Cricket is one of the biggest games in London. From an international Test match or a relaxed afternoon watching club cricket on a village green, London is the best spot for enjoying the game.
This guide runs through the most important cricket grounds in London, what to expect at each, and how to catch a professional fixture.
Cricket in London
Cricket has been played in and around London since the 17th century, and the modern laws of the game were codified here in 1788 by the Marylebone Cricket Club.
The city is home to two of the most famous grounds in world sport, two first-class counties (Middlesex and Surrey), one of the marquee franchises in The Hundred, and dozens of community and village clubs scattered across Greater London and the surrounding home counties.
Historic cricket grounds in London
Lord’s, in St John’s Wood, has been on its current site since 1814 and is the headquarters of the MCC and the England and Wales Cricket Board. The Kia Oval, in Kennington, has been the home of Surrey County Cricket Club since 1845 and was the first ground in England to host a Test match, back in 1880.
Both are working stadiums hosting international fixtures every summer, and both run public tours year-round.
London Spirit and professional cricket
If you want a faster, livelier introduction to the game, London Spirit cricket is your best bet.
London Spirit is one of the eight founding franchises of The Hundred, the 100-ball format launched in 2021 by the ECB. Both the men’s and women’s teams play their home games at Lord’s and represent the historic counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Northamptonshire.
Playing cricket at London Colney Cricket Club
Watching the game is one thing, but if you want to play, then we suggest visiting London Colney Cricket Club. It sits just north of the M25 in the village of Shenley in Hertfordshire, around a 30-minute drive from central London.
It is a friendly village club with its own ground on Green Street, and cricket has been played in the area since 1858. Today it runs two Saturday sides in the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League and two Sunday sides for friendlies.
Where to watch a cricket game London has on offer
If you are planning to catch a cricket game London-side this summer, here is roughly how the calendar plays out:
- April to September: County Championship matches at Lord’s and the Oval. Cheap tickets, long days, traditional white-clothing cricket.
- May to July: The Vitality Blast T20 competition. Three-hour evening games, good for newcomers. The Surrey vs Middlesex London Derby regularly sells out.
- June to September: Men’s and women’s international fixtures, Tests, ODIs and T20Is at both grounds.
- August: The Hundred, including London Spirit home games at Lord’s.
- Year-round: Club cricket at venues across Greater London, including Shenley, Richmond, Wimbledon and Walthamstow.
For Test matches, book through lords.org or kiaoval.com at least six months ahead; Ashes summers in particular sell out within hours. Domestic T20 tickets typically start from around £27, with under-16s often charged just £1 at Surrey home games.
Top cricket facilities for you
Beyond match days, both major cricket grounds in London are worth a visit.
Lord’s runs guided tours daily that take you through the Long Room, the home and away dressing rooms (with their famous honours boards), the Real Tennis court, and the MCC Museum, which holds the original Ashes urn and the first Men’s and Women’s World Cup trophies, making it one of the oldest sporting museums in the world.
The Kia Oval offers a similar tour through the pavilion, the Surrey archive, and the famous gasholder views.
| Tour vs match day | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ground tour | Access to areas closed on match days, knowledgeable guides, year-round availability | No live cricket, less atmosphere |
| Match day | The atmosphere, players on the pitch, the proper experience | Higher cost, limited access to historic areas, weather risk |
What to bring on match day
- Sun cream and a hat (English summers are sunnier than the stereotype suggests)
- A light waterproof raincoat
- Cash for the ground (most bars are card-only, but tip jars and programmes vary)
- A small bag, both grounds enforce strict size limits, usually A4 or smaller
Activities to enjoy near the cricket grounds in London
One of the perks of cricket in the capital is that the two main grounds are near interesting neighbourhoods, so you can build a proper day out around the game.
Near Lord’s
- Abbey Road Studios and the zebra crossing: a five-minute walk from the ground. Recreate the Beatles album cover, but mind the traffic.
- Regent’s Park: 410 acres of formal gardens, a boating lake, and an open-air theatre right next door to the ground.
- London Zoo: at the northern end of Regent’s Park, about a 20-minute walk from Lord’s.
- Primrose Hill: a short walk north for one of the best free skyline views in London.
- Little Venice: pretty canal-side walk down to Paddington with waterside pubs and narrowboat cafés.
- Baker Street: three stops away, home to the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Madame Tussauds.
Near the Kia Oval
- Imperial War Museum: a 15-minute walk along Kennington Road, free to enter.
- Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens: the historic park just behind the ground, ideal for a pre-match picnic.
- Tate Britain: a 20-minute walk across Vauxhall Bridge, home to the largest collection of British art in the world.
- Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey: two stops on the Northern Line or a 25-minute riverside walk.
Visit London for the best cricket experience
The cricket grounds in London are hard to match anywhere else in the world. Whether you come for a Test, a London Spirit cricket double-header, a club game at London Colney Cricket Club, or simply a tour of the MCC Museum on a rainy day, the city is open arms to anyone who wants to learn about this beloved game.
Ready to plan your cricketing weekend in the capital?
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