Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath (T3 round table): Ping Pong in Gospel Oak, London

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Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath, London · NW5 1QR

A free outdoor table tennis spot on Hampstead Heath, but not the flat table you know. This is a round T3 table, 2.6 metres across, built for triples: two teams of three playing all the way around the circle. It sits up near the Parliament Hill tennis courts, and you reach it by coming onto the Heath from the Highgate Road side. The first triples ping pong in the UK was played here, and the all-weather concrete table has been a fixture ever since.

Play costs nothing. You walk up and use it whenever the Heath is open, no booking. The one thing to sort is gear: bats and balls are available on site for a £10 returnable deposit, so bring some cash or your own set. It suits groups, families and anyone who fancies a daft, sociable game in the open air.

The round table setup

Forget the standard rectangle. This is a circular T3 table, 2.6 metres in diameter, with its own specially built net cross in the middle. The game is triples: two teams of three rotating around the table, so up to six people play at once. It was the first triples ping pong table in the UK and now lives permanently up on Parliament Hill. It is an all-weather concrete build, so it shrugs off the weather and is there year round. You can still knock about in twos if a full six is hard to round up.

Good to know

Play is free and there is no booking. You just turn up while the Heath is open and have a go. The catch is equipment: bats and balls are kept on site and you borrow them against a £10 returnable deposit, so carry some cash or bring your own set to skip that. The table sits near the Parliament Hill tennis courts, which is also where the booking hut and toilets are. It is open air with no shelter, so check the forecast before you trek up.

Getting there

Aim for the Highgate Road side of Hampstead Heath. Come in near the tennis courts and walk up towards the court booking hut, and the round table is a short way on from there. Gospel Oak Overground is the closest station, with Kentish Town a longer walk. There is a fair climb involved, but Parliament Hill rewards you with one of the best views in London once you are up top.

Get directions

Common questions

What is the Parliament Hill T3 round table?
It is a free outdoor table tennis table on Hampstead Heath, up near the Parliament Hill tennis courts. It is round rather than rectangular, 2.6 metres across, and built for triples: two teams of three playing around the circle.
Is it free to play?
Yes. Playing on the table is free and there is no booking. Bats and balls are available on site for a £10 returnable deposit, so bring some cash or your own set.
Do I need to book or can I just turn up?
Just turn up. There is no booking system. You use the table on a first come basis whenever the Heath is open.
How many people can play?
Up to six. The round T3 format is built for two teams of three rotating around the table, though you can also play in twos.
How do I get bats and balls?
They are kept on site near the tennis courts and lent out against a £10 returnable deposit. You get the deposit back when you return the gear, or bring your own bats and balls.
What is the nearest station?
Gospel Oak on the Overground is closest, with Kentish Town a longer walk. Enter the Heath from the Highgate Road side near the tennis courts.

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