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Where to Play Badminton in London ON – Clubs, Drop-Ins, and Courts

Where to Play Badminton in London ON – Clubs, Drop-Ins, and Courts

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.

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 / COMMUNITY

8 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 / COMMUNITY

4 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

UNIVERSITY

According 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

COLLEGE

According 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

Where can I play badminton in London Ontario without a membership?+

City of London recreation centres at Carling Heights (656 Elizabeth St) and Stronach (1221 Sandford St) offer drop-in badminton for $4.50/person — no membership required. The LBA offers $5/night drop-in at secondary school gyms (age 14+). The London Badminton Meetup runs Mon/Wed/Fri sessions for $6 at École La Pommeraie (3500 Settlement Trail).

What is the cheapest way to play badminton in London ON?+

City rec centre drop-in at Carling Heights or Stronach costs $4.50/person. LBA drop-in is $5/night for 2–3 hours. The Meetup group charges $6/session. For students, Western University's Badminton Club costs $20/term for 7+ hours of play per week.

How much does it cost to rent a badminton court in London Ontario?+

Ascend Badminton Centre charges $18 + HST/hour (~$20.34 all-in) during non-peak hours (Mon–Fri 10am–4pm) and $28 + HST/hour (~$31.64 all-in) during peak hours (evenings and weekends). Online reservation required — no walk-ins. Split between 4 players, peak-hour cost is under $8/person/hour.

Is there badminton coaching for kids in London Ontario?+

Ascend Badminton Centre offers group lessons from Beginner (age 6+, $25/session) through High Performance (14+, $45/session). The LBA runs Friday Night Kids Badminton at Banting Secondary School and Wednesday Family Night at Medway High School. Registration is rolling at Ascend; contact register@londonbadminton.ca for LBA programs.

Is there a badminton social league in London Ontario?+

The Forest City Sport & Social Club runs casual badminton doubles leagues in Winter, Spring/Summer, and Fall at Ascend Badminton Centre. Individual registration costs ~$130/season; team ~$260. No experience required — sign up solo and get matched with a partner.

Can I play badminton at Western University?+

Western's Badminton Club offers 7+ hours of sessions per week at the WSRC for $20/term ($35 for fall + winter). Intramural leagues run in both semesters at Recreational and Competitive levels — no tryouts required. Contact badmintonclub@groups.uwo.ca or follow @uwobadminton on Instagram.

What nights does the London Badminton Association play?+

The LBA runs sessions Monday through Saturday at five secondary schools. Wednesday at Clarke Road is the only all-levels night — ideal for beginners. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are advanced. Friday is intermediate+ at Central Secondary, plus kids at Banting. Drop-in $5/night (age 14+). Check londonbadminton.ca/schedules before attending.

Are there badminton tournaments in London Ontario?+

The LBA hosts local tournaments during the season. Badminton Ontario sanctions 30+ tournaments per season across Junior A/B/C, Open, and Masters series. A valid Badminton Ontario membership is required for sanctioned events.

Where is the best beginner badminton in London Ontario?+

The LBA's Wednesday night at Clarke Road Secondary School (6:30–9:30 PM, $5) is the only all-levels night. The London Badminton Meetup (Mon/Wed/Fri, $6) separates players across 3 skill levels on 3 courts. For kids age 6+, Ascend Badminton Centre offers beginner group lessons at $25/session.

Does Ascend Badminton Centre accept walk-ins?+

No. Online reservations are required for all court rentals — no walk-ins. Book through Ascend's CourtReserve portal. Minimum booking is 1 hour. Non-peak (Mon–Fri 10am–4pm): $18 + HST/hr. Peak (evenings/weekends): $28 + HST/hr.

How much is a London Badminton Association membership?+

Season membership (September–June, ~40 weeks) costs $25–$70 depending on the night, with a $10 student discount. Drop-in without a membership: $5/night (limited spots, age 14+). The Wednesday all-levels membership at $25 for the full season is the best value.


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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