Whitehall Gardens (Victoria Embankment), ping-pong in Westminster

Photo: Tripadvisor

Whitehall Gardens (Victoria Embankment): Ping Pong in Westminster, London

FreeWalk-in2 tablesOutdoorGroups

Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London ยท SW1A 2HE

Whitehall Gardens is a small free public garden on Victoria Embankment in Westminster, and it is one of central London's easiest places to grab a casual game of outdoor table tennis. You get two permanent concrete-style tables set either side of the Statue of Henry Bartle Frere, so you can just turn up and play. It suits anyone wandering the riverside between Embankment and Charing Cross who fancies a quick knockabout, plus groups and families looking for something free to do. The single most useful thing to know: the tables are free and walk-in, no booking, but bring your own bats and balls. Free sets are sometimes available on site, though stock is not guaranteed, so do not rely on it. It is daytime play in a quiet, well-kept garden by the Thames.

The ping pong setup

There are two permanent outdoor tables, set either side of the Statue of Henry Bartle Frere in the gardens. They are fixed installations built to live outside, so they are there to use whenever the garden is open. There are no nets to hire, no attendant and no sign-up sheet. You play first come, first served, and on a quiet weekday you will often have a table to yourself. On warmer weekends it can get busier, so you may need to wait your turn or take the second table. It is casual park play rather than a club setting.

Good to know

It is completely free and you do not book. Bats and balls are sometimes available free on site, but stock runs out, so the safe move is to bring your own. There is no food or drink at the tables, though you are a short walk from cafes around Embankment and Villiers Street. This is daytime, daylight play in an open public garden, so plan around garden opening hours rather than evenings. The nearest stations are Embankment, about three minutes away, and Charing Cross, about five minutes on foot.

Get directions

Common questions

What is Whitehall Gardens?
It is a small free public garden on Victoria Embankment in Westminster, with two permanent outdoor table tennis tables set either side of the Statue of Henry Bartle Frere.
Is the ping pong free?
Yes. The tables are free to play and there is no charge to use the garden.
Do I need to book a table?
No. It is walk-in only, first come first served. There is no booking system.
How many tables are there?
There are two permanent outdoor tables, one on each side of the Statue of Henry Bartle Frere.
Do I need to bring my own bats and balls?
Bats and balls are sometimes free on site, but availability is not guaranteed, so it is best to bring your own.
What is the nearest station?
Embankment is about a three minute walk and Charing Cross is about five minutes on foot.

Other ping pong bars nearby