10 Best Riding Schools in London for Beginners (2025 Guide)

1. Ealing Riding School – West London (W5)

 

Tucked behind red-brick walls off the North Circular, Ealing feels like a miniature country yard dropped into suburbia. Thirty mellow ponies, a tree-lined arena and tea-break chatter from long-time volunteers create an instant “you belong here” vibe for anxious first-timers.

 

• Ages & weight limit: 5 yrs + | ≤ 80 kg
  
  

• Starter options: “Start to Ride” weekend class for kids, “Get Ready to Ride” adult intro, or 30-min private lesson.
  
  

• Price: Child group taster ≈ £35 (30 min) • Adult private £54 (30 min)
  
  

• Why go: BHS-qualified coaches, helmet/boot hire for £2 and a genuinely family-run feel.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Indoor arena – covered and compact, perfect for rainy days.
  
  

• Two outdoor sand schools – one for beginners, one larger for group lessons.
  
  

• Grassy paddocks & woodland – used for camps and beginner-friendly cross-country games. 

 

 

2. Lee Valley Riding Centre – Leyton (E10)

 

Part of a sports-park complex, Lee Valley blends “municipal leisure centre” value with surprisingly elite facilities: indoor school, two flood-lit outdoors and a £50 mechanical horse you can practise on before meeting the real thing.

• Ages & weight limit: 5 yrs + | ≤ 76 kg
  
  

• Starter options: 30-min “Have-a-Go” class, 12-week “Learn to Ride” course, or simulator balance session.
  
  

• Price: Kids £30 • Adults £35 (taster) • Private 45-min from £67 (off-peak)
  
  

• Why go: Lessons never cancel for rain, parking is free.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Large indoor arena – 40 × 20 m, fully lit and weather-proof.
  
  

• Two flood-lit outdoor arenas – ride even in winter evenings.
  
  

• Cross-country and jumping fields – for when you're ready to level up.
  
  

• Horse simulator – try before you trot!

 

 

 

3. Trent Park Equestrian Centre – Enfield (N14)

 

Step off the Piccadilly line and into a 100-horse mega-yard bordering 400 acres of woodland. Two indoor arenas keep schooling tidy; once you can steer, guides lead you down leafy bridleways,and maybe to the pub if you’re an adult.

• Ages & weight limit: 4 yrs + | ≤ 90 kg
  
  

• Starter options: 45-min beginner group, “Own-a-Pony” holiday days, first woodland hack after assessment.
  
  

• Price: Group £47 • Private £80 (45 min)
  
  

• Why go: Fast progression, year-round hacking and a coffee-shop gallery so family can watch inside.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Two indoor arenas – spacious and comfortable in all seasons.
  
  

• Three outdoor arenas – flood-lit and well-maintained.
  
  

• Private woodland hacks – over 12 miles of peaceful, traffic-free riding.
  
  

• Cross-country course – for the adventurous (once you’re ready!).
  
  

• Coffee shop & spectator gallery – family can watch and sip while you ride.

 

 

 

4. Stag Lodge Stables – Richmond Park / Wimbledon (SW15/SW20)

 

Seven arenas, 70+ horses and 700 acres of royal parkland next door,yet instructors still know every pony’s nickname. Fawns and deer often graze by the fence while tiny tots wobble through “Pony Park” on Shetlands.

• Ages & weight limit: 3 yrs + | ≤ 88 kg
  
  

• Starter options: 30-min “Pony Park”, “Ride & Lead” alongside an instructor, 60-min group lesson.
  
  

• Price: Kids private £48 (30 min) • Adult private £59 (30 min)
  
  

• Why go: Graduate from sand school to scenic deer-park hack faster than anywhere else in London.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

 

• Seven outdoor arenas – including Olympic-sized ones.
  
  

• Immediate access to Richmond Park & Wimbledon Common – perfect for hacks.
  
  

• Horse walker & 40+ stables – high-standard horse care, even for beginners.

 

 

5. Dulwich Riding School – Dulwich (SE21)

 

Founded in the 1960s, Dulwich balances old-school charm with slick organisation,seven colour-coded ability groups, a covered arena for drizzle-proof lessons, and loan hats/boots so newcomers aren’t buying kit before pay-day.

• Ages & weight limit: 6 yrs + | ≤ 90 kg
  
  

• Starter options: Beginner group slot (waiting-list), 45-min private intro, discounted term packages.
  
  

• Price: Private £47 (45 min) • Group from £37 (60 min)
  
  

• Why go: Small classes (max 6) and a cult local following,worth the wait-list.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Covered indoor arena – rain won’t cancel your lesson.
  
  

• Outdoor ménage – for sunny day lessons.
  
  

• Free hat and boot rental – no need to buy gear on day one.
  
  

• Viewing area – for parents and guests.

 

6. Docklands Equestrian Centre – Beckton (E6)

 

Run as a charitable trust, Docklands champions affordability and inclusion,RDA sessions, volunteer-for-lesson credits and pony rides at £3 a lap.

• Ages & weight limit: 3 yrs + | check on booking
  
  

• Starter options: £3 led pony ride, 30-min child/adult groups, semi-private bargain bundles.
  
  

• Price: Child group £20 • Adult group £25 (30 min)
  
  

• Why go: Cheapest rates in London and a feel-good community buzz.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Indoor arena – RDA-approved with mounting ramp and lift.
  
  

• Outdoor arena – flood-lit and used for all kinds of lessons.
  
  

• Classroom & accessible facilities – inclusive and community-focused.

 

 

7. Hyde Park Stables – Central London (W2)

 

Where else can your first rising-trot selfie feature Kensington Palace? Tucked inside a mews near Paddington, these calm, city-proof horses carry beginners along Rotten Row,the world’s oldest urban bridleway,before commuters have finished their lattes.

• Ages & weight limit: 4 yrs + | ≤ 82 kg
  
  

• Starter options: Private arena intro plus park hack, 60-min semi-private sightseeing ride, all kit supplied.
  
  

• Price: Semi-private £115 pp • Private £145 (60 min)
  
  

• Why go: Bucket-list bragging rights and zero travel time for Central-Londoners.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Sand arena inside Hyde Park – for safe, city-based training.
  
  

• Direct access to Rotten Row – London’s iconic bridle path.
  
  

• Helmet, boot, and raincoat rental – all included in your ride.

 

 

8. Chessington Equestrian Centre – Chessington (KT9)

 

Minutes from the A3 yet ringed by paddocks, Chessington mixes Surrey fresh-air with London convenience. Four arenas (one indoor) mean beginners never queue for saddle time, and parents watch from a heated gallery,coffee in hand.

• Ages & weight limit: 4 yrs + | ≤ 90 kg
  
  

• Starter options: Led “Tiny-Tot” rides, 60-min weekend groups, 2-day pony camps every school break.
  
  

• Price: Group lesson ≈ £50 (60 min) • Private on enquiry
  
  

• Why go: Weather-proof indoor, relaxed staff and easy parking for South-West commuters.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Indoor arena – 20 × 60 m, great for year-round lessons.
  
  

• Two outdoor arenas – including a full jumping setup.
  
  

• 30 acres of green space – for pony camps and bridleway hacks.
  
  

 

 

 

9. Old Bexley Equestrian Centre – Bexley (DA5)

 

Think village-green vibes: children groom ponies in a snug clubroom while older Pony-Clubbers mentor newbies. Lessons double as life-skills,kids learn to tack-up, sweep and say thank-you to their four-legged teachers.

• Ages & weight limit: 2 yrs + | ≤ 79 kg
  
  

• Starter options: £25 Shetland “Pat-&-Ride”, weekend rallies, holiday badge mornings.
  
  

• Price: Semi-private £40-£50 (45 min) • Private £45-£55 (45 min)
  
  

• Why go: Horsemanship is baked into every session, not bolted-on later.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Flood-lit outdoor arena – ride safely, even after school.
  
  

• Clubroom, classroom, and refreshment hut – a cosy, family-friendly setup.
  
  

 

 

10. Wimbledon Village Stables – Wimbledon (SW19)

 

A boutique, adults-only riding club where total beginners start on a high-tech Equicise simulator—not a horse. Once you've passed a basic riding assessment (usually after one or two simulator sessions), you're cleared for peaceful hacks through the sandy woodland trails of Wimbledon Common on calm, schoolmaster horses.

• Ages & weight limit: Adults only | ≤ 95 kg (on simulator)
  
  

• Beginner-friendly? Yes, but all new riders start on the simulator for assessment before riding a horse.
  
  

• Starter options: 30-min simulator lesson • 60-min assessment ride (on simulator) • Weekday hack packages (after assessment).
  
  

• Price: Simulator lesson from ~£50 • Assessment ride £135 • Group hack £100
  
  

• Why go: Designed for adult riders who want a structured, stylish, and child-free way into riding—perfect if you're starting from scratch or returning after years away.

 

What Facilities Do They Have?

• Equicise simulator studio – all beginners start here.
  
  

• Gym and posture classes – optional support for new riders.
  
  

• Bridleway access to Wimbledon Common – no arena needed; the real ride is outdoors.

 

 

 

How to Choose Your First Lesson

1. Proximity vs. Price – Central yards cost more; community centres stretch the budget.

2. Indoor Arena? – Pick a roof if you won’t ride in drizzle.

3. Start Small – A 30-minute taster, pony ride or simulator session is plenty for Day 1.

4. Dress Smart – Long trousers and a small-heeled shoe; most yards lend helmets.