Fishing clubs are a fantastic way to enjoy the more social side of fishing. And London is home to a fantastic range of fishing clubs. There are member-only options for serious, experienced anglers and family-friendly clubs that are suitable for fantastic days out with the kids.
The majority of these clubs own multiple coarse fishing waters across the south of England. Although some – like Shadwell Basin Fishing Club – are renowned for having just one high-quality water. Shadwell Basin itself, obviously. So see which clubs take your fancy here.
BMAPS has three separate lakes all in southwest London that are all exclusive to members. No day tickets are allowed. The club is run by a committee who are overwhelmingly friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have about the lakes.
One of my favourite features about the club is the lake access. Instead of being bailiff-reliant – although of course there’s always one present – you are sent access codes as you become a member or when you book a session.
Potomac Lake in Gunnersbury Park once held the British record for pike at 38lb 4oz. Whilst this behemoth is no longer there, 20lb plus pike and 30lb plus carp are present.
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Thames Young Mariners
Thames Young Mariners is somewhere between the two, but closer to Potomac than Shadwell’s Pool. Stocked with Bream, Trout, Carp, Catfish, Dace, Eel, Grayling, Perch, Pike, Roach, Rudd and Zander – alongside sea fish like mullet.
Shadwell’s Pool
Shadwell’s Pool at Barnes is the smallest of the three lakes at one and a half acres and five feet deep. Stocked with Bream, Carp, Eel, Perch, Roach and Rudd
Potomac Lake
Potomac Lake was originally a clay pit that is up to 24 feet deep. Stocked with Carp, Eel, Perch, Pike, Roach and Rudd
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12 month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one day license for just £6.
Membership at BMAPS grants you access to all three fishing waters should you wish. Although you can also buy a Gunnersbury Potomac only membership or a Shadwell and Thames Young Mariners option.
The all-in option comes in at around £200 per year (with the year running from April – March) and night fishing is an add-on.
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Uxbridge Rovers Angling Club
Founded in the late 19th century, Uxbridge Rovers Angling Club is – apparently – one of the oldest angling societies in the UK. As a club member, you get access to 20 rivers, canals and stillwaters across West London, Surrey and the Colne Valley. Including access to one of our favourite pike fishing spots in London, Golf Course Lakes.
If you’re a West Londoner who’s serious about coarse fishing on rivers and canals, URACS owns several miles of the River Colne, Thames, and Cherwell including five miles of the Grand Union Canal. If you’re more of a specimen carp hunter, the club also owns multiple historic old gravel pits that are now hunting grounds for large carp.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12 month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one day license for just £6.
At just £120 for an annual membership and guest tickets available – as long as they’re accompanied by members – URACS is excellent value for the waters it has on offer. Night fishing is also available on multiple waters.
Address: URACS, Club Secretary6 Mallinson rdSurreyCR0 4UL
South London Fishing Clubs
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Shadwell Basin Fishing Club
Shadwell Basin Fishing Club is a fantastic east-end fishing club located in the heart of St Katherine’s Docks. Unlike the majority of ‘London’ centric fishing clubs, its easy access – just a five-minute walk from Wapping station – is perfect for the car-less urbanite who hates lugging fishing gear around for hours.
With a good head of big Carp reaching up to 30lb, Shadwell Basin is a relatively well-kept secret when it comes to carp fishing in London. Jacob Worth – Jacob London Carper for the Youtubers among us – has done an excellent review of the venue on My Gilly which is worth a read.
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Just Shadwell Basin itself. Which – although small in size – always has space for anglers on the bank. It just doesn’t seem to be well-known.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
There’s no website available for membership inquiries, but you can contact the club via its Facebook page or via the contact details section here.
In recent times the club has created a moving pontoon as part of the Canada Water development project. You can set up and fish from the pontoon itself, even camping there if night fishing is your bag.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
There are no explicit details about membership, fees and regulations, but you can join the club’s waiting list here. Unfortunately, the 200 or so members are joined by an additional 200 on the club’s waiting list.
Thamesmead Town Angling Club own three lakes – Birchmere, Swimming Pool and Gallions in Thamesmead, South London. The lakes do hold some big Carp and have been restocked in recent years and their proximity to the river is somewhat alluring. The day ticket availability is great for any budding angler.
Birchmere is most famous for holding the British pike record of 41lb. This is surprising given the lakes only reach seven feet in depth. Whilst this lake no longer holds fish that size, it’s still one of London’s best pike fishing spots. Even if it’s only to say ‘I was there.‘
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Birchmere Lake, an 11-acre lake in Southeast London that was restocked recently and is one of the few lakes that has good disabled access. Gallions Lake is a similar size and depth, situated right on the bank of The Thames, As is Swimming Pool Lake. A fishing venue as close to a leisure centre as you can find.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
Day ticket fishing is available for non-members on the lake. If you’re looking for a night fishing venture, then you’ll need to purchase an annual membership.
Lee Green Angling Club is a friendly venture in the heart of South London that primarily fish day tickets waters in Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Essex. The majority of the fishing is match-based but in easy-to-fish waters.
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Lee Green Angling Club owns a suite of waters across the southeat, including:
Pittlands Lakes, Horsmonden
Tylers Common, Brentwood
Arrans, Essex
Orchard Place Farm, Paddock Wood
Lake Sophie, Marden
Monks Lakes, Marden
Woodpecker Lake, Worth
Oast Farm, Buxted
Lucks Lake Fishery, Paddock Wood
Claygate, Marden
Hartley Lands, Cranbrook
Chart Lake, Chart Sutton
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
For match-based fishing, you’ll need to pay an excess per outing, but it’s very reasonably priced.
A really interesting club and unique venue in Southwest London, Wimbledon Park Angling Club is a mysterious not-for-profit that’s been running since 1948. The club only owns one lake – surprisingly on Wimbledon Park – but puts a lot of emphasis on water quality and preventative measures around pollution and stocking levels.
You cannot join the club without being proposed and seconded by two other members. And with capacity at its max it’s unlikely you’ll be able to join anytime soon.
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Wimbledon Park Angling Club is a one-lake club on Wimbledon Common. The lake itself has undergone a number of pollutant and cormorant-centric hardships in recent times. But the habitat biodiversity and ecological improvements has put the lake – and club – in much better stead in recent times.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12 month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one day license for just £6.
Wimbledon Park Angling Club has a strict limit for the number of anglers that can hold a license – 150 – and there’s no room for additional members.
And it’s not easy to get your application through – prospective members can only join a waiting list, having first been proposed and seconded by two existing Club members.
Started in 1933 by a keen group of local fishermen, Barnet and District Angling Club has a number of unique and shared stillwaters and stretches of river on the outskirts of London. If you’re a North Londoner and a lover of river fishing, BADACs is worth checking out.
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BADAC has a number of venues around (albeit not in) the London area, including:
The club also has a number of shared waters you can take advantage of.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
You can apply to join BADAC here. For new members, the total cost is £109 for your first year and £80 for every year after that.
Address: Barnet and District Angling Club85 Highland DriveBusheyHertsWD23 4HH
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London Anglers Association
With a veritable suite of waters across the south of England – including lakes, rivers and canals – the London Anglers Association has some of the most unique venues. Hemingford Grey Pit is an extraordinary-looking disused gravel pit that’s home to some monster Carp. But it’s no beginner venue.
There are some day tickets available if you want to try before you buy. But this only applies to Britford Lake, where you can purchase a £ 10-day ticket, alongside Bures and Stollies. Although you can only go to the last two with a member.
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The London Angler’s Association has a number of stillwaters primarily in Essex, Cambridgeshire, 14 miles of the Grand Union Canal (from Tring to Hertfordshire) and stretches of 11 different rivers including The Thames, Lee, Cam and Great Ouse.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
Address: The London Anglers’ AssociationIzaak Walton House2a Hervey Park RoadLondon E17 6LJ
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River Lea Angling Club
Formed in 2013 by anglers for anglers with an interest in fishing the River Lee Navigation, running downstream from Waltham Abbey in Essex to Tottenham in North East London.
As an East Londoner, this stretch of river owned by the club is a stretch I’ve fished numerous times (with varying degrees of success). But the abundance of structure, canal boats and wildlife make for fascinating walking.
Ponders End Lock (Lock 14) is famed for its pike fishing. There are some deeper pockets of water and canal boats moored nearby that create some excellent hideaways for pike. The whole Lea Valley walk makes for a beautiful day out.
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6 miles of coarse fishing on the famous River Lea from Waltham Abbey to Tottenham Lock. The most commonly known species include Carp, Chub, Bream, Roach, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Pike, Dace, Gudgeon and Bleak.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
You can apply to join The River Lea Angling Club here. It really is one of the best value memberships out there in the London area if you’re a river / coarse fishing lover. You will need ID to complete your registration.
Harrow Angling Society is a family-friendly fishing club with four lakes in the heart of the beautiful Colne Valley. Founded in 1937 the club prides itself on its family-friendly nature and ‘a state of the art booking system that is the envy of many clubs.’ Their words, not mine.
HAC is stocked with specimen Carp and a good head of Bream, Tench and other coarse fish in a legitimately stunning venue(s). One of those fishing spots where catching is a bonus.
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HAS has four lakes in the Colne Valley – including a couple of thankfully disused gravel pits which are always specimen carp meccas – that vary in size, depth and environment.
Harefield No. 2 – a mature 50-acre gravel pit that has been restocked twice in the last five years
Rowley Lake – a glorious four-and-a-half acre, tree-covered lake with an abundance of wildlife. For the nature lovers.
Wild Fowl Lake – a beautiful lake in the heart of the Colne Valley that has been left largely untouched for many years and is a bit of a mystery
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12 month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one day license for just £6.
You can apply to join Harrow Angling Club here. Much like Wimbledon Angling Club, HAC requires you are proposed by a current member and a waiting list is the only option.
Membership: runs from June 16th – June 15th
Visitor tickets: only permitted on the Harefield Lakes – much like night fishing
Junior membership: there are now tiered memberships available for under 16s
Hadley Angling and Preservation Society Is a small, friendly club that was formed in 1982 to control fishing at Jack’s Lake in Hadley Woods, Barnet. Owning one of London’s premier carp fishing destinations – recently restocked and a very pretty little lake -HAPS has also managed to create one of the best angling atmospheres around. Say that five times fast. It’s a cracking place to spend a morning, weekend or season.
The lake is available to both members and guests, with members benefiting from night fishing opportunities, a cordoned-off section of the lake and club-arranged matches and coach outings for club members.
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The Hadley Angling and Preservation Society – or HAPS – runs a pretty little lake in North London called Jack’s Lake. One of my favourite carp fishing venues in London.
The lake’s 44 pegs – 27 of which can be fished on a day permit – is a pretty little stillwater that’s recently been restocked with over 200 Carp that are equally rich in silverfish and Perch. Even a few Pike.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12-month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one-day license for just £6.
You can apply to join HAPS here. It’s very reasonably priced for both day tickets and annual membership and for season ticket holders you get access to a private section of the lake and night fishing.
Adult Membership: runs from June 16th – June 15th
Day tickets: £8 for one rod, £13 for two
Junior membership: under 12s fish for free and over 12s for £3 per rod
Remarkably a fly fishing club in central (well relatively central) London exists. A place where you can enjoy the outdoors with a few flies without leaving the urban sprawl.
Legend has it in the early 1980s a few fly fishermen joined forces at The Ferry Boat Inn (a hidden gem of a beer garden in Tottenham by the wetlands) and started a fly fishing club. There’s now in excess of 100 members.
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With membership at Walthamstow’s premier fly fishing club you get access to three reservoirs at Walthamstow Wetlands – The East Warwick and Reservoirs 4 and 5.
You need an environment agency fishing license for any freshwater fishing in England (except the River Tweed). If you don’t want to purchase a 12 month license -although it’s only £30 – you can purchase a one day license for just £6.
Hi, I'm Harry. A keen, albeit exceedingly average fisherman. I've spent the last few years trawling London's waterways with - if I'm being kind - varied success and would love to help you avoid the mistakes I have made.
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