Basketball in London: Where to Watch and Play

Basketball is England's second most popular team sport after football, and London is at the heart of it. The capital has a professional club, a growing women's game, youth programmes in every part of the city and courts in parks and schools across every borough. Whether you want to watch the professionals or pick up a ball yourself, this guide explains where to go and how to get started.

Watching professional basketball in London

London Lions are the capital's professional basketball club. The men's team competes in Super League Basketball (SLB), Great Britain's top men's league, which FIBA, the sport's world governing body, recognises directly. The club also plays in European competition in the EuroCup, organised by Euroleague Basketball. In 2023-24, the Lions became the first British club to reach the EuroCup semi-finals.

Men's and women's games

The Copper Box Arena

Built for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Copper Box is fully indoor and seated, with the seating wrapped closely around the court. Most men's home games are in the evening, with some on weekend afternoons. Most are at the Copper Box Arena, but some are played at NCC Hackney, so always check the venue on the fixture list and your ticket before you travel. If you've never been, our guide to your first London Lions game explains what to expect.

NCC Hackney

Women's games at NCC Hackney offer a closer-up atmosphere. Games are often at weekends, and the venue has no parking, so public transport is best. See the club's NCC Hackney venue information for travel and entry details.

Check the full fixture list for men's and women's home games.

The NBA in London

The NBA has staged regular-season games at The O2 in London since 2011, when the Nets played the Raptors in the city's first regular-season game. These games sell out quickly and bring global stars to London, but they're occasional events. London Lions offer professional basketball in the city throughout the season, in an arena where every seat is close to the court.

How British basketball differs from the NBA

British and European basketball follows FIBA rules. Games have four 10-minute quarters rather than the NBA's 12, players are allowed five fouls rather than six, and the three-point line is slightly closer to the basket. The style often places more emphasis on passing and team play.

Playing basketball in London

Outdoor courts

London has outdoor basketball courts in parks, estates and schools across the city, and most park courts are free to use. Basketball England's Court Finder helps you find indoor and outdoor courts near you, and its #ProjectSwish scheme provides free nets for outdoor courts that need them.

Court etiquette

• If a game is in progress, ask to join or wait for the next one.
• Share half-courts when the court is busy.
• Take your rubbish home and respect local residents, especially in the evening.

Clubs and leagues

Joining a club is the best way to play regularly. Basketball England's Club Finder lists affiliated clubs, which offer beginner sessions, training and leagues, with qualified coaches and safeguarding measures in place. Read Basketball England's guide to getting started in basketball for both tools and more ways to play.

Ways to play

• 5v5: the traditional game, played in clubs and leagues
• 3x3: a three-a-side format that began as streetball and is now an official FIBA, Olympic and Commonwealth Games sport
• Pick-up games: informal games on outdoor courts
• Solo practice: shooting and ball-handling on your own

Basketball for children

Youth sessions

London Lions run community sessions for young people across north, east, south and west London. No experience is needed, and beginners are welcome. Find your borough on the club's youth basketball pages to register your interest. The pathway runs from under-6 to senior basketball, and the club also runs holiday camps through the school holidays.

In schools

The London Lions Foundation offers free school visits, with assemblies and beginner taster sessions, through the school visits page.

Safeguarding

Lions head coaches hold an enhanced DBS check and a Basketball England coaching qualification. Affiliated clubs found through Basketball England's Club Finder also have safeguarding measures in place.

Why basketball is growing

Basketball England reports that more than a million children and young people in England play basketball every week. It needs little equipment, can be played indoors or outdoors and suits mixed groups.

Watching or playing: where to start

What to watch for at a game

Once you know a few basics, a live game becomes more rewarding.

• The shot clock: teams have 24 seconds to shoot, so watch it count down as a possession develops.
• Three-pointers: shots from outside the arc are worth three points and can turn a game quickly.
• Defence: home crowds get loudest when the opposition has the ball.
• Fouls: a player who commits five fouls leaves the game, so coaches manage their stars carefully.
• The final minutes: close games often come down to the last few possessions.

Following the season

The basketball season runs through autumn, winter and spring. London Lions play league games in Super League Basketball, cup ties and European games in the EuroCup, so there's a mix of domestic and international nights through the season.

Getting to games from across London

The Copper Box is easy to reach from most of London. The Elizabeth and Central lines serve Stratford from the west and the City, the Jubilee line from Westminster and London Bridge, and the London Overground from north and west London to Hackney Wick.

Basketball for adults

It's never too late to start. Many affiliated clubs in London run sessions for adult beginners and returning players, and 3x3 leagues and pick-up games offer a less formal way to play. If you played at school, a recreational session is a good way back in. Basketball England's Club Finder lists clubs near you, and most clubs are happy for new players to try a session before joining.

Coaching and officiating

If you'd rather help than play, Basketball England runs courses for coaches, referees, table officials and statisticians at every level. Clubs across London rely on volunteers, and coaching is a practical way to stay involved in the sport.

Basketball and accessibility

Basketball can be enjoyed by everyone. At the Copper Box, wheelchair and ambulant tickets come with a free companion ticket, and the arena has accessible toilets and changing rooms. For players, wheelchair basketball has its own clubs and leagues across the country, and many clubs welcome players with a range of abilities.

Whichever way you get involved, watching and playing feed each other. A live game shows what good basketball looks like, and playing helps you appreciate the skill on court.