt redesigned Hendon in 1926 and worked on Royal St George’s. Alister MacKenzie — yes, the MacKenzie of Augusta National — reworked Stanmore in the 1920s. John Abercromby, whose Addington course in Surrey is considered one of the finest inland layouts in England, designed Mill Hill.

For visiting golfers, this means something specific: the courses here come with architectural context that most resort destinations can’t offer. You’re not just playing a nice parkland layout — you’re walking routing designed by people who won majors and then shaped the game’s future on these same grounds. The Fried Egg has excellent profiles of these architects if you want to go deeper.

At a Glance: London Golf Essentials

Most London courses are inquiry-based on booking platforms — submit a request for availability and pricing. Municipal courses accept walk-ups.

London Golf Courses You Can Book

Thirty-plus courses is too many to profile individually. Here are the ones that matter most for visiting golfers, grouped by what kind of experience and budget you’re looking for.

The Championship Day Trip: Royal St George’s — $303

Royal St George’s is not in London. It’s in Sandwich, Kent — about 1 hour 45 minutes from central London by car, or reachable by train to Sandwich station. But it’s the only London-area course on Tiger Booking with real-time pricing, and it’s one of the great links courses in the world.

15 Open Championships have been held here — more than any course outside Scotland. Collin Morikawa won the most recent in 2021. Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Greg Norman, and Darren Clarke all lifted the Claret Jug on this stretch of Kent coastline. The course was laid out by Laidlaw Purves in 1887, with later contributions from Colt and MacKenzie.

At $303 (~£240+) and par 70 across 7,204 yards of genuine links terrain — wind, dunes, blind shots, unpredictable bounces — this is the bucket-list round. Not a casual weekday add-on. Plan a full day, bring your game, and accept that the wind will have the final say.

Historic Parkland: The Heart of London Golf ($60–$150 / £50–£120)

These are the clubs where the Great Triumvirate and the Golden Age architects left their marks. Most are semi-private — open to visitors on weekdays with advance booking and a handicap certificate.

Royal Blackheath Golf Club — Inquiry
Founded in 1608, Royal Blackheath is the oldest golf club in England — and a strong contender for the oldest in the world. Redesigned by James Braid in the 1920s, the course sits just 22 minutes from London City Airport. 18 holes, par 71, 6,278 yards. The club invented the first open competition and the Spring Medal, the oldest trophy in golf. The history alone makes this worth the inquiry.

Addington Palace Golf Club — ~$88–$95 (£70–£75)
Designed by J.H. Taylor in 1930, set on the grounds of a mansion where Capability Brown landscaped the gardens. Par 71, 6,405 yards. Reachable by tram from East Croydon. The Taylor design rewards positioning over power — classic Great Triumvirate thinking applied to parkland terrain.

Bush Hill Park Golf Club — Inquiry
A Braid and Vardon collaboration — two members of the Great Triumvirate designed the same course. Winner of Golf Club of the Year at the England Golf Awards 2021, ranked top 5 nationally. Three Ryder Cup professionals came from this club. Par 70, 5,776 yards.

Muswell Hill Golf Club — ~$25–$38 (£20–£30)
One of the best-value established parkland courses in London. Inquiry-based, 18 holes, par 71, 6,383 yards. Reachable from Bounds Green station on the Piccadilly Line. A proper club with a proper layout at a price that feels like an error.

Dulwich & Sydenham Hill Golf Club — Inquiry
The Harry Colt connection. Colt — who designed Sunningdale, co-designed Pine Valley, and shaped Wentworth — worked on this south London parkland layout. Par 69, 5,919 yards, with mature woodland corridors and the kind of strategic green complexes that mark Colt’s best work.

Also worth inquiring about: Hendon (Taylor and Vardon, redesigned by Colt), Northwood (Taylor advisory), Mill Hill (Abercromby, 1923), Sundridge Park (solid parkland, 6,560 yards), Stanmore (MacKenzie redesign), and Highgate (Northern Line accessible).

Great Value: Under $45 (£35)

London has genuinely affordable golf — something that surprises most visitors.

Chingford Golf Club (Royal Epping Forest) — ~$23–$34 (£18–£27)
Municipal course, open to all, no handicap certificate needed. And yet: James Braid redesigned it in the 1920s. Set on the edge of Epping Forest, with the kind of mature woodland setting that exclusive clubs charge five times as much for. Par 72, 6,342 yards. Take TfL Rail from Liverpool Street to Chingford station.

Richmond Park Golf Club — Inquiry
Inside Richmond Park — one of London’s great royal parks, where deer roam freely and the skyline of the city appears on the horizon. Par 71, 18 holes. Accessible via the District Line to Richmond station, then a short taxi or bike ride.

Hounslow Heath Golf Centre — Inquiry
The practical pick for Heathrow travelers. Just 4.66 km from the airport — 11 minutes by taxi. 18 holes, par 69. If you have a morning before a flight, this is the only course in the series where you can realistically play within walking distance of an international terminal.

Brent Valley Golf Club — Inquiry
18 holes, par 67, 20 minutes from Heathrow. Another accessible option for west London visitors or airport-adjacent golfers.

How English Golf Works: Visitor Access Rules

This is the section that makes the difference between a smooth round and a wasted trip. English golf has its own culture — less restrictive than Germany, but more structured than Thailand or the US.

Visitor days: Most semi-private London clubs accept visitors Monday to Friday. Weekends are reserved for members at the majority of clubs. A few allow weekend afternoon play — check when you book.

Handicap certificate: Required at most established clubs. Bring your WHS (World Handicap System) card or your home club certificate. Maximum handicap limits vary — typically 18 for men, 24 for women. Municipal courses don’t require one.

Booking: Submit a request through the booking platform or call the club directly. Allow 48 hours to 2 weeks lead time, depending on the club and the season.

Walking is the norm. Buggies are available at most clubs but walking is expected. Pull trolleys are standard. No caddies at most London clubs (Royal St George’s is the exception).

Dress code: Enforced at every established club. Collared golf shirt, tailored trousers or shorts, soft-spiked golf shoes. No jeans, no T-shirts, no trainers.

Public vs. semi-private: Municipal courses (Chingford, Richmond Park, Lee Valley, Hounslow Heath) are open to everyone — no membership, no handicap card. Semi-private clubs accept visitors with the requirements above. Fully private clubs require a member introduction — not covered in this guide.

Getting to the Courses Without a Car

London is the only city in this series where public transport gets you to the golf course. A few routes that work:

Muswell Hill — Piccadilly Line to Bounds Green, walking distance to the course.

Chingford — TfL Rail from Liverpool Street to Chingford station. Edge of Epping Forest.

Highgate — Northern Line to Highgate station.

Richmond Park — District Line to Richmond, then a short taxi or cycle.

Addington Palace — Tram from East Croydon (direct).

Royal Blackheath — Southeastern train from London Bridge to Eltham, then taxi.

Hounslow Heath — 10-minute taxi from Heathrow Terminal 5.

No car hire needed. A golfer can fly into Heathrow, play Hounslow Heath that afternoon, and be back in central London for dinner.

Best Time to Play Golf in London

April–September is the core season: long days (sunset after 9 PM in midsummer), firm fairways, and the best course conditions. October adds autumn color to London’s parkland courses and is still very playable.

November–March is cold, wet, and short on daylight — sunset around 4 PM in December. Courses stay open but may close temporarily after heavy rain. Playable if you’re prepared, but not the trip to plan around.

Rain is possible any month. London gets about 600mm annually — not extreme, but bring a waterproof layer regardless of season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors play golf in London?
Yes — most semi-private clubs accept visitors on weekdays with advance booking and a valid handicap certificate. Municipal courses (Chingford, Richmond Park, Hounslow Heath) are open to everyone without restrictions.

How much does golf in London cost?
Green fees range from around $23 (£18) at municipal courses to $303 at Royal St George’s. Most established parkland clubs charge $60–$120 (£50–£95) for visitor green fees.

Do I need a handicap certificate?
At most established clubs, yes — a WHS handicap card or home club certificate. Municipal and public courses don’t require one.

What is the best golf course near London?
For history: Royal Blackheath (founded 1608, 22 min from the city). For championship links: Royal St George’s (15 Open Championships, 1h45m in Kent). For value on a designer course: Chingford (Braid redesign, from £18).

Can I play golf near Heathrow Airport?
Hounslow Heath is 4.66 km from Heathrow — about 11 minutes. Fullwell is 9.4 km (15 minutes). Both are bookable through online platforms.

Is London golf expensive?
Not necessarily. London has more municipal and public courses than most major European cities. A Braid-redesigned municipal course in Epping Forest charges from £18. The expensive end exists (Royal St George’s at $303), but the floor is remarkably low for a world capital.

Book Your London Tee Time

Most London courses operate on an inquiry basis — submit a request for availability and the club will confirm:

→ London Golf Courses on Tiger Booking — Browse 30+ courses, submit booking inquiries, and reserve tee times.

Where to Stay in London

London’s golf courses are spread across Greater London, but most are reachable from central hotels within 30–60 minutes by train or tube. Stay centrally and use public transport — it’s genuinely practical here.

→ LondonHotels.com

Green fee estimates are from club websites and booking platforms (March 2026). Most London courses on Tiger Booking are inquiry-based — contact for current rates. Prices are subject to change.