The London Loop returns for 2025

After a highly successful first year at the Olympic Park, the London Loop returned for 2025 around North West London. This year’s edition was unique, in that the three-day holiday camp saw a range of host locations such as Regent’s Park, St Marylebone School, London Zoo and the Home of Cricket, Lord’s.

As in 2024 the four London cricket counties, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Middlesex with the addition of the MCC Community team, came together to provide a sports and activities camp for over 100 under-served young people from across the capital.

Over 20 young people from each county aged between 9 to 11 years old were given the opportunity to take part in arts, music, sport and drama delivered by some big names in sport, with a provision of breakfast and lunch to supplement the absence of free school meals during the holiday period. The summer holiday event part of the ECB-funded Cricket 4 London initiative, aims at providing life-changing opportunities through cricket, breaking down barriers to physical activity, and uniting young people from different corners of London.

Day one saw children come together and perform the iconic celebration song ‘waving flag’ during their music hour delivered by east London based music charity Progression Sessions. This was followed by an arts workshop, drama and basketball sessions delivered by Haringey Basketball for All.

Day two of the Loop featured a full cricket experience at Lord’s, with cricket sessions led by the community cricket coaches of the four London cricket counties, a tour of Lord’s including the iconic Long Room and the home and away dressing rooms, and finally a tour of the Media Centre complete with a sports journalism workshop based on the 2019 World Cup Final, as seen from the journalist’s viewpoint.

Day three of London Loop 2025 gave the young people, volunteers and staff members the chance to experience Regent’s Park and London Zoo at its best – with Premiership Rugby side Saracens delivering fun Rugby sessions for the boys and girls to get stuck into. Rugby was followed by equally engaging football sessions delivered by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. For the grand finale of the London Loop, all participants were then taken for a visit to London Zoo next door on what became a captivating afternoon of seeing animals, birds and a range of species from around the world in the heart of London.

If you’d like to learn more about the London Loop, our work with young people or our work in South East London please contact Christian.rice@kentcricket.co.uk