Whether you prefer watching or taking part, London offers numerous sports. The capital is home to some of the world's most famous sporting teams, tournaments and venues. There are also lots of ways to join in, with facilities available for nearly all types of sport.

Londoners are fiercely passionate about sport and take huge pride in their local teams. They tend also to support tournaments in the city, even if their team is not represented. As a result, tickets to bigger events can sometimes be hard to come by and it is worth booking well in advance.

Football

Football is the most popular sport in the capital, with the city represented by 13 professional teams, along with hundreds of amateur clubs. Six London teams ( Arsenal , Charlton Athletic , Chelsea , Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United ) play in the Premiership, arguably the world's toughest league, which features many of the world's leading players.

Premiership games provide a big budget spectacle, although tickets can be hard to obtain. For a similar atmosphere why not try one of the lower league fixtures featuring Barnet , Brentford , Crystal Palace , Leyton Orient , Millwall , Queens Park Rangers or Watford .

The football season runs from August to May with top games to see almost every week during this period.

Cricket

Cricket is a typically English sport played during the summer months. A match usually lasts at least six hours and is a wonderful way to soak up the sun and enjoy sport played at a more relaxed pace. Discover more about the fascinating history of cricket with the Lord's Tour .

There are two famous test match venues in London; Lords and the Oval , which annually play host to England international test matches (five day games) and limited over matches (one day games). London also has two major domestic teams, Middlesex and Surrey .

Rugby

Both codes of rugby ( Union and League) are played in London . Union is the more popular, with England international matches having a particularly big following, helped by the fact that they became World Champions in 2003 . International matches take place at Twickenham in South West London during the autumn and spring months. You can visit the Museum of Rugby and join a tour of the Twickenham stadium all year round.

Although growing, domestic rugby is less popular, with some London teams now playing first team matches outside the capital. Nevertheless, London still boasts four leading Union teams (London Irish Scottish Richmond, London Wasps, NEC Harlequins and Saracens) and one League team - London Broncos.

Tennis

London is the home of the most famous of all the Grand Slam tournaments; Wimbledon . The All England Lawn Tennis Club welcomes the world's finest players in late June/early July every year. During these two weeks, tennis fever grips the capital, though these days few British players make it to the second week of the tournament!

Queuing for tickets at Wimbledon is something of a tradition, and a unique experience. During the tournament long queues form, with people sometimes waiting all night for the best seats. The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour is open to visitors all year round.

Away from Wimbledon , London also plays host to a number of other leading tournaments. These include the Stella Artois Grass Court Championship during the first week of June, and the Masters Tournament at the end of November.

Other Sports

London is home to many other exciting sports events. Notable events include the Flora London Marathon , which takes place every April and is the world's largest marathon, while major athletics meetings also take place at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre during the summer months.

Horse racing is also very popular, with many Londoners enjoying a flutter on the outcome of races throughout the year. There are three courses around London : Epsom, which is home to world famous Derby , Kempton Park and Sandown Park . Greyhound racing is also well supported with afternoon and evening meetings at Crayford, Romford, Walthamstow and Wimbledon .

The river Thames is another famous London sporting venue, with boat races taking place during spring and summer. The most famous is the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge university teams, which dates from 1829.

Getting Active

If you prefer participating in sport to watching it, there's plenty to choose from no matter how short your stay.

Get on your bike at the Herne Hll Velodrome or embark on a cycling tour with the London Bicycle Tour Company . In winter, head to one of the outdoor rinks that spring up all over London including Somerset House , Kew Gardens and Hampton Court .

If you feel the need for speed, try Revolution Karting at Mile End Park or get wet at the Docklands Sailing & Watersports Centre . If climbing is your thing, select from numerous indoor climbing venues including the Westway Climbing Wall , the largest indoor climbing centre in the UK with over 2,000sq metres of walls.

London boasts an abundance of green space - perfect places for a gentle stroll or an informal game of football. Local borough councils provide community sport facilities. Get in touch with your local venues to find out what's going on near you.