Frequently asked questions

From 1 February 2026, improvement works will begin at the pavilion buildings in Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park. During this period, the pavilion buildings will be closed to the public until April 2026. Outdoor sports facilities will remain open and accessible throughout.

Temporary reception points, toilets and changing facilities will be available while the works take place. However, as our facilities will be reduced, we encourage visitors to arrive ready to play wherever possible.

While the cafés are being upgraded, a temporary catering service will operate, offering outdoor seating and tables only. Please note that temporary café opening hours may vary during the works, so we recommend checking on‑site for the most up‑to‑date information. A reduced temporary sports retail offer will also be available at each location, and stock will be limited during this time.

Please be aware that there may be temporary path closures and diversions, and visitors are advised to follow local signage.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time.

 If you have any further queries, please use our contact form here.

Yes, an accessible toilet will be available at Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park during the programme of works.

During 2026, a short programme of works will be carried out to repair the shelter near the tennis courts. These works are not expected to impact public access to the courts. Toilet and café facilities are located nearby for visitor convenience.

The Courts at Hyde Park and The Courts at The Regent's Park are open Monday to Sunday, 7am to 9pm. The Courts at Greenwich Park are open Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm during the summer and  Monday to Sunday, 8am to 4pm during the winter. 

The Hub in The Regent's Park is opens at 8:30am Monday-Sunday all year. Closing at 4:30pm Nov-Dec; 5pm Jan-Mar & Oct; 7pm in Apr & Sep; 9pm May-Aug.

Cricket in Greenwich Park is open May to August. Weekdays match start time: 4pm. Weekends match start time: 12pm.

Swimming at The Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park is available on weekends from mid-May, and daily from June to mid-September. Opening hours are 10am to 6pm.

Boating in Hyde Park is open daily between late March and October, and Wednesday to Sunday in November to March (weather dependent). The Boathouse is open from 10am, but closing hours vary across seasons - closing at 6pm in April and May; 8pm between June and August; 7pm in September; dusk in October to March.

Boating in The Regent's Park is available from late March to October, with opening hours from 11am on weekdays and 10am during the weekend. Closes times are 5:30pm from April to May; 6:30pm from June to September; dusk in October.

Boating in Greenwich Park is available during school holidays and at weekends, from April to October. Open from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm (these times are a guide and may change according to daylight provision).

Yes, tennis racquets are available to hire at The Courts in Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park, at a cost of £5 per player. 

Please be advised that during the works programme scheduled between February and March 2026, a temporary reduced sports retail offering will be in place at each location. Stock availability will be limited throughout this period.

Yes, you can hire a padel racquet from us at The Courts in Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park, at a cost of £5 per player.

Please be advised that during the works programme scheduled between February and March 2026, a temporary reduced sports retail offering will be in place at each location. Stock availability will be limited throughout this period.

The Courts at Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park offer a demo service, where for £25 you can demo the latest racquets on offer through our sports retail provider, All Things Tennis. If you decide to purchase a racquet the £25 will be deducted from the price of the racquet.

All Things Tennis recommend holding a valid ID card for the duration of the demo service. If no racquet is purchased after the demo, the £25 fee is non-refundable. The fee cannot be used towards other products, such as balls or accessories, and cannot be converted into store credit. 

Please be advised that during the works programme scheduled between February and March 2026, a temporary reduced sports retail offering will be in place at each location. Stock availability will be limited throughout this period.

To book activities at The Courts in Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park, or Greenwich Park, you’ll first need to create an account with us. For all other bookings and enquiries, please follow the booking process outlined on our website for your chosen activity.

No, all our sports facilities are card payment only.

All court bookings are made through our online booking system. You’ll need to create an account before making a reservation. Use our availability timetable to find a suitable court.

Tennis and padel courts can be booked up to seven days in advance. If no slots are currently available, please check back regularly, as new court availability is released daily at 7am.

In line with our sports bookings terms and conditions, each person may book one court per day. 

No, you’ll need to book private coaching lessons in advance, with one of our approved coaches. All LTA tennis coaches and fully-qualified padel coaches are self-employed and organise their own diaries. Browse the coach profiles and contact them direct to book.

Book a private coaching lesson

Booking tennis or padel classes online means you can see all availability at a glance, and it’s the simplest way to reserve a space. If you’d rather speak to someone, our customer service is available to help.  

Contact us on 030 0061 2002

• Press 1: Hyde Park
• Press 2: The Regent’s Park
• Press 3: Greenwich Park

You can book weekly tennis or padel classes or socials online up to seven days in advance. We open bookings for classes at 7am, one week prior to the class starting.

Our six-rink bowling green in Hyde Park is open during our summer season, from Easter to late-September.

The simplest way to book a game of lawn bowls in Hyde Park is to book online using our online booking system. 

While it is possible to make card-only bookings, we strongly recommend booking ahead online as the bowling green is very popular during the summer. 

Note that it is possible to add additional players to an existing booking on arrival.

As part of the rink hire fee for bowls in Hyde Park, all the bowls and the jack are included.

Your comfort and safety is our priority, so please wear flat shoes or go barefoot. Dress to be comfortable while you play, there’s no need to wear 'whites'.

All private coaching is led by Royal Parks-approved, self-employed coaches who organise their own booking calendars. You’re more than welcome to browse our coaching profiles and check directly with a coach to enquire about their availability and fees.

Book a private coaching lesson

Private coaching sessions are bookable for up to three people, but you must let the coach know in advance as there may be an additional charge for extra players. If there are more than three of you interested in tennis or padel coaching, you can sign up for one of our courses or weekly classes.

We do our best to run sessions in all weathers. However, if heavy rain or adverse conditions make an activity unsafe, we may need to cancel. These decisions are made with care and consideration.

If poor weather is forecast close to your session time, we’ll make any decision as late as possible while still giving you notice. We aim to confirm cancellations at least one hour before your session begins.

In the event of extreme weather warnings from the Met Office, senior management will decide whether to cancel all bookings or keep venues open, depending on the circumstances.

If your session is cancelled due to adverse weather or another unforeseen circumstance, such as park closure or an emergency, we’ll let you know by email and/or text message.

If you’re unsure whether your session will go ahead, please contact the venue - but no earlier than one hour before your booking time.

Please refer to our cancellation policy for further details. 

Please refer to our cancellation policy.

Each booking type has its own cancellation policy.
Sports bookings at The Courts in Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park, and Greenwich Park can be cancelled through your online account. For all other bookings, please contact us as directed in the relevant cancellation policy.

If you need to cancel or rearrange your private coaching session, you’ll need to contact your coach directly. All our coaches are self-employed and manage their own booking calendars.

If the Met Office alert warns of 'extreme' weather such as heavy snow, strong winds or abnormally high temperatures, the senior park management team may decide to close facilities for safety reasons. Our cancellation policy  will apply.

You can make a block booking to play netball at both Hyde Park and The Regent's Park. Contact your local venue using our dedicated block booking form and we’ll be happy to block book courts for you up to four weeks in advance.

Schools and sports organisations may be able to block book even further ahead - find out more on our school bookings page.

Owing to site works at The Courts at Hyde Park and The Courts at The Regent's Park, table tennis is unavailable. Check back in a few weeks to find out when table tennis will be available for bookings.

Bookings include the rental of bats and balls within the booking cost.

If our adult tennis and padel courses are full, you’re welcome to ask to be put on the waiting list. If you want a regular heads-up on all our sports and leisure activities, including our sports courses and classes, sign up to our newsletter to stay ahead of the game.

Yes, from the end of March 2026, The Courts at Hyde Park and The Regent's Park will be available to hire. Please refer out more on our dedicated private hire page. 

Sign up to our newsletter to receive exciting updates about our event packages as soon as they launch.

Each type of booking has its own cancellation policy.

Payments are required at the time of booking, and we strongly advise to make your bookings in advance online. You can attend both Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park facilities, and if the activity is available, you will be able to book and pay.

Please note that our facilities are cashless and we therefore cannot accept cash payments.

If you’re having trouble logging into the customer portal, it might be because you have multiple accounts registered with the same email address.

To log in, please use your Customer ID and password instead of your email address. This helps the system know which account you want to access. You can find your Customer ID in previous emails from us.

Yes, concession rates are available at Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park for those over 65 years old, juniors up to 17 years old, full-time UK students, The Royal Park’s staff and friends.

These rates apply during our off-peak times. Proof of your status needs to be presented at reception at the time of booking or uploaded online when creating an account.

A child can be added to their parent or guardian's account within our booking system, Flow. If you haven't already created an account for yourself, click here to create one.

To create an account for your child, go to 'My Account' > 'Account Details' where you will be able to see the name of your account listed along with a '+ Create Group Member' button at the bottom of the page. Please click this button and follow the necessary steps to add your child as a group member to your account.

From here you will be able to book courses, holiday camps and other relevant junior activities associated to your child's age by using the correct group member from the drop-down box on the top ribbon on the page. This will mean that, for example, a Red Tennis Course can only be booked by a child aged six to eight years old.

Credits obtained at Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park or Greenwich Park when the venues were operated by Park Sports cannot be used for bookings via The Royal Parks Sports and Leisure.

If you have any questions about your Park Sports account or refund eligibility for unused credit, please visit the Park Sports website and complete their refunds form. Refunds will be issued back to your original payment method.

During refurbishment works at the pavilion buildings in Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park, retail and racquet re-stringing services will be limited. From 1 February 2026, please check availability at each location. Full service is expected to resume in April 2026.

Each boat can accommodate up to four adults and one child. For everyone’s safety and comfort, pets are not permitted, with the exception of assistance dogs, who are always welcome.

Our electric boats offer a smooth and effortless experience - simply press the control button and steer. They’re an excellent choice for visitors who may have accessibility needs or prefer a more relaxed journey.

Manual boats require pedalling and are ideal for those who enjoy a more active outing on the water.

To keep all visitors safe:

• Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over
• Every boat must include at least one adult
• Children under 12 months are unable to travel in the boats.

For more information, please visit our boating bookings cancellation policy page.

The Royal Parks may need to cancel bookings due to adverse weather conditions, as safety is always our top priority. If we cancel your session, you’ll be offered either an alternative date or a full refund. Find out more here.

Yes. Buoyancy aids are provided free of charge.

• Children under 12 must wear a buoyancy aid at all times
• From November to March, all visitors at Hyde Park must wear a buoyancy aid.

In Hyde Park, visitors can enjoy the Serpentine by choosing from electric boats, rowboats, and pedal boats. Each offers a different way to explore the water, whether you prefer a relaxed glide, a gentle row, or an active pedal with family or friends.

Toilets can be found just beyond the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen, situated on the eastern side of the lake. Clear signage is available on site to help guide you.

Boating on the Serpentine is available throughout much of the year:

Please note that during particularly busy days, we may need to close the queue slightly earlier to ensure all boats can safely return before closing. On‑site signage will display the last boat departure time each day.

Opening hours are weather‑dependent and may vary.

Please find out relevant pricing information by visiting our Boating in Hyde Park page.

Boating on the lake in The Regent's Park is available daily from April to October:

Please note that these times act as a general guide and may be adjusted in line with daylight levels and visitor safety.

Visitors can enjoy pedalos on the main boating lake. For younger visitors, the Children’s Boating Pond offers:

• Small hand‑powered boats suitable for children aged four to eight years
• Two‑seater pedalos for those aged nine to 17 years.

The pond is 60cm deep, providing a safe and gentle environment for younger boaters.

The Children’s Boating Pond opens:

For current prices, please visit our boating in The Regent's Park page.

To ensure everyone’s safety:

• Children must be four years or older to use the pond
• All children must be directly supervised by a responsible adult aged 18 or over
• Only one child per boat is permitted at a time
• The maximum weight for each boat is 70kg.

The closest toilets are a five minute walk north of the lake, just across the two nearby bridges. Clear signage around the park can help guide you.

Boating at Greenwich Park is available daily during school holidays and every weekend from April to October. The boating lake typically opens Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm, though these times may vary depending on daylight levels and weather conditions.

Visitors can enjoy:

• Pedalos that accommodate up to five people, perfect for families and groups
• Two‑seater boats, ideal for a gentler, more relaxed experience on the water.

The Boating Pond has a water depth of 40cm, offering a safe and shallow environment for young visitors.

For current prices, please found all relevant information on our boating in Greenwich Park page.

The Serpentine reaches a depth of two metres at its deepest point.

The designated swimming area is 100 metres long, offering plenty of space for both leisurely swims and more energetic lengths.

Changing rooms are located inside the pavilion, just a short walk from the Lido.

Each locker includes easy‑to‑follow instructions on the inside of the door. If you need any assistance, our friendly reception team will be happy to help.

Swimming equipment such as trunks, goggles and towels are available to purchase at the pavilion reception.

The Serpentine Lido is open for public swimming:

• Weekends from mid‑May
• Daily from June to mid‑September

This year, the Lido will reopen on 17–18 May (weekend only), and then fully from Saturday 24 May.

The Serpentine Lido opens at 10am and closes at 6pm.

To ensure a safe experience:

• Children under 16 must be accompanied both on the beach area and in the water by a responsible adult aged 18 or over who is a competent swimmer
• Children must be directly supervised at all times

For required adult‑to‑child ratios, please read our 'conditions of use' information on the swimming in Hyde Park page.

For the safety and comfort of all swimmers, inflatable pool toys, including lilos and large rings, are not permitted.

Please wear suitable swimwear designed for water‑based activities. Approved options include:

• Swimming costume, shorts, or trunks
• Body suit or burqini
• Lycra‑based leggings
• Lycra‑based fitted top or rash vest
• Wetsuit
• Swim caps and sun hats
• Masks, goggles, short fins, and snorkels.

For more information about the lido, please visit our swimming in Hyde Park page.

Please read more information on our swimming bookings cancellation policy here.

Bookings for swimming at the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park may be cancelled due to adverse weather. If so, an alternative date or full refund will be offered.