Amazing and Helpful Service
Cricket Gear Haven impresses with a stellar bat selection, and helpful staff, offering great quality at decent prices despite occasional delivery delays.
Gill Southwood
Google Reviews
Everything you need to know about buying cricket equipment from VKS, and visiting our London store.
Where is the best cricket bat shop in London?
We are located at 31 Bond Street in Ealing, London W5 and are widely regarded as London's finest cricket store, a title awarded by The Telegraph newspaper. We have stocked cricket bats and cricket equipment since 1973, giving our staff over 50 years of combined expertise in fitting bats to players of every level. Unlike general sports retailers, all our team members are cricket lovers, so the advice you get in store is genuinely informed rather than generic.
What cricket bat should I buy?
The right cricket bat depends on your playing style, bat speed, and budget rather than price alone. Bigger players with strong bat speed usually suit a thicker edge and higher spine, while those who play more through the ball benefit from a lighter, more balanced pickup. We stock bats across every major brand including Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Gunn & Moore, New Balance, SS Ton and Infinity, and our in-store team will let you weigh and test bats before you commit, which is something you simply cannot do when buying online.
What cricket equipment does a beginner need?
A beginner needs a cricket bat sized correctly for their height, batting pads, batting gloves, and a helmet as the core protective essentials, with a kit bag to carry it all. Many junior and beginner players also benefit from an abdominal guard and a set of stumps for practice. We sell complete junior cricket bundles that cover the full kit list in one go, and our staff can talk you through exactly what is needed for the level and format you are playing.
Do you sell cricket bags?
Yes, VKS stocks a wide range of cricket bags including duffle bags, wheelie bags, junior bags, and bat covers from brands such as Gray-Nicolls, Gunn & Moore, Kookaburra and New Balance. We also stock the new Pro-Tek range, a registered cricket bag brand built for durability under the demands of regular club and school cricket. Whether you need a lightweight bag for nets or a full wheelie bag for matchday kit, we can help you choose the right size and compartment layout.
Which cricket helmet should I choose?
Your cricket helmet should always meet the current British Standard for cricket headwear, and the fit matters as much as the brand. A helmet that sits too loosely will not protect you properly even if it carries the right safety rating. We stock helmets for adults and juniors, and we always recommend trying a helmet on in store, where our staff can check the fit and grille clearance before you buy, rather than guessing sizes online.
Can I get cricket footwear for different pitch conditions?
Yes, cricket footwear is generally split between spike shoes for bowlers and firm outdoor pitches, and rubber-soled shoes for batting, fielding, and indoor or artificial surfaces. Choosing the wrong sole type can affect both your grip and your run-up safety. We stock cricket shoes from adidas, New Balance, Gray-Nicolls, Gunn & Moore and Kookaburra, and our team can advise on the right sole pattern for your role and the surfaces you play on most.
Is it better to buy cricket gear in store or online?
Buying in store lets you handle, weigh, and test cricket gear before paying, which matters most for bats, helmets and shoes where fit and feel are personal. Buying online from VKS gets you the same expert-selected range with next day UK delivery and worldwide shipping. Many of our customers do both, browsing online first and visiting Bond Street to make the final decision, particularly for higher-value items like premium cricket bats.
Where is VKS cricket shop located?
VKS is located at 31 Bond Street, Ealing, London W5 5AS, in the heart of Ealing town centre. We are open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm. The shop sits a short walk from Ealing Broadway, making it an easy stop whether you are coming from Central London, West London, or further out via the Elizabeth line.
What is the nearest train or tube station to VKS?
Ealing Broadway is the nearest station to VKS, around a 6 minute walk from our Bond Street shop. It is served by the Elizabeth line, the Central line, and the District line, as well as National Rail services, so VKS is easily reachable whether you are travelling from Central London, Heathrow, or further along the Great Western route. South Ealing tube station on the Piccadilly line is also within easy walking distance.
How far is VKS from Central London?
VKS is around 8 miles west of Central London, roughly a 8 to 12 minute journey by Elizabeth line train from stations such as Bond Street or Paddington. Many of our customers travel in from across London specifically for our range of cricket bats and equipment, and the direct rail link makes Ealing one of the easier specialist sports shops to reach without a car.
Is there parking near VKS cricket shop?
Yes, there is metered on-street parking directly outside our Bond Street shop and on the street opposite, and several public car parks are within a couple of minutes' walk in Ealing town centre. Parking in Ealing is generally straightforward, even on a busy Saturday, so visiting by car is a realistic option alongside coming by tube or train.
What is the nearest motorway to VKS in Ealing?
Ealing sits close to the A406 North Circular Road, and is also easily reached from the M4 around Junction 2, as well as the M40 further north. This makes VKS a convenient stop for cricket clubs and players travelling in from across West London, the M4 corridor, and beyond.
Are there restaurants and bars near VKS?
Yes, Ealing town centre has a wide choice of restaurants, cafes and bars within a short walk of Bond Street, making it easy to combine a trip to VKS with lunch or a coffee. Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre and the surrounding streets offer everything from quick coffee stops to sit-down meals, so a visit to the shop fits naturally into a longer trip to the area.
VKS has operated from Bond Street in Ealing, West London since 1973, making us one of the longest-established cricket specialists in the country. Over more than fifty years we have built relationships with every major cricket brand, allowing us to stock a range of cricket bats, cricket bags, cricket helmets, and cricket footwear that few general sports retailers can match. The Telegraph newspaper named VKS London's finest cricket store, a reflection of the depth of our range and the expertise of our staff, many of whom play club cricket themselves. Whether you are outfitting a junior player for their first season or sourcing a top-grade English willow bat for representative cricket, our team can talk you through the real differences between products rather than simply pointing you towards the most expensive option.
Cricket bats are the heart of our business. We stock bats from Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Gunn & Moore, New Balance, SS Ton, MRF, SG, CA, Chase, DSC, Salix, SF Stanford and Str8bat, covering everything from entry-level junior bats through to professional-grade English willow blades. Our range includes long blade bats, small adult bats, ladies' cricket bats, and tennis tape ball bats, so whatever format or level you play at, there is a genuine choice rather than a handful of token options. We also offer professional bat knocking-in and repair services in store, helping extend the life of a bat you have already invested in.
Alongside bats, VKS stocks a full range of cricket bags, including duffle bags, wheelie bags, junior bags and bat covers from leading brands. Our cricket protection range covers helmets, batting and wicket keeping gloves, batting pads, arm guards, chest guards, thigh guards and abdominal guards, all selected to meet current safety standards. Cricket footwear is equally well covered, with spike shoes for bowlers and firm pitches alongside rubber-soled options for batting, fielding, and indoor surfaces, from brands including adidas, New Balance, Gray-Nicolls and Kookaburra.
Our shop is at 31 Bond Street, Ealing, London W5 5AS, open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Ealing Broadway station is around a 6 minute walk away, with Elizabeth line, Central line, and District line connections, plus National Rail services, making us easy to reach from Central London and across West London without a car. If you are driving, the A406 North Circular and the M4 around Junction 2 both provide straightforward access to Ealing. There is metered parking directly outside the shop and on the street opposite, along with several public car parks just a couple of minutes' walk away, so parking is rarely an issue even on a busy Saturday. Ealing town centre also has a good choice of cafes, restaurants and bars nearby, making it easy to combine a visit to VKS with the rest of a day out.
Every order over £100 qualifies for free UK delivery, with next day delivery available across most of the country. For customers in or near Ealing, click and collect lets you order online and pick up in store, often on the same day. We also ship worldwide via FedEx, UPS and DHL, so cricketers outside the UK can access the same range and expert-selected products as our in-store customers in London.
