This is a really pleasant area situated right in the centre of Haywards Heath. Pretty much every…read morebox is ticked that you would expect of a park. For children there is a sectioned off adventure playground with a decent rubber based safety surface. Teenagers get a skate park with a few ramps to flex some tricks on boards , bikes and blades. Sporty type can play tennis in the fenced courts. Finally, those that prefer to take things at a slower pace can relax on the maintained lawns or under some of the big trees dotted around the area. A number of benches are also situated on the outside if sitting on the grass isn't your thing. The park has male and female toilets, which is handy for longer stays and some of the paths winding around the park make for a good route if you want to have a jog or a stroll. The park also hosts a number of events over the year including a fun fair twice a year and also an open aired music concert. The location makes this a nice spot to have a break from your shopping, or to enjoy your lunch whilst having your break from work. Also, a good thumbs up to the council for the excellent job they do with maintaining the area.

Relaxing, big field for running or football.... They now even have exercise things. Oh a park,…read moretrees, Great for picnicking,

Hello there, this is a message to the members of the Holland Park Tennis Club. I am a tennis player…read moreand I would love to have a chance to play on grass one day! Since I am not a member myself and I am only going to be in London for the next 5 weeks, I was wondering whether I could play with one among you and so fulfill this little dream of mine. Thanks for your kind attention, Nino

This place is so much more than a tennis club; it's my second home. Tennis clubs and I have known…read morea few can be elitist, cold places, full of cliques and rules. Take Hurlingham, where if you're not wearing 87% white, some haughty octogenarian will shuffle over and delight in ticking you off. And where despite the fact they boast dozens of often deserted, pristine courts, you can't book for more than an hour. And don't get me onto the 10-year waiting list. HPLTC is infinitely friendlier with far more sensible rules. What makes it special is the fact it's small enough to encourage a community feel, but not so small as to feel claustrophobic. The grounds are also wonderful. If you don't have any outdoor space at home as I don't you can while away summer days with a few sets on grass courts, before collapsing with a newspaper and Pimms in a deckchair on their generous lawn. The club, tucked away in Holland Park, has a unique atmosphere and is the type of place where you can turn up alone and find someone to chat to and probably play with. There's a club night on Wednesday with a dinner afterwards, a singles league, tournaments, barbecues in the summer and a dedicated core of regulars. Really, if you're tennis-mad, as I am, there's no better place to be on a sunny day...and no better tennis club in London.

Really appreciated the friendly service in this shop, and liked their selection…read more When it turned out that we wanted something that they didn't have (it was unseasonal stock), the sales assistant simply wrote down where we could find it. I think that's very kind. We will go back, definitely.

A family run business that really puts their heart into it. Not intimidating in the slightest and…read morethey won't pounce on you either (I hate that, especially in a sport shop)! Customer service is obviously at the fore front and they will go the extra mile. You feel as if you are getting advice from a good friend as opposed to a sales person. They have an array of sport offerings but particularly specialise in cricket, tennis, rugby and fitness. The items and clothing that they stock is of top performance but also looks really good. In particular I have purchased some great running gear that performs well, is comfortable and is well styled. They have a great eye for product. They are an exciting addition to the Hove and Brighton community. I am all for championing good local retailers such as Nick Rivett Sport.

Alverstoke Lawn Tennis, Squash and Badminton is a truly family oriented rackets club. There are 10…read moretennis courts including a locally unique indoor court, a flood lit outdoor court and eight other all-weather outdoor courts. Add in two squash courts and the facility to play badminton and racketball and you have an unbeatable opportunity for young and old to learn, improve and compete in a variety of racket sports. With a Clubhouse, licensed bar and regular socials, the Club offers a total solution for all the family.

Alverstoke Lawn Tennis, Squash and Badminton is a truly family oriented rackets club. There are 10…read moretennis courts including a locally unique indoor court, a flood lit outdoor court and eight other all-weather outdoor courts. Add in two squash courts and the facility to play badminton and racketball and you have an unbeatable opportunity for young and old to learn, improve and compete in a variety of racket sports. With a Clubhouse, licensed bar and regular socials, the Club offers a total solution for all the family.

St Ann's Well Gardens is an attractive and traditional park bounded by Somerhill Road, Nizells Road…read moreand Furze Hill in Hove. There are entrances to the park from each road. Opened in 1908, the compact gardens have something for everyone: There's a wild woodland area, popular with dog walkers and wildlife enthusiasts, with different species of trees, birdlife and squirrels; two play areas for children (one for toddlers); a small pond; 8 tennis courts and a bowling green; an accessible sheltered 'sensory garden' with lots of scented plants, plenty of seats and a handrail around the perimeter; traditional lawns and flower beds; and a cafe, open 9-16.30h (depending on the weather - ring ahead on (01273) 735 187). Tennis courts can be booked on (01273) 292704 or online via the web-site. The gardens are named after a 'Chalybeate' (iron bearing) spring, famous for its health-giving waters. The well is supposedly known from Saxon times, although the dedication to Ann may reflect the popularity of dedicating wells to her after the return of Crusaders from the Holy Land from 1150 onwards. The iron-rich waters - which emerged with some force - were recommended as a tonic by Dr Richard Russell (1687-1759) and by Mrs Fitzherbert (1756-1837), the friend of the Prince regent, later George IV. Around 1800 an imposing pump room was built over the spring to accommodate the substantial number of visitors who came to 'take the waters'. Towards the end of the 19th century, artesian wells sunk locally meant that the flow of the waters had considerably declined and the enterprise closed. The Pump House on the site was demolished in 1935, and a small 'Wishing Well' now marks the spot. A small (and rather unreliable) spring now feeds a stream through the park. The gardens are busy all year round with families and dog owners, and especially so in summer. They were awarded a Green Flag in 2006 for their quality and the Council's commitment to nature conservation on the site. It's a favourite spot for mine for a walk, fresh air and a cup of coffee!

This park is somewhere we still travel back into Hove for. We moved to Worthing from Hove in 2006…read moreand instantly regretted not having somewhere as lovely as this within walking distance! Our children never tire of the extensive playareas with the biggest slide they know of. The cafe is always good for tasty wholseome food at very reasonable prices.

This system of not being able to speak to the staff at The ITC. is useless and has been operating…read morefor quite sometime now. All I want to do ,not very often, is just to confirm a booking at The Tennis Centre,on the indoor or outdoor court, and I cannot do that,let alone speak to a human being. On top of that it still is one of the most expensive places to play tennis on an an outdoor public court in London ,which has very low maitenence,with the lines badly painted.Its been like this for at least 25 years, and Islington Council should be ashamed of what a shoddy example of taking money, when they took over from David Lloyd.Things do not improve. Peter Alton

Um, yeah, it is pretty good…read more But really, if you don't like Tennis you're not going to really care much for Islington Tennis Centre are you? But then again, if you don't like Tennis why are you reading this? What's wrong with you? Huh? Anyway, at ITC you get 6 indoor hard courts (medium pace) and 2 outdoor courts that are always closed because it rains a lot and they close them if it rains the night before. Wet balls, you see. Yep. Also, someone might fall and hurt themselves, I guess. I love Tennis though, so I love ITC. The instructor led courses are really well priced and the instruction seems to instruct you on Tennis quite well, which I find is often the point. Indoor courts means the Tennis is year round and there are lockers, showers, a gym and a super expensive racquet shop with stringing service should you need it. You don't have to be a member to book a court, but it is more expensive if you aren't and you can only book 5 days in advance with 7 days in advance for a member. ITC's downside it its popularity; it is often very difficult to book a court and even if successful you can only book for an hour (around 20 pounds on this date). That isn't nearly enough time for me to flail about unconvincingly and still feel that I got my money's worth so for that reason (as well as price) it loses a star. However, it is one of the best places to play Tennis in London and well worth checking out. They also have drop-in Tennis sessions, where I imagine you show up and get schooled by a surly mustachioed club pro. Or perhaps own the court with your penetrating backhand line drive. Either/Or.

Talk about a foiled plan, but we went for a game all prepared with paraphanelia and turned out…read morethere were not courts free. So my friend and myself just landed up using the sufficient cafe and watched the others play. Watching is good too, since you get to talk about the style and technique of players. Haha. The have a small shop selling basic tennis equipment. So please book before you go to play. The courts seem fine, by the standards I've seen elsewhere in Lawn tennis. Coaching facilities available for young and adults. They have 12 courts.

Truly amazing place just a little short of coaches and a set of excellent 9 courts. Not massively…read moreexpensive and you don't have to be a member to play.