The 20 best golf courses in London

As a firmly football-oriented city and one of the world's largest urban areas, London is not a place many people associate with quality golf. However the UK's capital punches well above its weight in terms of its golfing offering.

From the historic courses of the city's affluent southwest to hidden gems that dot secluded stretches of parkland throughout the city, London boasts a huge array of outstanding courses, many of which can be readily visited by any golfer and, in many cases, aren't actually all that well known by the city's residents.

What, then, defines London? Do the further flung courses of the Surrey Sandbelt, for instance, get a shout? As is tradition, we're using the historic bounds of the M25 motorway, widely seen as the unofficial boundary of greater London for this list. Surrey gets plenty of recognition anyway.

Ironically, this actually disqualifies the London Golf Club, which lies just beyond the confines of the M25 in Kent, but we've decided to be kind and include it anyway.

Fear not, however, as there are dozens of golf courses well within these bounds, many of which are rapidly gaining acclaim as some of the best in South East England. 

Here, then, are the very best golf courses in London and the greater London area. To keep things easy, we've broken this guide up by area, and given many London golfers don't drive included a handy guide to the easiest public transport links to each course. But as is fitting, let's start with our absolute favourite course in the nation's capital right now.

The best golf course in London for 2026

The Addington

Location: Croydon, CR0

Green fees (weekday): £175

Nearest railway station: South Croydon (National Rail)

The Addington is easily the most exciting course in London right now, which is interesting because it has more than a century of history, plus one of the nation's heathland layouts, to call its own already.

Extensively redeveloped over the last six years, The Addington has morphed from a forgotten, neglected golden age gem into one of England's finest heathland courses. Indeed, it was originally laid out by the legendary pairing of JF Abercromby and Harry Colt with the express purpose of challenging the likes of Sunningdale, Woking and Walton Heath. 

Now, with work done to bring the course into the modern age while venerating Colt and Abercromby's original vision, it's more than worthy of giving any of these esteemed tracks in Surrey and Berkshire a good run for their money. 

Expanded green sites and a full bunker renovation programme have brought conditions to a world class status, while The Addington's more undulating layout makes for a truly interesting and varied test of heathland golf. We don't doubt that The Addington will soon come to be recognised among the UK's very finest inland courses, and to sweeten the deal, it lies just 9 miles from Central London.

Visit The Addington

The best golf courses in South West London

Walton Heath

Location: Walton on the Hill, KT20

Green fees (weekday): £275

Nearest railway station: Tadworth (National Rail)

Yes, Walton Heath is a Surrey sandbelt course. Indeed, it's one of the quintessential Surrey sandbelt courses, and couldn't feel further removed from London. But it does lie within the confines of the M25 (indeed, you can hear the cars on the motorway on many of the holes), so we've decided to count it. After all, it's too good not to.

Both Walton Heath's Old and New courses are Herbert Fowler designs, the former being the the only course in southeast England to have hosted the Ryder Cup outside of Wentworth. 

The Old remains the pick of the two, however these days a composite course is used for major events – in 2023 it held the Women’s Open where Charley Hull threatened to break her major duck before Lilia Vu ran away with the title. Walton Heath is also a celebrated stop on the Senior Open rota – a collection of clubs that runs The Open roster very close, and plays host to the Walton Heath trophy, one of the nation's most esteemed amateur tournaments for both men and women.

Walton Heath stands alone from other Surrey Heathland courses thanks to its open, bouncy nature, with many going so far as to call it an inland links.

Visit Walton Heath

Royal Wimbledon

Location: Wimbledon, SW19

Green fees (weekday): £55 (Conditions apply)

Nearest railway station: Wimbledon (Thameslink, National Rail)

A suitably prestigious spot given the postcode it resides in, Royal Wimbledon doesn't have the grand slam status of its neighbouring tennis club, but is well worth a visit all the same – if you have the links required to get on.

One of the oldest clubs in England, the game has has been played by members of Royal Wimbledon since the 1860s, with the first 18-hole layout set out on Wimbledon Common in 1874. Harry Colt, then a member of the club, was then commissioned to lay out a bespoke course for the club in the late 1910s, and the rest is history, with recent remodelling carried out by the experts at Mackenzie & Ebert.

A remarkably pretty and tranquil course, Royal Wimbledon offers a stern test of beautiful parkland golf, its tight, undulating fairways lined by ancient oak trees. In a surprising twist for a parkland track, thick gorse is also a constant factor, liable to swallow up errant shots. 

While all of this makes for one of the city's best value rounds at just £55, the main issue is access. Royal Wimbledon is strictly reserved for members and their guests, with exceptions made for reciprocal members and residents of the local Merton area.

Visit Royal Wimbledon

Royal Mid-Surrey

Location: Richmond, TW9

Green fees (weekday): POA

Nearest railway station: Richmond (District Line, Mildmay Line, National Rail)

Sat almost literally in the shadow of Kew Gardens' iconic Pagoda, Royal Mid-Surrey channels the serenity of Richmond's most historic royal parkland, snaking its way through a section of the Old Deer Park (sadly, there are now no deer left in residence).

Golf has been played on the site since the 1890s, but the signature course members know today was laid out by five-time Open champion JH Taylor. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, was club captain in the 1920s, leading to the club attaining Royal status.

Despite the history, however, both the golf and the atmosphere here are notably relaxed, the club being proud of its younger member base, family feel and opening to visitors at select times. The older JH Taylor course is renowned for its deep bunkers and bumpy, linksy fairways, while the the shorter Pam Barton is a fun par 68 jaunt that measures just 5,521yds.

It's also one of the most accessible courses in the area, located just a few minutes walk from Richmond station for commuters.

Visit Royal Mid-Surrey

Coombe Hill

Location: Kingston upon Thames, KT2

Green fees (weekday): £180

Nearest railway station: New Malden (National Rail)

Much like The Addington, Coombe Hill brings a patch of classic golden age golf closer to Central London, this time in the auspicious surrounds of Kingston upon Thames.

Laid out by JF Abercromby, who also designed Worplesden and the aforementioned Addington, Coombe Hill is less a classic heathland track and presents more wooded, parkland-style terrain, creating a green oasis in which one can often forget the bustle of the city beyond its bounds. 

Stunning flowers border the greens and fairways in peak season, giving the course an almost Augusta-esque quality, while deceptively undulating green complexes and elevation changes ensure that this is one of the sternest tests of parkland golf to be found anywhere in the city.

Visit Coombe Hill

London Scottish

Location: Wimbledon, SW19

Green fees (weekday): £35

Nearest railway station: Wimbledon Park (District Line)

While Royal Wimbledon has since moved on to new pastures, the strip of Wimbledon Common on which it used to play golf is still used by the members and guests of London Scottish. Indeed, records suggest that the London Scottish Rifle Volunteer Corps, who founded the club, might have actually played here first.

True to its 150-year-old roots, golf at London Scottish is short and sweet, ambling over a flat patch of rolling heathland that blends naturally into the rest of the common. It's just 5,500 yards long and plays to a Par 68, but tight routing, some very long par 3s and small greens mean that you still need to be on your A-game to post a good score here.

Either way, London Scottish is a mighty fun test of golf and, with green fees starting at £35 for casual visitors, one of the most accessible clubs in the area. In a fun quirk, all golfers must play in a plain red upper garment of some description – so dress accordingly.

 Visit London Scottish

Fulwell

Location: Hampton Hill, TW12

Green fees (weekday): £100

Nearest railway station: Fulwell (National Rail)

Sat on Hampton Hill just south of Twickenham, Fulwell is perhaps the only course in Greater London to boast design input from both Harry Colt and Augusta National architect Dr Alistair Mackenzie, both of whom worked to expand the course in the 1920s from the original JH Taylor layout.

Most of the modern design, however, is down to former Colt partner John Morrison, who laid out the foundations for the re-opening of the course after part of the land was requisitioned during World War II.

Classic parkland golf is the main offering at Fulwell, with tight tree-lined fairways, an abundance of handsome oaks and one of the area's prettiest clubhouses awaiting players at the end of play.

Visit Fulwell

The best golf courses in West London

Ealing

Location: Greenford, UB6

Green fees (weekday): £70-£100

Nearest railway station: Perivale (National Rail)

Widely held as one of London's best-kept golfing secrets, Ealing Golf Club lies just a short stroll from the Perivale tube station, yet harbours a genuine James Braid design, with further modifications carried out by Harry Colt for good measure.

Built on flats beside the River Brent, the river's waters provide some of the toughest obstacles on this otherwise classic parkland course. Further work has been carried out to make Ealing a surprisingly stern course to play, and its difficulty and conditioning have actually led England Golf to designate it as a Championship venue, the club hosting the prestigious English Champion Club Tournament each year.

Visit Fulwell

London Airlinks

Location: Hounslow, TW5

Green fees (weekday): £27

Nearest railway station: Southall (Elizabeth Line, National Rail)

London Airlinks existed in relative obscurity for much of its history, but in recent years has embraced a new identity as a growing hotspot for young golfers wanting an accessible, historic place to play true links golf in the heart of London.

Remarkably open given its setting, London Airlinks rolls peacefully over a patch of land formerly occupied by Heston Aerodrome (hence the name): once London's main airport before the opening of nearby Heathrow. A links course was laid out over the land before its closure in 2014, however Glendale Golf stepped in to renovate the course in an eight-year project. 

Extra drainage and USGA standard greens and bunkers were installed, meaning London Airlinks is now one of the only places in the city you can truly play year-round. 

Whether in summer or winter, it's easily one of the most unique golf experiences to be found anywhere in the city, with a true rolling links that, at its most elevated points, offer panoramic views over the entire city. And as a bonus, it costs less than £30 to play.

Visit London Airlinks

The best golf courses in North London

The Grove

Location: Watford, WD3

Green fees (weekday): £235

Nearest railway station: Watford Junction

Yes, we know Watford isn't in London, but The Grove sits within the M25 and just a short hop from the end of an Overground line, so we'll allow it.

Regardless, The Grove does more than enough to earn its place in any list, boasting not just one of Hertfordshire's best-regarded country resorts, but a scenic parkland course that's considered among England's 100 best golf courses. It even has a World Golf Championship hosting gig to boast of (won by Tiger Woods, no less).

This, of course, goes entirely without mentioning The Grove's new piece de resistance, The Kingdom: TaylorMade's new state-of-the-art fitting centre and HQ, which resides on the grounds and adds to this seclusive slice of golfing nirvana.

Hadley Wood

Location: Barnet, EN4

Green fees (weekday): £200

Nearest railway station: Cockfosters (Piccadilly Line)

A genuine Alistair Mackenzie course, in North London? Yes, this is the case at Hadley Wood, which has the unique claim of boasting the famed Augusta architect's only sole design in the south of England. 

Indeed, the legendary designer used the course as a blueprint to lay out many of his core tenets of course design, with the signature rolling bunkers and tiered plateau green complexes among the features here. 

As such, Hadley Wood represents one of the more expensive round in London, but sits well inside the list of England's top 100 courses, and is undoubtedly one of its most celebrated parkland tracks.

Highgate

Location: Highgate, N6

Green fees (weekday): £140

Nearest railway station: Highgate/East Finchley (Northern Line)

The leafy enclave of Highgate has plenty going for it, but few know about the golf course, which sits perched just between the northern reaches of Hampstead Heath and the neighbouring Highgate Wood. 

Highgate Golf Club doesn't present as a particularly stern test on paper, measuring just over 6,000 yards and ambling over relatively flat land. But it's mighty pretty all the same, and one of the most accessible courses in the area.

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Muswell Hill

Location: Muswell Hill, N22

Green fees (weekday): £80

Nearest railway station: Bounds Green, (Piccadilly Line), Alexandra Palace (National Rale)

Originally built as a 12 hole course overhauled by by James Braid in the years following World War 1, Muswell Hill is an underrated gem just a short walk from the charming suburb that lends it its name.

Not overly expensive to play and easily walkable, Muswell Hill prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere and sense of inclusivity. It's also just a short amble from not one but two prominent North London train stations, making it perfect for a post-work summer nine.

Visit Muswell Hill

The Shire London

Location: Barnet, EN5

Green fees (weekday): £110

Nearest railway station: High Barnet (Northern Line)

One of London's most unique layouts, The Shire London is a comparatively modern course, having first opened for play in 2007. 

Its key claim to fame is, of course, having the only Seve Ballesteros design in the UK, and this links-meets-stadium layout features all the unpredictable challenges you'd expect from the mercurial Spaniard. Routed around a giant 'S'-shaped lake (yes really), no two consecutive holes here have the same par score, while water hazards are a near-constant threat.

Visit The Shire London

The best golf courses in East London

Ingrebourne Links

Location: Rainham, RM13

Green fees (weekday): £75

Nearest railway station: Rainham (National Rail)

We bet you didn't know there was a genuine links course within the bounds of the M25, but venture east into Essex and that's what you'll find in the town of Rainham.

Ingrebourne Links is a relatively new addition to the area, built on an expansive 130-acre landfill site and opened for play in 2017. However it's already earnt significant plaudits, having been picked to host the 2025 PGA Club Professionals Championship, and now encompasses a full 27 holes. 

The most challenging 18 of the three 18 hole circuits measures a colossal 7,122 yards from the tips (including a 634-yard par five), making it potentially the longest golf course in greater London.

Visit Ingrebourne Links

Wanstead

Location: Wanstead, E11

Green fees (weekday): £50

Nearest railway station: Wanstead (Central Line)

An East London mainstay reborn for a new era, Wanstead is easily walkable from the area's Central line tube station and offers some of the most accessible high-quality golf in the city, along with genuine heritage that spans more than a century (Winston Churchill was an honorary member here).

A well-kept parkland course that winds its way through heritage trees, Wanstead delivers quintessential east of England golf, while the newly renovated clubhouse provides a social hub for members and visitors alike with its excellent food and beverage offering.

Visit Wanstead

West Essex

Location: Chingford, E4

Green fees (weekday): £85

Nearest railway station: Chingford (Weaver Line)

Despite the name, West Essex actually sits just within the official bounds of London, and boasts a proper London postcode for good measure.

'The West', as its known, as one of the most highly regarded courses in London's east, winding its way through the Epping Forest up to vantage points that look back beautifully over East London and the skyscrapers of canary Wharf. 

This James Braid design is also widely cited for its sneaky difficulty, with a super tight front nine, notoriously small, sloping greens (including the smallest championship green in England, nicknamed ‘the Frying Pan’ by members and measuring just 14 yards), and ample elevation changes on the back nine.

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The best golf courses in South East London

Dulwich and Sydenham

Location: Dulwich, SE21

Green fees (weekday): £90

Nearest railway station: Sydenham Hill (National Rail)

The leafy, affluent village of Dulwich feels like a natural spot for a great course, and it's just so at Dulwich & Sydenham. Laid out by Harry Colt in 1911, D&S winds its way through picturesque parkland, ambling up and down Sydenham hill while overlooking the grounds of the prestigious Dulwich College just nearby.

The golf is, as with any Colt course, excellent, but the views at the top of Sydenham Hill, which span Canary Wharf in the east all the way across to Wembley in the west, are even better.

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London Golf Club

Location: Sevenoaks, TN15

Green fees (weekday): £195

Nearest railway station: Longfield (National Rail)

The only course on this list that sits outside the M25, we're including The London Club because, well, look at the name. Besides, it's not that far, sitting just within Kent in Brands Hatch.

London GC makes the most of the space afforded to it by its countryside locale, boasting not one but two Jack Nicklaus-designed Championship courses. Exclusive to members, The Heritage is the OG, opened in the early '90s by Japanese businessman Masao Nagahara in response to the need for a proper Championship course near the capital, and has hosted European Opens.

 The newer International Course, which is public access, is slightly tighter but lacks none of Nicklaus' flair. It has fast, firm fairways, daunting tee shots and plenty of water hazards, as well as its own tournament bona fides, having hosted the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship and the Volvo World Match Play.

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Royal Blackheath

Location: Eltham, SE9

Green fees (weekday): £130

Nearest railway station: Eltham (National Rail)

Few golf clubs boast quite the heritage and drama of Royal Blackheath, and indeed the club has a claim to being one of the oldest in the world, tracing its lineage back to the Society of Blackheath Golfers, thought to have been founded in 1608. The course itself is younger, having been laid out in its current form by James Braid in the late 1920s.

History bleeds through every aspect of the experience at Royal Blackheath, which opens as a fairly open, straight forward parkland track before taking in some of South East London's best untouched heathland.

The true highlight, of course, is the 17th century clubhouse, which is one of the best in the world and houses one of the game's best club museums. It also serves as the backdrop to one of however English golf's most memorable closing holes, where the green sits between its outer walls and a strategic hedge you quite literally need to hit over. 

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