How can I find a bowls club or book a session through Bowls England?

Go to bowlsengland.com and use the Play Bowls section, which links to Find Your Nearest Club and Book a Session. These are the two routes for turning interest into an actual visit: one locates clubs, the other books a taster session. Have your location (postcode or town) ready, and note whether you are a complete beginner so you can ask about introductory sessions.

Finding your nearest club

The homepage presents Play Bowls with the options Find Your Nearest Club and Book a Session. The club finder is the starting point for locating affiliated clubs in your area.

What to prepare before you search:

• Your postcode or nearest town, to narrow results to a workable travel distance
• Whether you want indoor or outdoor bowls, since the two are organised separately (see the merger note below)
• Your experience level, so you can filter for clubs that welcome newcomers

Once you have a shortlist, check each club's details for contact information and how to arrange a first visit. If a club's page does not state session times, contact them directly and ask what a beginner should expect.

Booking a session

Book a Session is the direct route for trying the sport rather than committing to membership. It is aimed at people who want to sample bowls before joining a club.

When you book, be ready to provide:

• Your preferred location and rough availability
• Your experience level (complete beginner is a normal answer)
• Any equipment questions — ask whether bowls and shoes are provided for a taster session

Clubs commonly run beginner-friendly or introductory sessions, so it is reasonable to ask specifically for one if it is not obvious from the booking page. Confirm what to wear and whether you need to bring anything.

What else the site covers

Beyond playing, bowlsengland.com organises information into a few areas that may matter once you are involved:

A note on indoor and outdoor bowls

The site states that Bowls England and the English Indoor Bowls Association are working towards a proposed amalgamation under the name England Bowls, with Sport England financial support and a specialist consultancy firm having completed a detailed outline of a merger. Until that is finalised, indoor and outdoor bowls remain separately organised, so if you want to play year-round it is worth asking a club whether it covers both.