London offers a wide spectrum of opportunities for young people looking to join the Scouts and Guides movement, ranging from budget-friendly local neighbourhood groups to major regional adventure centres. For those seeking a traditional scouting experience focused on outdoor skills and large events, venues like Scout Adventures Gilwell Park offer expansive activities, though they operate at a mid-range price point dependent on booking. Conversely, many local groups, such as those found in Edgware or Deptford, keep fees low, covering basic weekly running costs. Parents should generally anticipate mid-range subscription rates for established central units, while families prioritizing accessibility and adventure might gravitate toward the dedicated outdoor sites in areas like Croydon or Dulwich for specialized weekend events.
See our top picks
The Scout and Guide Centre
This Edgware centre is a good starting point since it explicitly offers trial sessions, allowing new members to experience the weekly programme before full commitment.
Dockland Scout Project
As a provider supported by its charitable structure in the Docklands, this troop offers membership at a notably low cost compared to the general mid-range subscription fees seen across the city.
Get Kids Going
While premium priced, this Aldgate-based provider focuses on primary ages and smaller group sizes, often suggesting a less rigid, session-based commitment than standard weekly troops.
38 Scouts & Guides Providers in London
As the spiritual home of Scouting, Gilwell Park is the definitive venue for large group events and accredited adventure training near London.
Gilwell Park is the worldwide home of Scouting, offering numerous adventures for young people in the London area. This centre provides incredible facilities for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers seeking outdoor fun and skill-building activities.
- Historic location for Scouting in the UK
- Offers structured adventure activity programmes
- Vast outdoor space near Epping Forest
A central hub in Edgware supporting both the Scout Association and Girlguiding programmes for local young people.
This welcoming facility in Edgware hosts local Scouts and Guides sections for children across primary and secondary age ranges. Families looking for regular after-school scouts & guides classes in the HA8 area will find a strong community focus here.
- Hosts both Scouts and Guides groups
- Generally low-cost local subscription fees
- Check website for specific section meeting times
This group maintains a very high parent rating, suggesting a positive and engaging weekly programme for older children near Edgware.
The 2nd Edgware Scout Group provides structured scouts & guides activities for older primary and secondary age children in the Edgware vicinity. Meeting at the Rectory Lane centre, this group offers a traditional programme ensuring consistent engagement for keen members.
- Shares venue with other local youth groups
- Focuses on core scouting skills and badges
- Trial sessions often available for new joiners
An accessible scouts option for families living or working in the City of London, meeting centrally near Aldgate Station.
The 1st City of London Scout Group runs excellent weekly scouts & guides programmes for older children in the heart of the EC3 area. Located at Aldgate School, this group welcomes new members interested in the core outdoor and community service elements of scouting.
- Meeting near Aldgate in the City
- Focus on traditional scouting badges and skills
- Offers taster sessions for prospective members
A highly-regarded local provider in New Cross, offering dedicated scouts sessions for younger children in the SE4 postcode area.
This group provides engaging scouts & guides classes for primary school age children, meeting weekly in the New Cross area. Based near Breakspears Road, the focus is on fun, teamwork, and badge work for younger local members.
- Meets weekly in the New Cross area
- Welcomes primary school aged children
- Trial periods are generally offered for newcomers
This large outdoor site near Dulwich is vital for district-level events and weekend camping for older scouts in South London.
While primarily a campsite, the South London Scout Centre near Dulwich is integral to the local scouts & guides community for weekend activities. Groups can hire this outdoor venue for camping and outdoor skills building across all age bands.
- Primarily a hireable campsite venue
- Great for weekend outdoor trips near SE21
- Facilities must be booked in advance
A well-integrated scouts provision in Pimlico, offering regular weekly meetings for all ages within the City of Westminster.
Offering a full spectrum of scouts & guides provision for children in the Pimlico area, this group meets regularly near Churchill Gardens. New primary and secondary members can join for weekly skill development and community activities in Westminster.
- Meets on the Churchill Gardens Estate in SW1
- Covers all youth age ranges within the group
- Check their join page for current availability
A committed Docklands provider offering affordable scouts & guides membership supported by its charitable organisation structure.
The Dockland Scout Project runs comprehensive scouts & guides classes for children across the Docklands area from their Manchester Road headquarters. This non-profit organisation keeps subscription costs low, providing access to scouting for many local families.
- Charity-run group in the Docklands E14 area
- Focus on affordability for local families
- Taster sessions available for interested children
A dedicated provision for younger scouts in Islington, utilising a local school hall for their weekly primary-aged programme.
Find fantastic scouts & guides lessons for primary age children in Islington, meeting at Thornhill Primary School in the N1 postcode. This active group welcomes new members interested in progressing through the scouting programme with local peers.
- Meets inside a primary school in Islington
- Generally caters to younger members in N1
- Contact via website for current session times
A long-standing Ealing provider with its own dedicated hall, The Jack Girvan Hall, near Popes Lane in the W5 area.
The 8th Ealing Scout Group offers exciting scouts & guides opportunities for primary and secondary children near Popes Lane in Ealing. Meeting in their own dedicated hall, this group provides a consistent and well-resourced base for weekly activities.
- Meets in their own facility, The Jack Girvan Hall
- Active group covering the full age spectrum
- Trial sessions are available for new joining members
A dedicated scouts section for primary and older children meeting weekly within a community venue in the heart of Hackney.
This active scouts & guides group in Hackney welcomes primary and secondary children to their Cazenove Road meetings. Families in the N16 area can enrol their children for weekly sessions focused on teamwork and skill acquisition.
- Meets within a community centre in Hackney
- Provides regular weekly scouts activities
- Contact through the East London Scouts network
A well-regarded, consistent group for primary-aged scouts meeting weekly at a dedicated community centre in South London's Camberwell area.
The 5th Camberwell Scouts runs excellent scouts & guides classes for younger children from their base at St Faith's Community Centre in SE5. Parents seeking local, regular after-school engagement for their primary-aged kids in Camberwell should enquire here.
- Meets at St Faith's Community Centre in Camberwell
- Focuses mainly on primary school aged scouts
- Trial attendance is welcomed before joining
Utilising a major district facility in Stepney Green, this group provides scouts for older primary and secondary children in East London.
The 16th East London Scouts is one of several groups utilizing the Roland Philipps Scout Centre in Stepney Green for their weekly scouts & guides programmes. Children from primary up to secondary age can find a welcoming place for skill-building in this E1 location.
- Meets at the Roland Philipps Scout Centre hub
- Covers a wide age range of youth members
- Enquire about joining through the East London Scouts district
A Walworth-based provider in Southwark focused on the younger end of the scouts age range with regular weekly meetings.
This Southwark group offers engaging scouts & guides sessions for younger members in the Walworth area, meeting at their Carter Street base. Primary-aged children can join for weekly progression and fun within the South London Scouts district structure.
- Based in Walworth near the SE17 postcode area
- Focuses on Beavers and Cubs for younger kids
- Check the South London Scouts map for contact details
A well-located scouts and guides group in Brixton Hill, offering consistent weekly programmes for primary and secondary school children.
Families in Brixton Hill can enrol primary and secondary aged children into this active scouts & guides group, meeting at St Saviour's Church House. This SW2 provider offers consistent weekly programme delivery across the main age sections for local youth.
- Meets in a church hall in the Brixton Hill area
- Covers the main primary and secondary age ranges
- Contact via the South London Scouts joining page
A large dedicated Scout Outdoor Centre with extensive grounds perfect for traditional outdoor scouting skills and large group camping experiences.
This outdoor centre near Croydon offers extensive facilities for kids scouts and guides activities set within a wooded environment ideal for camping and exploration. Groups can book various activity areas for adventurous scouting lessons and outdoor skills development suitable for primary and secondary age children.
- Vast woodland site available for group bookings
- Offers dedicated activity programmes
- Advance booking is essential for weekend access
The main district page links out to several specific groups like the 16th East London Scouts and provides access to district-level resources.
East London Scouts acts as a resource hub for numerous local scouts and guides sessions across the East of the capital, serving many neighbourhood groups. Their website provides links to local troop meetings and information on district-wide events and camping opportunities for primary and secondary age children.
- District site links to many local groups
- Check local group pages for exact times
- Offers access to district facilities
This dedicated Scout Centre in Battersea provides a permanent base for several local scouts and guides troops serving the area.
Operating from its own centre in Battersea, this facility supports various scouts and guides activities for older primary and secondary aged children in the SW11 area. The Battersea Scout Centre is managed by Wandsworth District Scouts and hosts numerous group meetings and events.
- Hosts multiple local scout and guide troops
- Lower public rating than some peers
- Part of the wider Wandsworth District offering
This is the central London hub for Girlguiding, providing access and information for all local Brownies, Guides, and Rangers sessions.
The national headquarters for Girlguiding near Buckingham Palace supports all local guides and brownies units across London, offering programmes from toddlers up to secondary school age. While this is the administrative centre, the website is the main portal for finding local girl guides classes in your specific London neighbourhood.
- National portal for finding local units
- Covers all age bands from toddlers up
- Actual classes happen at local halls
The district website serves as a central point for all things scouting in Southwark, including details on the local Scout House venue.
Southwark Scouts maintains a presence at Scout House on Jamaica Road, supporting numerous local scouts and guides groups across the borough for primary and secondary ages. This district site helps coordinate activities, training, and access to camping facilities for local units in the Southwark area.
- District resource hosting Scout House location
- Links to joining information for local troops
- Promotes district-wide camping events
A highly-regarded local Richmond group meeting in its own Scout Hut, offering a consistent weekly programme for local children.
This North Richmond Scout Group runs traditional scouts and guides lessons for children from their dedicated Scout Hut near Richmond Park on Park Lane. Parents looking for regular primary and secondary programmes in the Richmond area will find local meeting times advertised on their group website.
- Meets at a specific hut near Old Deer Car Park
- Achieved a perfect community rating
- Consistent weekly meetings likely on offer
This Richmond troop boasts a perfect five-star rating and provides consistent weekly scouts and guides activities for local children.
The 1st Richmond Scouts run established scouts and guides programmes for local primary and secondary aged children, operating out of their headquarters in Richmond. Parents can review their weekly schedule and activities via the group's dedicated website for this active London unit.
- Strong five-star feedback from local parents
- Offers regular weekly meetings for youth
- Base of operations in the Richmond area
A specialized Sea Scouts unit in Putney, offering unique water-based adventure training for older primary and secondary members.
Unique for London, the 5th Putney Sea Scouts offers specialized scouts and guides lessons with a focus on watermanship for primary and secondary children near the Putney Embankment. This troop provides unique water-based adventure skills alongside the standard programme in the Putney area.
- Focuses specifically on sea scouting and water skills
- Excellent rating from participating families
- Utilises the nearby River Thames access
A consistently well-reviewed local troop in Crofton Park meeting at the St Hilda's Church Hall for their weekly primary and secondary sessions.
The 3rd Crofton Park Scout Group hosts its regular scouts and guides sessions inside St Hilda's Church Hall, offering programmes for primary and secondary children in the SE23 area. This local troop provides a community-focused setting for developing scouting skills near Crofton Park.
- Meets at the St Hilda's Church Hall venue
- Strong local rating from user feedback
- Standard scouting programme for youth
A top-rated Uxbridge provider running a complete scouting programme for primary and secondary children from its dedicated hut base.
This Uxbridge scout group offers a full range of scouts and guides lessons for children across all age bands, meeting at their base on Gatting Way in the UB8 area. Parents seeking local primary and secondary programmes in Uxbridge will find a group with excellent community feedback.
- Achieved a perfect five-star community rating
- Covers all standard youth scouting sections
- Located on Gatting Way in Uxbridge
A highly-rated local Deptford troop with a dedicated hall, providing regular weekly scouts and guides programmes for local children.
The 2nd Deptford Scouts offer consistent scouts and guides classes for local primary and secondary children from their hall on Childers Street in the SE8 area of London. This established Deptford unit maintains a dedicated local website detailing its meeting times and activities for youth members.
- Meets at a dedicated hall on Childers Street
- High community rating suggests happy members
- Check website for term dates and vacancies
A premium Aldgate provider with a perfect rating, specializing in movement and activity for younger children, possibly including adapted scouts' sessions.
Get Kids Going, based near Aldgate in the E1 area, provides specialized scouts and guides inspired activities, potentially including adapted sessions for toddlers and preschool children. This London provider focuses on inclusive movement and activity programmes, often suitable for children with specific access or learning needs.
- Excellent five-star feedback from users
- Likely caters to children with special needs
- Offers programmes for younger primary and preschool ages
A truly central London scouts and guides provision with a unique historical connection to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This long-standing scouts & guides group in Holborn provides activities for various age ranges, from younger children through to older secondary school age scouts. Based near Great Ormond Street Hospital, it serves the central London community with regular meetings and programme elements.
- Group connected to the historic Great Ormond Street Hospital
- Offers sessions for all sections of scouts and guides
- Central London based for easy access for many families
This district hub connects parents to a wide variety of established scouts & guides clubs operating throughout the Lewisham area.
The Lewisham Scouts District coordinates multiple groups offering scouts & guides programmes across the borough for children of all ages. These local clubs provide opportunities for adventure, skill-building, and community service throughout the Lewisham area.
- District body supports numerous local group meetings
- Focuses on traditional scouting activities and local community
- Check the website for a map of local Lewisham groups
A well-integrated scouts and guides hub operating from Trinity Church, ensuring a dedicated and consistent venue for all age sections in Sutton.
This combined scouts & guides unit meets at Trinity Church in Sutton, providing a structured programme for primary and secondary age children. It is a dedicated location for all sections, fostering community involvement within the Sutton area.
- Group meets at Trinity Church in central Sutton
- Likely offers sessions for Beavers through to Explorers
- Good local option for consistent weekly scouts & guides
The Brownies section is the main programme stream for primary age girls within the Girlguiding structure, focusing on badge work.
Brownies is a core part of Girlguiding, providing fun and skills-based activities for primary school girls aged seven to ten across London. This section focuses on badges and teamwork, usually meeting weekly in small local units.
- Specifically for girls between the ages of seven and ten
- Focuses on earning badges through varied activities
- Part of the wider national Girlguiding structure
This Simply Connect page acts as a central point to find multiple, varied scouts and guides sessions available across the entire London area.
This general directory page aggregates various London providers for scouts & guides, spanning toddler through to older youth groups. Parents can browse different local units covering Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Scouts, and Explorers programmes in London.
- This is a directory link, not a specific club listing
- Covers all sections from the youngest to oldest members
- Finds various local groups operating throughout London
A flexible community centre in Tooting that often houses local scouts and guides units, providing accessible indoor meeting space for primary kids.
The Willow Tree Centre in Tooting hosts various community activities, including local cubs and guides sessions for children in the surrounding area. This venue provides a dedicated indoor space for regular weekly scouts & guides meetings near Mitcham Road.
- Venue hosts different youth groups in the Tooting area
- Check the centre's direct programme schedule for Beaver times
- A local community-focused hub for weekly activities
A budget-friendly, established meeting spot at St Margaret's Church, offering consistent weekly scouts and guides for the local Lee community.
St Margaret's in Lee hosts several uniformed groups including cubs and scouts for primary and secondary age children looking for local weekly sessions. The church hall provides a stable, budget-friendly base for traditional scouts & guides activities in the South East London neighbourhood.
- Groups meet within the St Margaret's Church hall in Lee
- Good budget option for consistent weekly scouts meetings
- Check site for details on Beaver and Cub meeting times
A dedicated outdoor site in New Southgate, often used for larger district events and weekend camping for older scouts and guides units.
Scout Park in New Southgate offers extensive outdoor facilities perfect for scouting adventures and weekend camps for all age sections. While primarily a campsite, the grounds host district-wide events and activities for kids scouts & guides throughout the year.
- Large outdoor site near New Southgate ideal for camps
- Rating stands at 4.5 stars from over 200 reviews
- Hosts district-level scouts & guides events and camps
A local Isle of Dogs unit offering structured scouts and guides programmes for local primary and secondary school children within East London.
The 2nd East London Scout Group runs weekly scouts & guides sessions from George Greens school on the Isle of Dogs, serving local primary and secondary children. This established unit offers a typical programme structure for kids in East London.
- Meets at George Greens School on the Isle of Dogs
- Holds a 4.0 star rating from verified parent feedback
- Active local unit for regular weekly kids scouts sessions
The central global hub for Girl Guides and Scouts situated in Hampstead, providing a premium base for international programmes and events.
The World Association headquarters in Hampstead is the administrative centre, though it may host specific leadership training or premium events for older guides and scouts members. While not a regular local club, this NW3 location represents the global network for London guiding.
- This is the global headquarters, not a local weekly unit
- Located in Hampstead with a very high 4.9 star rating
- Focus is likely on leadership training for older youth
The historic Fort in Dulwich serves as a major outdoor activity centre, perfect for troop camping and large-scale outdoor scouts & guides events in South London.
The South London Scout Centre, known as The Fort, is an outdoor adventure base in Dulwich ideal for group camping and activities for older scouts and guides. This SE21 site provides large-scale outdoor experiences for primary and secondary youth groups.
- Outdoor adventure campsite located near Dulwich
- Rated 4.3 stars, a key spot for older youth groups
- Primary use is for group camping and outdoor skill building
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do kids scouts & guides classes cost in London?
Costs vary significantly depending on the location and whether the group owns its facility. Many local groups operate at a budget level, charging only local group fees to cover basic operational expenses. More central or specialized groups, especially those offering unique adventure activities, often sit at a mid-range price point based on termly subscription rates.
What age can kids start scouts & guides in London?
The scouting movement is inclusive across most childhood years. Some specific units, particularly those associated with the Girlguiding HQ or certain specialized groups like Get Kids Going, offer engagement for toddlers and preschoolers. The core programmes for Cubs and Brownies generally start around the preschool age, running consistently through the primary years and into the secondary school age range.
What should I look for in a beginner scouts & guides class?
For children new to the uniformed groups, look for local units that specifically state they offer trial periods or taster sessions. A group that utilizes a permanent, dedicated venue, such as a specific Scout Hut or Church Hall, often signals consistency in their weekly meeting schedule and management structure, which can be reassuring for newcomers.
Can my child try a scouts & guides class before committing?
Yes, many local groups understand the need for a trial run. A good number of providers across areas like Edgware and Ealing explicitly list that trial sessions are available, meaning a child can attend one or two meetings to gauge fit before termly or subscription fees are due.
Where in London can I find kids scouts & guides classes?
Options are spread widely throughout the city, though there is a significant density of local troops in boroughs like Richmond, Ealing, and Southwark. For specialized or large-scale adventure opportunities, the northern areas like Chingford and New Southgate host major outdoor centres used by scouts across London.
Do these classes ever focus on specialized activities like water sports?
Absolutely. While the majority of groups offer standard badge work and community service, specialized units do exist. For example, the 5th Putney Sea Scouts provides unique water-based adventure training, and large outdoor sites like Frylands Wood in Croydon focus heavily on traditional camping and adventure skills.
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