Last updated: June 2026 · Written by the team at Badminton House
Quick Answer: Where to Play Badminton in London, Ontario
London splits neatly into low-cost club play, guaranteed dedicated court rental, public drop-ins, social leagues, and campus options.
Club
Best default: LBA for low-cost recurring play across several school gyms.
Rental
Ascend is the dedicated facility option when you want reserved court time and lessons.
Budget
Carling Heights and Stronach are the public drop-in choices for simple pay-per-visit play.
Social
Forest City Sport & Social Club and Meetup suit players looking for casual doubles and new partners.
London, Ontario has 20+ badminton courts across 9 venues as of June 2026. The London Badminton Association (LBA) lists active June/July sessions and a $5/night drop-in request form, with summer registration open. Ascend Badminton Centre — the city's first dedicated badminton facility — offers court rental from $18+HST/hour and group lessons. Carling Heights and Stronach remain the public recreation-centre options to check before heading out.
Choose Your Path
- Club play: Use LBA for recurring school-gym sessions and low-cost drop-in.
- Private rental: Book Ascend when you need guaranteed court time.
- Budget drop-in: Try Carling Heights or Stronach through City of London recreation.
- Social play: Compare Forest City Sport & Social Club and London Badminton Meetup.
- Junior or campus play: Review the kids, Western, and Fanshawe sections below.
In This Guide
- Quick Comparison — All Venues
- London Badminton Association (LBA)
- Ascend Badminton Centre
- City of London Rec Centres
- London Chinese Association Club
- Forest City Sport & Social Club
- London Badminton Meetup
- Lessons and Coaching
- Kids and Junior Programs
- University Badminton
- Tournaments and Competitive Play
- How to Choose
- What to Bring
- Frequently Asked Questions
All Badminton Courts and Clubs — Quick Comparison
| Venue | Type | Cost | Level | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBA (5 schools) | Club play, Mon–Sat | $5/night drop-in | Wed all-levels; other nights advanced | register@londonbadminton.ca |
| Ascend Badminton Centre | Court rental + lessons | $18–$28+HST/hr | All levels | 519-838-6655 |
| Carling Heights (8 courts) | City rec drop-in | $4.50/person | All levels | 519-661-2523 |
| Stronach (4 courts) | City rec drop-in | $4.50/person | All levels | 519-661-5575 |
| LCA Badminton Club | Community club | $15/season membership | All levels | londonbadminton.ca |
| Forest City Social League | Social doubles league | ~$130/season (individual) | All levels | 519-439-4263 |
| London Badminton Meetup | Casual drop-in | $6/session | 3 courts, 3 skill levels | Meetup.com |
| Western University Club | University club | $20/term | All levels (students) | @uwobadminton |
| Fanshawe College (8 courts) | College facility | Students / intramurals | All levels (students) | 519-452-4430 x14695 |
London Badminton Association (LBA)
The LBA is a registered non-profit affiliated with Badminton Ontario and Badminton Canada. It runs adult and junior programs at secondary school gyms across the city, Monday through Saturday. Drop-in costs $5/night (age 14+) — request a spot through the daily drop-in form on the LBA website.
LBA Club Play Schedule (check current season)
| Night | Time | Venue | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 7:00–9:30 PM | Montcalm Secondary School | Advanced |
| Tuesday | 6:30–8:30 PM | Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School | Advanced |
| Wednesday | 6:30–9:30 PM | Clarke Road Secondary School / Medway High School | All levels |
| Thursday | 7:00–9:30 PM | Central Secondary School | Advanced |
| Friday | 7:00–9:30 PM | Central Secondary School / Banting (Kids) | Intermediate+ / Kids |
| Saturday | 4:30–6:30 PM | Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School | Advanced |
Beginners: Wednesday at Clarke Road is listed as the main all-levels night. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are typically advanced, and Friday at Central is intermediate and above. Check the live LBA calendar because summer sessions can shift to Carling Heights or Stronach.
LBA Membership Pricing
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-in | $5/night | Limited spots, age 14+, request via online form |
| Season membership (1 night/week) | $25–$70/season | Sept–June (~40 weeks), varies by night |
| Student discount | $10 off per session | Valid student ID required |
Contact: register@londonbadminton.ca · londonbadminton.ca
Note: Sessions are held in school gyms — schedules shift for holidays, exams, and maintenance. Check the LBA schedule page before heading out.
Ascend Badminton Centre
Ascend Badminton Centre is London's first purpose-built badminton facility, operating since 2021 inside the Activityplex London building. It offers court rental, group and private lessons, and an on-site pro shop. If you want guaranteed court time without relying on school gym schedules, Ascend is the only option in London.
Court Rental Pricing
COURT RENTAL| Time Slot | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-peak (Mon–Fri 10am–4pm) | $18 + HST/hour | ~$20.34/hr all-in |
| Peak (Mon–Fri 4–11pm, Sat–Sun all day) | $28 + HST/hour | ~$31.64/hr all-in |
Minimum booking is 1 hour, with 30-minute increments after that. Online reservations required — no walk-ins. Book through Ascend's CourtReserve portal.
Hours
COURT RENTAL| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Tuesday | 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thursday | 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Saturday | 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sunday | 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
Address: 1305 Commissioners Road East, Suite 102 (Activityplex London), London, ON N6M 0B8
Contact: 519-838-6655 · admin@ascendbadminton.com · ascendbadminton.com
City of London Recreation Centres — Public Drop-In
Two City of London recreation centres have historically offered public badminton drop-in at $4.50/person, but the City and LBA both advise calling ahead because drop-in hours can shift with seasonal program registrations.
Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre
DROP-IN / COMMUNITY8 badminton courts — the largest public court setup in the city. Free parking on site.
| Day | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM | $4.50/person |
| Monday | 3:30 – 6:30 PM | $4.50/person |
Address: 656 Elizabeth Street, London, ON N5Y 6L3
Contact: 519-661-2523 · recreation@london.ca
Stronach Community Recreation Centre
DROP-IN / COMMUNITY4 badminton courts. Located in northeast London (convenient for Huron Heights, Stoney Creek, and Fanshawe area).
| Day | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 2:30 – 4:30 PM | $4.50/person |
Address: 1221 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 2J8
Contact: 519-661-5575 · recreation@london.ca
Tip: Call both centres before heading out — drop-in hours can change based on seasonal program registrations.
London Chinese Association Badminton Club
The London Chinese Association operates a badminton club at Medway High School on Wednesday evenings through the LBA. Membership costs $15/player for the season — the most affordable club membership in London. You must bring your own shuttlecocks (not provided). Open to players of all backgrounds.
Venue: Medway High School, London, ON
Cost: $15/player membership
Bring: Own racquet, non-marking shoes, and shuttlecocks
Forest City Sport & Social Club — Badminton Social Leagues
The Forest City Sport & Social Club runs casual badminton doubles leagues, typically in Winter, Summer, and Fall. No competitive experience required. Register as a team or as an individual (FCSSC will match you with a partner).
| Registration | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | ~$130/season | Matched with a partner |
| Team | ~$260/season | Register with your own partner |
Season length, venue, and pricing change by registration window, so use FCSSC's current season lineup before registering.
Contact: info@fcssc.ca · 519-439-4263 · forestcityssc.ca/leagues
London Badminton Meetup — Casual Drop-In
The London Volleyball and Badminton Activities Meetup (562+ members, 4.5-star rating) runs badminton sessions three times a week.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| When | Monday, Wednesday, Friday — 7:00 PM |
| Where | École élémentaire La Pommeraie, 3500 Settlement Trail, London |
| Cost | $6/session |
| Courts | 3 courts, 3 skill levels |
| Shuttles | Nylon (provided) |
| How to join | RSVP on Meetup, send payment to organizer, join WhatsApp group |
Badminton Lessons and Coaching in London
Ascend Badminton Centre — Group Lessons
According to Ascend's group lessons page, group lessons run on a rolling registration basis — join anytime.
| Level | Duration | Cost/Session (1x/wk) | 8-Week Total | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1 hour | $25 | $200 | 6–11 |
| Intermediate I | 2 hours | $35 | $280 | 9–15 |
| Intermediate II | 2 hours | $40 | $320 | 12–18 |
| Advanced / High Performance | 3 hours | $45 | $360 | 14+ |
Training 2x per week drops the per-session cost by $5. Sibling discount saves an additional $5/session. New students can join mid-term with prorated fees — fill out the registration form. Private and semi-private lessons also available — contact admin@ascendbadminton.com.
LBA Badminton Training
The LBA runs a training program for the 2025–2026 school year: 10 sessions (20 hours total) at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School, Friday evenings 7:00–9:30 PM. Contact register@londonbadminton.ca for registration and pricing.
Badminton Lessons for Kids in London ON — Junior Programs
LBA Kids and Family Programs
| Program | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Night Kids Badminton | Fridays 7:00–9:30 PM | Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School |
| Wednesday Family Badminton Night | Wednesdays (check LBA schedule) | Medway High School |
Ascend Junior Development Pathway
Ascend offers a full development pathway from Beginner (age 6+) through High Performance and Elite (14+, by invitation). Ascend juniors have won OFSAA provincial championships and WOSSA regional titles. Registration is rolling — kids can start any time with prorated fees.
University Badminton — Western University and Fanshawe College
Western University Badminton Club
UNIVERSITYAccording to Western's campus recreation page, the Badminton Club offers 7+ hours of sessions per week at the Western Student Recreation Centre (WSRC). Membership: $20/term or $35 for fall + winter. Western also runs intramural badminton leagues at Recreational and Competitive levels — no tryouts required.
Contact: badmintonclub@groups.uwo.ca · Instagram: @uwobadminton
Fanshawe College
COLLEGEAccording to Fanshawe Athletics, the Glenn Johnston Athletic Centre has 8 badminton courts for recreation and intramurals. Fanshawe also fields a competitive badminton team (OCAA/CCAA). Contact jcorby@fanshawec.ca or 519-452-4430 ext. 14695 for bookings.
Tournaments and Competitive Play
Badminton Ontario sanctions 30+ tournaments per season across Junior A, B, C, Open, and Masters categories. London-area players compete in the Western Ontario zone (WOSSA/TVRA). Key 2025–2026 provincial championships:
| Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Junior A Championships | Apr 10–12, 2026 | Markham Pan Am Centre |
| Junior B Championships | Apr 17–19, 2026 | RIM Park, Waterloo |
| Junior C Championships | Apr 24–26, 2026 | Vision Badminton Centre, Scarborough |
| Victor Ontario Open Championships | May 9–10, 2026 | Battledore Badminton Club |
| Ontario Masters Championships | May 29–31, 2026 | CAN Sports Centre, Markham |
A valid Badminton Ontario membership is required for sanctioned events. The LBA also hosts local tournaments — check londonbadminton.ca for the current schedule.
How to Choose Where to Play
| If you care most about... | Look first at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low-cost recurring play | London Badminton Association | Multiple school-gym nights and low drop-in pricing. |
| Reserved courts | Ascend Badminton Centre | Dedicated facility with online reservations. |
| Public drop-in | Carling Heights, Stronach | Simple City recreation format for casual sessions. |
| Social doubles | FCSSC, Meetup | Best fit when meeting players matters as much as court time. |
What to Bring to Your First Session
| Item | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-marking court shoes | Yes — every venue | School gyms and Ascend enforce this strictly |
| Badminton racket | Yes — all venues | No venue lends rackets for adult play |
| Shuttlecocks | Sometimes | LCA club and Ascend court rentals require your own; LBA and Meetup provide them |
| Water bottle & towel | Recommended | School gyms rarely have water fountains |
| Cash / e-transfer | Yes | LBA $5, City rec $4.50, Meetup $6; Ascend accepts online payment only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gear Up Before Your First Session
Badminton House carries racquets from Yonex, Li-Ning, and Victor for every level — plus non-marking court shoes (required at every venue on this list), feather and nylon shuttlecocks, and accessories. Not sure what you need? Our racket buying guide walks you through weight, balance, and flex.
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About this guide: Covers 9 venues across London, Ontario. Last verified June 2026. Maintained by Badminton House with information sourced from London Badminton Association, Ascend Badminton Centre, City of London, Badminton Ontario, and venue websites. Prices and schedules may change — contact venues directly to confirm. Have an update? Email info@badmintonhouse.ca.




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