Sport is a vital component of everyday life in Britain…
We are a football mad country, and then when the sun shines we are cricket mad.
And then when the sun doesn’t shine (which is often) we can even be darts mad…
(Click on the image to re-direct to the sporting establishment)
Wembley Stadium
Wembley
The Home of Football in this football mad country, sits beneath its famous arch in West London, not far from town. The English invented the modern game of football, but alas have been fairly useless at it ever since (barring one memorable day in July 1966 when we won the World Cup). Any hint of a German or a penalty shootout is normally enough to send us packing. The Premier League, however, is a different story and is probably the most exciting league in the world, with numerous stadiums in London (Stamford Bridge, White Hart Lane and West Ham at the London (ex-Olympic) Stadium). There are many lower league teams with fanatical support - don’t miss QPR nestled in between the houses at Loftus Road, a short walk from Shepherds Bush. And Craven Cottage, home of Fulham FC literally right on the River Thames.
Lords Cricket Ground
St John’s Wood
Okay, okay so the rest of the world laughs at the English for being obsessed with a sport that lasts for five days and can all end happily in a draw. The players shake hands and go off and have a cucumber sandwich. It often features absolutely nothing happening for hours on end. But then suddenly everything happens. As the great Sir Don Bradman (an Aussie, argh, our cricketing nemesis) described it “Cricket is the ultimate battle between time and the mind”. And that is exactly it; it’s the only sport in the world that is 90% mental and only 10% physical. It lasts so long that a players’ mind can literally disintegrate to jelly. And Lords, in north London, is the rather splendid home of the world game.
Wimbledon Tennis
SW19
One of the great days of your life is waiting for you in this verdant corner of South London (SW19). For two weeks in late June/July, the English summer season is epitomised on these luscious lawns. Strawberries and cream, jugs of Pimms, colourful blazers, rain delays (this is England after all) and the danger of Cliff Richard singing in the stands. If, and it’s a big if, you can get tickets. Unless you have a pre-bought ticket (rare as hen’s teeth) you will need to join ‘The Queue’. Which could either mean a night in a tent, or no queue at all (as was the case the last time we tried), depending on who’s playing. If you are lucky, the tickets cost only £25 and you can wander around all the courts bar Centre Court and Court 1, an absolute bargain. Tip: go along at about 2pm, just after lunch, and you may get lucky. District Line to Wimbledon (30mins from centre of town).
Day at the Races
Epsom, Windsor & Ascot
Fans of horse racing will be very happy with what’s on offer around London. Epsom, home of the legendary Derby, is only 30mins drive from Central London, ditto the famous Royal Ascot if you want to don your glad rags and mix it with the glitterati. More down to earth meets include the lovely Windsor races, down by the river next to His Majesty’s Castle, who have evening races most Mondays of summer, and Kempton Races, also within the M25 circular road, so it’s also very accessible.
Golf at Stoke Park
Stoke Poges
Make like James Bond and head west on the M4 a couple of junctions, to this illustrious old golf club. Bond famously had a high-stakes round of golf here against super baddie Goldfinger in the 1964 movie. This is a nice day excursion from the Big Smoke, they have a spa, lovely restaurants, a tennis club (which hosts the Boodles Wimbledon warm-up event) and huge swimming pool. Just 30mins drive from West London. There are of course numerous golfs clubs dotted around London, so just Google around a bit for that.
Polo in the Park
Hurlingham Park
Polo has been played at this swanky club in Fulham since the 19th Century, but games ceased during WW2. Happily the sport has been re-introduced to the calendar with three days of high octane international polo each June. There’s big crowds, big jugs of Pimms (doled out from a converted red double decker bus) and big picnicking potential on one of the many perfectly trimmed lawns. If you miss this event, you can always head to Smiths Lawn in Windsor Great Park (30mins drive) for the royal treatment.
The London Marathon
26.2 miles - All over town!
Each year, millions of people watch and cheer the more than 40,000 participants from street corners and London pubs in what many call London's 26-mile street party. Some run for personal achievement, some to raise money for their favourite charities, and others run in outrageous fancy dress: last year there was a giant shoe, a double decker bus, and wide variety of dubious looking superheroes. Great places to watch from include Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Under no circumstances just turn up barefoot straight from the pub the night before, like some guy did last year.
Six Nations Rugby
Twickenham
The home of world rugby is in this little suburban corner of South West London. It’s not the easiest to get to because the roads will be jam packed, the trains will make you feel like the sardines in the tin had it good; last year’s attempt to cycle there ended in total farce (several pints of beer were involved, i’m not going to lie). However, the picnics in the car parks before the games are among London’s best parties. The game itself usually ends in England being even worse than last year… but once you’re safely back at the car park party afterwards all will be well with the world …
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley-on-Thames
Just an hour down the M40 every July is one of England’s greatest sporting spectacles, the regatta at Henley. The dress code is so strict here that you will not be allowed in if you are wearing a mini-skirt, and that goes for the men too. As powerful-looking rowers with v-shaped torsos plough through the waters of a particularly lovely stretch of the River Thames, everybody else parades around in brightly coloured blazers drinking from giant jugs of Pimms, and shouting ‘Hurrah’, and other things that only rowing types understand. Wear something pink and stripey, and they will probably let you in. Go by train from Paddington Station, via Windsor.