The Queen's Club

The Queen’s Club stands in Barons Court, West Kensington, a private sporting club founded in 1886. It occupies a quiet corner of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, surrounded by Victorian terraces and plane trees. The club’s grounds hold 28 outdoor grass and hard courts plus ten indoor courts, all kept at a high standard. Two of these courts host the national real tennis headquarters, where the British Open is played each year. Rackets and squash courts also form part of the complex, a legacy of the club’s takeover after the Prince’s Club closed in 1940. The club’s history is tied to the early years of modern sport. It was the second multipurpose sports complex in the world when it opened, and became the only one of its kind after the Prince’s Club moved. The first lawn tennis matches took place in May 1887, followed by Oxford versus Cambridge in July. William Marshall, Wimbledon finalist in 1877, designed the original buildings. In 1908 the club hosted Olympic events in covered tennis, real tennis and rackets. Rugby internationals and football fixtures were also held here until the 1920s. Visitors cannot enter the private areas, but the exterior shows the club’s grand Edwardian façade. The gates and lodges remain from the 1880s, while the courts are still used for the Queen’s Club Championships. Ball girls for the tournament come from two local girls’ schools. The surrounding streets offer a glimpse of West Kensington’s leafy character, with cafés and pubs nearby for a quiet pause after a walk past the club’s walls.