sports facilities

Harpenden’s open spaces offer a wide range of opportunities to enjoy sports and physical activities. Scroll through this page to find out what’s on offer and how to take part. 

Tennis – Rothamsted Park 

Our tennis courts were extensively upgraded in 2023 with investment by Harpenden Town Council and the LTA Tennis Foundation. The upgrades included the installation of new nets, court surfaces professionally jet washed and moss treatment conducted, clearance of hedging and scrub from the rear of the courts, grass areas cut so that tennis balls can be easily retrieved, new floodlighting and the installation of an automated gate system which enables the courts to be booked online and accessed easily.  

Free weekly Park Tennis sessions provide the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local matches (equipment included).

Hire of the tennis courts is £5 per hour without floodlights and £10 per hour with floodlights. To book a court please visit the LTA website .

Netball - Rothamsted Park 

High quality floodlit netball courts and posts are available to hire by clubs and organisatons within the Tennis Court area of Rothamsted Park.  

Netball courts are £25 per hour for two courts with floodlights if required. Please contact Jon Scott by email: jon.scott@harpenden.gov.uk, tel: 01582 463663 or alternatively complete an enquiry form.  

Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) – Rothamsted Park 

The MUGA in Rothamsted Park has an astroturf surface, floodlights, built-in goals and enclosed fencing for 5-a-side football, hockey, lacrosse, exercise classes and even birthday parties.   

Hire of the MUGA is £25 per hour before 6pm and £42 per hour after 6pm. To make a booking, please contact Jon Scott, email: jon.scott@harpenden.gov.uk, tel: 01582 463663 or alternatively complete an enquiry form. 

Cricket – Rothamsted Park and Harpenden Common 

In partnership with the Town Council, Harpenden Cricket Club manages and maintains two pitches in Rothamsted Park, in addition to the facilities on Harpenden Common, ensuring that high quality, safe pitches are available for the next generation of cricketers. The club aims to provide high quality playing conditions for the ever-increasing number of boys and girls keen to play the game and as many as 25 girls and boys teams will be playing under the banner of Harpenden Cricket Club this year. To find out more about the club please visit their website. 

Golf – Harpenden Common 

Harpenden Common Golf Club manages the golf course within Harpenden Common. This sport has been played on Harpenden Common for more than 120 years, and the Town Council together with Harpenden Common Golf Club ensures that golfers of all ages and abilities are able to enjoy playing on a picturesque, high-standard course.  Visit the Harpenden Common Golf Club website for further information.

Walking  

Harpenden’s green spaces offer an abundance of opportunities to explore. The Environment section of our website provides details of each space. If you enjoy walking with a map, or reading about the area, look out for the information boards on Harpenden Common and Batford Springs Nature Reserve, there are also several trails to follow on Harpenden Common – see our self-guided walks, nature trails and tree trails on the Harpenden Common page. 

Football - Rothamsted Park 

Rothamsted Park has been home to junior and adult football for many years. There are currently five junior pitches and one senior pitch which are run in partnership with Harpenden Colts Youth FC. The Colts use Rothamsted Park as one of its main match venues with over 400 girls and boys using the park on a monthly basis. 

For further information about booking these pitches please contact Harpenden Colts Youth FC 

Artificial Grass Pitch – Rothamsted Park 

Rothamsted Park’s artificial grass pitch (AGP) is a first-class sports facility used by Harpenden Town FC and Harpenden Colts FC. It opened in 2023 and directly created greater opportunities for participation in sport in Harpenden, promoting physical activities to residents of all ages. Read our Forum article about the pitch opening and opportunities for young people the AGP has created.  

Availability of the football pitch is limited but in some circumstances we are able hire it out to organisations, for further information please contact Jon Scott, email: jon.scott@harpenden.gov.uk, tel: 01582 463663 or alternatively complete an enquiry form.