Think of pigeons in London and you’ll probably hear the dulcet tones of Julie Andrews urging you to feed to birds, tuppence a bag, against a backdrop of St Paul’s Cathedral. But the pigeons we want to tell you about are not the same as Mary Poppins’ birds - though the experience can be just as magical. Clay pigeons are like dinner plates that, launched from a machine called a trap, you have to shoot down with a shotgun. It’s a classic meets modern experience, which combines excitement and focus and, best of all, no animals are harmed in the making of this sport!

Clay pigeon shooting is becoming more and more popular around the UK and you don’t need to live on a country estate to enjoy it. Whenever you leave central London, no matter the direction, you’ll probably pass by a clay pigeon shooting range in the first hour of the journey, so an escape from your daily routine is closer than you think. And as the entertainment industry in the heart of the city becomes more and more imaginative, shooting experiences are now available in surprising settings. Whether you’re a visitor to this fantastic city, or you’re lucky enough to live here, don't miss out this sport - but be careful, it’s so addictive that you might get hooked.

Where to go for a clay pigeon shooting experience in London?

Southwest: on the way to Surrey there are a couple great clay pigeon ranges. You’ll forget that you’re still inside the M25 in the green surroundings near Epsom Common, where you can put the but of a shotgun to your shoulder and take aim at some flying clays. On offer in the southwest are standard shooting setups, known as Down the Line, and the more adventurous pursuit of Simulated Game Shooting, in which traps are hidden in the undergrowth and launch clays at random to simulate real birds in flight.

• Northwest: many options are available to newcomers in this part. You can take lessons with experienced instructors at shooting clubs that have been in operation for generations if you want to take this sport seriously. Or take your mates for a taster shooting session to celebrate a birthday or stag or hen do, or just for a good day’s fun. If it’s good enough for the cast of Made in Chelsea (and they certainly looked like they had a good time on the show), it’s good enough for you!

• Northeast: the space between the capital center and Essex might seem neither here nor there, but that’s perfect for some outdoor clay pigeon shooting. Despite your proximity to the hustle and bustle, you’ll feel a real disconnect here which should help to slow your breathing, clear your mind, and smash some clays to smithereens! And there’s more than just shotguns here, you can try your hand with a variety of firearms, including air rifles and crossbows - or even throw an axe at a target.

• Southeast: on the South bank of the Thames as it winds its way to the sea, you’ll find some clay pigeon shooting clubs that come highly recommended. With high quality kit and well thought out shooting layouts, this is a great place for beginners to take their first shots and experts to enjoy a challenge.

• Central: you don’t have to leave the beating heart of London to enjoy clay pigeon shooting, but without any of the risks of bringing shotguns into the city centre. In fact, in the trendy neighbourhoods of Moorgate and Canary Wharf you’ll find some fashionable bars with a twist - virtual clay pigeon shooting with full size wireless guns. That’s right, they’re wireless because they interact with a big screen display of clays flying through open skies. You don’t have to worry about ammo limits or stray bullets, just point and shoot.

Requirements to do this activity

Clay pigeon shooting is becoming increasingly popular around the country and the clubs in the capital are keen to welcome newcomers to the sport. You don’t need any experience or equipment to have your first experience and you’ll receive a warm welcome when you arrive, whether it’s for a lesson or a group activity.

You don’t need to have a licence either to use the shotguns at shooting ranges, but there are some age limits in place. These are due to the physical nature of handling a gun safely and correctly. Action heroes in movies might not show it, but it takes some effort to hold a gun to your shoulder steadily enough to hit your mark. Minimum age limits vary from club to club depending on the kind of equipment that they have, but the youngest you can be to take part is usually 10 to 12 years old. Of course, if you want to shoot virtual clays in a bar, you have to be over 18.

How long does a session last?

The length of your shoot will vary according to what it includes. If you’re looking for a corporate away day to remember - without leaving the capital - you can spend a couple of hours or even the whole day at a shooting range to get everyone involved in a little competition and some fun games. Lessons, on the other hand, typically last from an hour to an hour and a half. During the lesson your instructor will give you plenty of opportunities to practise shooting as they help you to develop your technique.

For a shooting taster session or activity, the length will be determined by how many shots you want to take, or how many clays you want to load into the trap. In half an hour you can get through about 20 clays, and packages of 80, 100 and 200 are also available. For novice groups, the session will start with a safety briefing instructions on how to use the equipment, which in total could take 15 to 20 minutes.

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