I'm on a quest to find and document public outdoor chess tables in Greater London. I'm also including places that have giant chess sets.
Here's a list of the ones I know about; below that is a map with confirmed and unconfirmed locations.
I also have some tips for playing chess outside, and also some advice for newcomers to the game.
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.
Tables are on the street at street level. They are also covered overhead so some shelter is provided.
Two concrete chess tables with concrete seats, with a nice view across the park. According to the park's website, chess (and draughts) pieces are available to borrow from the park kiosk when it's open.
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.
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. When I've passed by the tables are quite often occupied by cafe patrons, and while a sign does state that priority is to be given to chess players, it may be tricky to get a free table to play on. More information at the website.
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.
A single concrete table outside the community garden. Decorated with mosaics, and with a tile board, it's definitely the prettiest chess table I've seen in London, but I'm biased because I built it. It's between some trees, which provide some shelter. The seats are concrete on brick plinths. There are painted pebbles to use as pieces in a cabinet by the table, and the garden does have a set of proper pieces which may be available for use if the garden is open.
Access is step free from the street, though there is small change in ground level from the path to the concrete that the table is on. The table is always accessible.
Two concrete chess tables with concrete seats in a small leafy park.
Access is step free from the street. The park has no gates so is always accessible. The tables are on rubber crumb flooring.
An unusual one, this. I only spotted it by happenstance. It's a very large table, and the markings are very faint- each square is around 80mm across, and the only seating is looking at the side of the board. Not sure how good it would be to play on, but it's ostensibly a chess table, so it's in.
Access is step free from the street. The park has no gates so is always accessible. The table is on stone paving. There are no seats.
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.
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.
An attractive yellow steel table with a concrete top, and two wooden seats, in a central paved area.
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. The table is on concrete paving.
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.
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.
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.
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. The table is on tarmac, under the treehouse.
A single concrete table with concrete seats.
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.
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.
The park is open 24 hours a day. Access is step free from the street but down a rather steep hill. The tables are on grass about 5 metres off the path, but it's likely to get quite soft underfoot when it's wet.
Two steel tables with wooden tops and embossed stainless steel boards, near the eastern entrance to the park. The seats are wooden. The boards are set at one side of each table, which means there's only space for a clock on one side of the board. The boards themselves are embossed stainless steel, and unpainted, which means that the squares can look either light or dark depending on how the light catches them.
The park is open 24 hours a day. Access is step free from the street. The tables are on compacted gravel.
A concrete table on a steel pedestal, with three wooden seats around it, outside the cafe. Unfortunately it's been installed in the wrong orientation relative to the two seats that face each other, and there isn't really room for a clock at the side of the board. A very pretty location, though, with a nice view of the park.
The park is open 24 hours a day. Access is step free from the street. The table is on concrete paving.
Giant chess set in "The Street" section of the mall concourse. The pieces are extra tall. Last time I passed by though, the pieces were not out.
This section seems to be accessible 24/7, however I've not been able to find out when the pieces are available. The area gets extremely busy.
A giant chess set on a path in the gardens. The board itself is not in the best condition, with a few tiles broken or missing, but it's definitely playable.
The park is open from 8am to dusk. Access is step free from the street. The board is on a brick path with several benches around.