Here you can find a selection of reputable riding schools in Greater London that are well-suited for beginner riders. Each of these schools caters to beginners (children and adults) with appropriate lessons, experienced instructors, and a supportive environment.
1. Ealing Riding School – (West London)
2. Lee Valley Riding Centre – (East London)
3. Trent Park Equestrian Centre (North London)
4. Stag Lodge Stables – (Southwest London)
5. Dulwich Riding School – (South London)
6. Docklands Equestrian Centre – (East London)
7. Hyde Park Stables – (Central London)
8. London Equestrian Centre – (North London)
9. Kingston Riding Centre – (Southwest London)
10. Deen City Farm Riding School – (South London)
Located in West London (Ealing, W5), Ealing Riding School is a long-established center known for its warm and welcoming vibe. It’s a BHS Approved Centre with around 30+ horses and ponies on site, tucked away behind a walled garden in a residential area.
Ealing prides itself on being open to all – they run lessons for both children (age 5 and up) and adults, from absolute beginners to intermediate riders.
Arenas: Three outdoor sand schools tucked inside a walled garden; two were resurfaced with a modern all-weather footing in November, giving year-round rideability.
Extra facilities: Gallivanters Meadow woodland riding area, lecture room, and a small cross-country “play field” for camps and Pony Club rallies.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (5-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | 30 min | £35 | — |
| Group | 60 min | £52 | £53 |
| Private | 30 min | £52 | £54 |
| Private | 60 min | £68 | £69 |
| Semi-Private (2–4) | 30 min | £48 pp* | £48 pp* |
Lee Valley Riding Centre in Leyton is a superb option for beginners, especially those in East or North London. It’s a British Horse Society approved equestrian facility operated by the Lee Valley Regional Park. The center is large and modern, boasting an indoor arena plus two floodlit outdoor arenas, so lessons run rain or shine.
Lee Valley even has a high-tech equestrian simulator – a mechanical horse – that riders can use to practice balance and technique before riding a real horse
Arenas: One 40 m × 20 m indoor arena plus two flood-lit all-weather outdoor arenas (60 m × 20 m & 80 m × 30 m).
Extra facilities: Full show-jump set, purpose-built cross-country course, mechanical horse simulator, horse-walker and wash-down/solarium bays.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (5-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Have-a-Go” | 30 min | £30 | £35 |
| Group (learn-to-ride) | 45 min | £25-30 pp | £25-30 pp |
| Private | 30 min | — | £52 (Off-Pk) / £62 (Peak) |
| Private | 45 min | — | £67 (Off-Pk) / £75 (Peak) |
In North London (near Enfield), Trent Park Equestrian Centre is one of the largest and most renowned riding schools in the country. In fact, it’s designated a British Horse Society Centre of Excellence, meaning it has achieved the highest standards in instruction, horse care, and facilities.
With over 100 horses and ponies in its stables, Trent Park can accommodate riders of all ages and abilities, from tiny tots on lead-rein ponies to adult beginners and advanced students
Tube: 5-minute walk from Oakwood station (Piccadilly line).
Buses: Routes 121, 307, and night bus N91 stop on Bramley Road outside the gates.
Group lessons – 45-minute classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders
Private lessons – 30 min (younger children) or 45 min with Standard or Advanced instructors
Tiny Tots lead-rein sessions (ages 4-6), beginner weekend courses, plus guided hacks through Trent Park once you’ve passed an assessment.
Arenas: Two large indoor arenas and three outdoor arenas, all with viewing galleries; surfaces maintained for dressage and jumping.
Extra facilities: Cross-country schooling field, direct access to miles of Trent Park bridlepaths.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (4-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group (Beginner) | 45 min | £47 | £47 |
| Private – Standard Inst. | 45 min | £57 | £80 |
| Tiny Tots Session | 90 min | £65 | — |
Stag Lodge Stables offers some of the best riding in Southwest London, straddling the borders of Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common. This family-run stable has been around since the 17th century and today operates across two sites right by Richmond Park’s Robin Hood Gate.
With seven arenas and over 70 horses and ponies, Stag Lodge is impressively equipped while maintaining a down-to-earth, friendly atmosphere.
They are BHS-accredited and known for well-cared-for horses and inclusive lessons for all ages (kids and adults)
Tube & Rail: District line to Putney Bridge (then bus) or main-line trains to Putney / Kingston.
Buses: Routes 85 (Putney Bridge ↔ Kingston) and 265 (Putney Bridge ↔ Tolworth) stop at Robin Hood Lane / Colliers Wood FC for each site.
Pony Park lead-rein sessions (ages 3-6, 30 min).
Ride & Lead lessons (7 yrs +, 30 min) – instructor rides alongside and leads your horse.
Group & Private lessons (30 or 60 min) for children 6 + and adults, plus lunge lessons, hacks through Richmond Park, and BHS courses (exam training, pony camps).
Arenas: Seven outdoor sand/fibre arenas split across their two yards beside Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common—no indoor, but hacking starts at the gate.
Extra facilities: Full course of show-jumps, tiny-tot “Pony Park” arena, and regular escorted park hacks.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (3-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pony Park (lead-rein) | 30 min | £32 | — |
| Ride & Lead | 30 min | £48 | £48* |
| Private Lesson | 30 min | £48 | £59 |
| Group Lesson† | 1 hour | £59 | — |
| Group Hack (Richmond Pk) | 1 hour | — | £58 |
Dulwich Riding School is a well-established stable in South London (SE21) with a big reputation – so big, in fact, that new riders often face a waiting list to join!
This school, founded in the 1960s, has become very popular with local families. They require riders to be at least 6 years old to start, and at the time of writing have a minimum seven-month wait for new beginners due to high demand.
If you’re willing to be patient, Dulwich offers a high-quality, welcoming experience once you get in
.
Rail/Tube: West Dulwich rail station (≈16-min walk); Victoria line to Brixton, then 15-min bus.
Buses: Routes 14 · 19 · 259 · 304 · 318 · 352 · W3 stop on Dulwich Common outside the yard.
Group, Semi-Private & Private lessons for children (6 +) and adults, graded across seven progressive levels from absolute beginner to novice dressage.
Sessions run year-round in an indoor arena or outdoor ménage; loan helmets and boots are free for first-timers.
Popular extras include Pony Days during school holidays and birthday-party rides (book early—there’s often a waiting list of several months).
Arenas: A covered indoor arena for wet-weather lessons plus an outdoor ménage with sand/rubber mix footing.
Extra facilities: Heated viewing gallery and horse-share scheme for advanced riders.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (6-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private | 45 min | £47 | £47* |
| Semi-Private | 45 min | £37 pp | £37 pp* |
| Group | 1 hour | £37 pp | £37 pp* |
Wild, remote, and full of mystery, Dartmoor offers a true sense of adventure. With its windswept tors, stone circles, and roaming ponies, this national park is perfect for riders wanting to connect with the land’s ancient, untamed spirit.
Just keep an eye on the weather — it can change as quickly as the terrain.
DLR: Beckton (10-min walk) or Gallion’s Reach, then 366 bus.
Buses: Routes 262 · 325 · 366 stop at Sainsbury’s East Beckton, 2-min walk to the gate.
By car: Just off the A13/A406 junction; on-site parking available.
Group lessons (½ hr / 1 hr) for beginners through intermediate, max 6 riders.
Private and shared-private (max 3 riders) sessions.
Pony rides (age 3+, weekends 1-2:30 pm) at £3 per lap / £7.50 for 3 laps – an easy first taste of the saddle.
Volunteer scheme (age 12+) lets helpers earn points toward free lessons.
All instruction takes place in 20 × 60 m indoor or all-weather outdoor arenas; hats & boots are loaned free.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (5-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | ½ hr | £20 | £25 |
| Group | 1 hr | £30 | £40 |
| Shared-Private | ½ hr | £35 | £45 |
| Private | ½ hr | £40 | £50 |
Docklands has a volunteer program for teens/adults – riders 12+ can help around the stables (grooming, mucking out) in exchange for points that can be redeemed for free lesson
If you fancy the idea of riding in the heart of the city, Hyde Park Stables is the iconic option. Located near Paddington, this stable has been offering rides in Hyde Park for decades.
It’s one of the most central riding schools in London – just a stone’s throw from Lancaster Gate tube – and caters to beginners as well as tourists looking for a one-off riding experience in the park
Tube / Rail: 3-minute walk from Lancaster Gate (Central line) and ≈8 minutes from Paddington main-line / Underground interchange.
Buses: Routes 94 · 148 · 274 · N207 stop on Bayswater Road by Lancaster Gate.
Semi-Private Rides – 2–4 riders with a mounted escort through Hyde Park (age 7 +).
Private Rides / Lessons – 1:1 tuition in the park; compulsory for children aged 4-6.
Arena Lessons – private or semi-private sessions in Hyde Park’s outdoor arena.
Arenas: Open-air sand arena inside Hyde Park for seat-work and first trots; lessons quickly progress onto Rotten Row’s five-mile bridle track—there’s no indoor school.
Extra facilities: Loan helmets/boots/rain-gear and direct escorted access to Hyde Park’s surfaced bridleways.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (4-15) |
Adult (16+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Private Ride | 1 hr | £115 | £115 |
| Private Ride | 1 hr | £145 | £145 |
| Course of 10 Semi-Private Rides | 10 × 1 hr | £1,030 (save £120) | £1,030 |
| Course of 10 Private Rides | 10 × 1 hr | £1,300 (save £150) | £1,300 |
Tucked away on leafy Lullington Garth, this family-run, BHS-commended yard has spent 30-plus years turning curious first-timers into confident riders.
A broad string of well-mannered horses and ponies means everyone—from three-year-old “tiny tots” to adult returners—can book a private, semi-private or group session without trekking out of the city.
Expect approachable instructors, a friendly café to refuel post-ride, and full or part livery if you’ve got your own four-legged partner.
In short, it’s one of the most accessible spots for horse riding in North London while still feeling worlds away from the bustle of the capital.
Tube: Mill Hill East (Northern line) → 15-min walk / short hop on the 221 bus.
Tiny Tot Rides from age 3 (15 min).
Group lessons (≤4 riders) & private / shared sessions for ages 4 +.
Holiday Pony Days, BHS exam training.
Arenas: Large covered arena, one full-size outdoor arena, and two smaller outdoor schools, all with show-jump layouts available.
Extra facilities: Cross-country logs, lecture room, and clinic days with visiting coaches.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (3-15) |
Adult (16 +) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Tot Ride | 15 min | £40 | — |
| Group Lesson | 1 hr | £60 | £60 |
| Private Lesson | 30 min | £60 | £60 |
Perched on Crescent Road at the edge of Richmond Park, this BHS-approved yard has been coaching Londoners since the late 1970s.
Riders enjoy 31 roomy stables, 30 acres of turnout, a flood-lit 20 × 60 m indoor school and a 55 × 35 m outdoor arena—plus a full set of show jumps and a hot-and-cold wash bay with solarium for post-workout pampering.
Pony- and horse-share schemes, along with full, part and working livery, make regular saddle time affordable, while visiting youngsters can book lessons (adult intake is paused at times, so email ahead).
Best of all, the centre’s bridle paths link straight into the deer-dotted trails of Richmond Park, turning an after-work hack into a proper countryside escape in minutes.
Rail: Norbiton station (South Western Railway) ≈ 5-min walk.
Buses: 57 · 85 · 371 · K2 · K3 all stop by Kingston Hospital / Norbiton Station, <5 mins on foot.
Pony Experience (age 3 +, grooming + lead-rein ride, 30 / 45 / 60 min).
Group Lessons (max 6 riders) & Private / Joint-Private sessions for total beginners upward.
Holiday Pony Stars camps, BHS Stage training, Share-a-Horse and volunteer schemes for teens.
Arenas: Olympic-length 20 m × 60 m indoor school and a 55 m × 35 m outdoor sand arena fitted with show-jumps.
Extra facilities: 30 acres of riverside hacking tracks, hot-and-cold wash-bays, solarium.
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (3-15) |
Adult (16 +) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pony Experience | ½ hr | £50 | — |
| Group Lesson | 1 hr | £63 | £63 |
| Private Lesson (Wkdy) | ½ hr | £55 | £55 |
(Weekend/evening rates slightly higher; weight limit 13 st / 82 kg; 24-h cancellation applies.)
Just a short stroll from Colliers Wood tube, this charity-run, BHS-approved yard tucks a real riding programme into the heart of an urban community farm.
Around a dozen patient horses and ponies work out in a flood-lit 20 × 40 m arena (plus a mini cross-country loop) while friendly instructors take riders aged eight and up from first trot circles to dressage and jumping basics.
Because the stables share a site with Deen City Farm, you’ll find pocket-money pony rides, volunteer schemes and Riding for the Disabled sessions running alongside regular private or group lessons—so it doubles as a feel-good way to support local education and welfare projects while you get saddle time.
Pony Rides for ages 2-7 (lead-rein, weekends).
Private 1-to-1 lessons (horse or RoboHorse simulator) from age 8.
Volunteer scheme (12 +) earns ride credits; inclusive RDA sessions.
Arenas: Flood-lit outdoor arena used for lessons and a compact cross-country training field; initial assessments are often done on their indoor RoboHorse riding simulator.
Extra facilities: Five-acre city-farm setting, volunteer scheme that trades stable work for ride credits
Lesson Type |
Duration |
Child (≤15) |
Adult (16 +) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pony Ride | per lap | £2.50 | — |
| Private Lesson | 30 min | £41 | £41 |
| Lead Ride (walk) | 30 min | £41 | — |
Starting horseback riding can come with a lot of questions. Below we answer some common queries new riders in London often have:
All the schools mentioned employ experienced, certified instructors, often accredited by the British Horse Society.
For example, Trent Park Equestrian Centre notes that all riding activities are conducted by fully qualified instructors. Choosing a BHS-approved school is a good guarantee that your instructor has formal training and meets high standards.
Many instructors also have years of hands-on teaching experience, especially with beginners, so you’ll be in safe and knowledgeable hands.
Prices vary depending on the location and format.
For instance, at a community stable like Docklands, a child’s group lesson can cost as little as £20-£30.
At a central London stable like Hyde Park Stables, a private hour can cost around £115-£145.
Generally, group lessons are more affordable (expect roughly £30-£60 per hour), while private lessons are pricier (£50-£100+ per hour). Many schools offer package deals (buying 5 or 10 lessons upfront at discount).
It’s worth contacting the school to ask about any introductory rates or group options if budget is a concern. Remember, the cost often includes the use of a horse, instructor, and basic equipment – and the experience is well worth it!
Virtually all riding schools will provide a helmet (riding hat) for you, and many have boot rentals or loaner boots available.
For your first lessons, you should wear comfortable long pants (jeans or leggings are fine) and sturdy shoes with a small heel (to help keep your foot in the stirrup) if possible.
Avoid shorts or very loose/baggy pants. The stable will insist on a proper safety helmet (they’ll have these in various sizes).
As you continue riding, you might invest in your own riding boots and helmet for comfort and hygiene, but initially just come dressed for the weather (and ready to possibly get a bit muddy).
Some stables, like Hyde Park Stables, even supply rain coats/trousers if needed. So don’t let a drizzle stop you.
That’s totally okay – everyone starts somewhere! The key is to choose a reputable riding school with gentle horses. All the schools listed here have beginner-friendly horses who are used to new riders losing a stirrup or bouncing a bit in the trot.
Instructors will typically lead your horse or use a lead line in your first lesson if needed, especially for young children. Many places run special beginner sessions (like Ealing’s “Start to Ride” kids’ class or Lee Valley’s “Have a Go” lessons) which are tailored for absolute novices.
You’ll usually start at the walk, learn to hold the reins and stop/steer, then progress to a gentle trot when you feel ready. It’s normal to be a bit nervous initially, but you’ll likely find yourself smiling and relaxing a few minutes in.
Riding is as much about bonding with the horse as learning technique, and these schools excel at making that introduction a positive one.
It depends on your learning style and budget.
Group lessons can be a fun way to learn with others at a similar level – there’s a social aspect, and you might even make “barn friends” as you all learn together.
They’re usually cheaper too. In a group, while one rider is taking a turn to trot, others get to observe and learn by watching.
Private lessons, on the other hand, give you focused one-on-one attention and can sometimes help you progress faster in the very beginning.
If you’re anxious or have specific challenges (say you want to overcome a fear at your own pace), a few private lessons might be beneficial.
Some riders start with a couple of private lessons to build confidence, then join group classes. Ultimately, both formats will cover the same fundamentals. You can also do semi-private (two or three friends together) as a middle-ground.
Most schools listed here offer all these options, so you can try different approaches. For young kids, being in a small group can often keep things light and fun, whereas adult beginners might prefer an instructor’s undivided attention initially – it’s really up to personal preference.
Riding schools do impose limits for safety. The Minimum age for formal lessons is often around 4 or 5 years old.
For example, Trent Park and Stag Lodge Stables can start children at 4, while Ealing and Dulwich require kids to be 5 or 6 to join lessons.
However, some stables offer short pony rides for toddlers (2-3 years old) as a taster, typically with a helper walking alongside (Docklands does this on weekends).
On the other end, there isn’t usually an upper age – adults of any age can start riding so long as they are reasonably fit and mobile.
Weight limits are in place to protect the horses. Most London schools have limits of around 75–90 kg (approximately 12 to 14 stone).
If you are close to a limit, it’s wise to call and check – they may need to ensure they have a suitable horse available. Riding within weight limits is important for the horse’s well-being, and instructors will politely enforce it.
Not necessarily. Many riding schools offer flexible booking – you can ride weekly, fortnightly, or just book one-off lessons when you can. Places like Dulwich allow riders to come as infrequently as once a month or sporadically, as long as you book in advanceThat said, consistency helps progress.
If you’re serious about learning, a weekly lesson (even a half-hour) will yield steady improvement in your balance and confidence.
Some schools have term programs or courses that run over several weeks, which can be great to ensure you stick with it.
But if you just want to “try it and see,” that’s perfectly fine too – all these schools will accommodate beginners for single lessons or taster sessions.
Absolutely. Each of these schools can take you well beyond just the basics. They don’t only cater to beginners – they have intermediate and advanced lessons, jumping clinics, dressage training, etc., should you decide to continue.
For example, Lee Valley offers “learn to jump” courses and BHS exam training, Ealing and Stag Lodge have programs for riders to work up through the ranks and even pursue qualifications.
The bottom line is, the sky’s the limit – you might start out just aiming to do a rising trot, and find a year later you’re confidently cantering in the park or taking small jumps!
The key is starting with a solid foundation at a good school.