10 Of The Best Places To Enjoy Archery In London
This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.
Did you know that archery is one of the safest sports in the world?
In fact, it is over three times safer than golf and even safer than bowling.
Yes, you read that right. Research shows that out of every 2,000 people taking part in archery, only one injury is recorded.
Another awesome thing about archery is that it can be done indoors.
So, you can take the children along and not worry about them getting themselves looking like they took a dip in a bin.
Archery has many health benefits even though it is not the regular type of sport that makes you move around all the time, it still affects vital organs of the body.
Here are a few benefits:
- Drawing the bow requires energy and so it makes you burn calories, and exercise your back and arms.
- Archery increases the health of your heart by increasing its rate as you draw bows and shoot arrows.
- Stress relief is also one of the benefits of archery because shooting an arrow requires a great deal of focus and while you are doing it, you get your mind off your worries.
Whether you’re a London dweller or you are vacationing in the city, archery is a great activity and can be a great way to spend your time even with family and friends, especially if you want to go outside without really going outside.
Go shoot some arrows and see who gets to hit the bullseye first!
Best places for archery classes, parties and clubs in London
As a London archer, whether pro or just a newbie, you need to know the right places to take archery lessons, where to host an archery party and where to go so you can become a member of an archery club.
We have rounded up ten of these places to go for archery in London.
For £54 a year, you can become a full member of this highly revered archery club that uses Kensington Palace Gardens as a shooting space.
The offer is open for people between the ages of 18 and 50 who are willing to give the sport a try and let an arrow fly.
Still a beginner? They have beginner courses during winter and you can take have-a-go classes in summer.
Location:
- Outdoors – Perks Field, Kensington Palace, Bayswater Road, London W8
- Indoors – Holy Apostles Church Hall, 47 Cumberland Street, Pimlico, London SW1
The membership fee for the London Archers ranges from £5 to £54.
This archery company started in 2008 in Islington before moving down to South London in 2010.
Currently, they are operating with two indoor venues down at London Bridge passionately waiting to introduce you to the sport through their have-a-go sessions which are lots of fun.
They host events around the city for groups, companies, institutions and families.
Some classes are suitable for kids aged 13 and over.
Location:
The Downside Centre / Downside Fisher Youth Club, Coxson Place, Druid Street, London SE1 2EZ.
Have-a-go sessions start at £26.50 while the 5-week courses cost £160.
Hampstead Bowmen is a North London archery club which is small and super friendly and welcomes all levels of archers.
It caters for both newbie and experienced archers with indoor and outdoor target archery.
You can find them all year round shooting indoors at the Royal Free Hospital Recreation Centre in Hampstead.
From autumn to spring they shoot outdoors at their Highgate range at Avenue Road junction.
Experienced archers are invited to shoot as guests during their sessions or become a full member of the club.
Location:
Royal Free Hospital Recreation Centre with entrance on Fleet Road at the junction of Avenue Road to Stanhope Road.
Membership starts at £80 for seniors and £36 for Juniors.
Experience Archery is an open-to-all sort of place where anyone interested in archery is welcome so long as you are up to the age of 8.
You can go there to have fun with family with a have-a-go session.
You can equally decide to take it to the next level and become a full member of a club and start learning some really serious archery stuff. Yeah, they take this sport pretty seriously here.
The coaches are true professionals and can take you from a newbie to a pro if given the chance.
They are also a mobile company and can bring the fun way down to your house if you so wish.
There are lessons and there are parties too! It’s all fun and games really.
Location – Caxton House, St John’s Way, London, N19 3RQ.
Have-a-go sessions start at £25.
This is a friendly range club open to anyone of age who is willing to have a go at hitting a bullseye.
Newbie or pro, you can have great fun in their outdoor shooting range while developing your skills.
They are dedicated to promoting archery and offer to teach anyone willing to learn regardless of their ability.
Wheelchair users and visually impaired people are welcome.
Beginners are trained and encouraged to advance their skills to any level they are comfortable with. The more experienced archers are taught to be even better. Which one are you?
Location:
Harris Academy for Girls, Lennard Road, Bromley, BR3 1QR.
Beginners classes start at £85 and run for 4 weeks. The casual sessions cost £15 and full membership starts at £165 per term.
This is a high-standard archery club that offers beginners’ training, follow-on coaching, back-to-basics, work-around sessions and more.
They can even train you for a competition if you have reached that level and wish to compete in a tournament.
As their motto says, they strive for the highest standards so that you can reach yours. That’s to say that this is a place to go if you are willing to take this seriously.
They also organise corporate events, archery demonstrations and even school sports day.
One-on-one hour long sessions start at £50.
This is a great place for anyone to get inducted into the game of archery in a fun way. They have taster classes for beginners and you’ll be shooting your first arrow in 90 minutes.
Operating indoors, Archery Fit hosts a variety of events including Archery Fit, London Heat, Love Comes In Different Forms and more.
These are fun and interesting events where you can make Robin Hoods, hit bullseyes, win tournaments and have fun while at it.
Fancy shooting an arrow while dressed in a plush bird or dinosaur costume? Then head on to Archery Fit. You’ll love it there.
Take the little ones along, they have all that is needed to make them giddy with excitement.
Location:
Hatfield House, Merryweather Place, London, SE10 8EW.
Prices start at £30 for a one-off class and £150 for a full course of six lessons.
This club is a friendly club shooting a variety of bow types from recurve and compound bows, to traditional longbows and barebows.
Whether you are shooting for sports or leisure, they are there to show you the way and help you develop your skills.
There is an active Junior section where kids can learn the sport, compete and develop great relationships and team skills while at it.
They provide you with the equipment you need plus encouragement as you go on.
Location:
- Indoors – Aspire Centre, 337 Merton Road, London SW18 5JU.
- Outdoors – Oberon Playing Fields, Lindesfarne Road, Wimbledon SW20 0NW.
Prices start at £11 per session.
Do you wish to have a true outdoor archery feel, watch your arrow and hear it whooshing through the air? Then head on to Richmond for that experience.
The London School of Archery us a lovely outdoor archery range offering lots of fun outdoor activities for all levels of archers.
There are one-off taster sessions for beginners and more advanced lessons for more experienced archers.
There are events for company team building, archery parties for birthdays and weekend fun getaways.
Location:
187 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2AZ.
Sessions average £30 per person.
This is a whole different experience. It is an archery event club that is dedicated to blowing your mind with great archery events all around London.
They offer Archery Tag mini-games you can take part in.
When you book and pay for any of the events, you get the full package including equipment, gear, hosts, even an online page to manage the event.
This is great for stag parties, birthdays, and to hang out with friends or family.
Head on to one of these amazing places and get in touch with your inner Robin Hood and Princess Merida.
Or do you prefer Legolas, the beautiful elf archer from Lord of the Rings?
Go on, be whichever one you want. Let’s fly!