London Chess and Bridge Centre- Baker Street, Westminster
This shop has two or sometimes four tables on the street outside, with boards and pieces set up, presumably only when the shop is open. A sign says anyone is welcome to play. The shop itself is also well worth a visit, and a great place to buy a set of pieces to take with you to other tables. Here's their website.
Access:
Tables are on the street at street level. They are also covered overhead so some shelter is provided.Ruskin Park- Denmark Hill, Lambeth
Two concrete chess tables with concrete seats, with a nice view across the park. According to the park's website, chess pieces may be available to rent.
Access:
The park is open from 7am until 15 minutes before sunset. Step free from the street. The tables themselves are on grass just off one of the tarmac paths, to the south of the outdoor gym.Russell Square- Bloomsbury, Camden
Three stone chess tables with metal seats; a sign says pieces may be rented from the cafe. Unfortunately the tables don't have very much space around the edges, so there's not really room for a clock. More information at the website.
Access:
The park is open during daylight hours. Step free from the street, there's a small patch of grass/ mud between path and tables, which are on astroturf. The tables are in the north west corner of the park, near the cafe.Cavell Square Gardens- Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets
Two concrete chess tables with concrete seats in a small leafy park.
Access:
Access is step free from the street. The park has no gates so is always accessible. The tables are on rubber crumb flooring.Spa Green- Clerkenwell, Islington
A fairly low brick table with wooden seats, in a pleasant tree covered park. There are lockboxes which apparently contain chess pieces, but no information on who holds the code.
Access:
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street, which it's right next to. The table is on concrete paving.King Square Gardens- Clerkenwell, Islington
An attractive yellow steel table with a concrete top, and two wooden seats, in a central paved area.
Access:
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. The table is on concrete paving.Paradise Park- Holloway, Islington
Four steel tables with stone tops, and steel seats, in the Mary Tealby Garden section of Paradise Park. Lots of tree cover and other plants.
Access:
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. Three of the tables are on tarmac, and one is just off the path on compacted soil.Arundel Square Gardens- Holloway, Islington
A very attractive steel frame table with a large concrete top that has two chess boards and a backgammon board set into it. Wooden seating all around, including a space at the outermost chessboard for a wheelchair. The park itself is small but lovely, with lots of things to do.
Access:
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. The table is on tarmac, under the treehouse.Whittington Park- Archway, Islington
A single concrete table with concrete seats.
Access:
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. The table is on grass, just off the tarmac path, near the southern corner of the football pitch.Springfield Park- Upper Clapton, Hackney
Three concrete tables with concrete seats, at the bottom of the park near the tennis courts. Unfortunately, these don't seem to have been installed very well; one is broken, and the other two are at varying angles of lean. The broken one is missing most of its board, the middle one is not flat but usable. The one closest to the path is borderline.
