Free Sports, Gym and Swim Offer

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More Wandsworth people are now eligible for free (off-peak) gym, swimming sessions and other sports activities at council leisure and sports centres.

Times

Off-peak times apply before 5.30pm on weekdays and all day at weekends.

What's on offer

For all Wandsworth children under 8:

  • Free swimming for all under 8s. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (one adult to two under 8s)
  • Free drop-in sports sessions during school holidays

For adults:

  • Free off-peak gym and swim sessions
  • Free padel between 1 and 3pm in King George’s Park (coming soon)
  • 20% discount on recumbent bikes
  • Free NPLQ training for job seekers and those on Universal Credit
  • 130 tickets for each of the two sessions daily at Tooting Bec Lido will be free during Lido season. After this, a reduced charge of £5 applies. Book adult tickets
  • A generous offer from Go Ape running from Sundays to Fridays
  • £21.50 inclusive membership and £5 drop in rates for casual activities during peak times, such as swimming and gym access

For under 18s:

  • Free off peak and all-day swimming aged 8-18 who receive free school meals
  • Use of the junior gym is also available, as well as access to adult off-peak sessions, if accompanied by an adult
  • £15 inclusive membership and £2.50 drop in rates for casual activities during peak times, such as gym access
  • Free off-peak sports bookings for children receiving free school meals
  • 130 tickets for each of the two sessions daily at Tooting Bec Lido will be free during Lido season. After this, a reduced charge of £2.50 applies. Book under 18s tickets
  • A generous offer from Go Ape running from Sundays to Fridays

For students:

  • £5 admission rate at Tooting Bec Lido. Book student tickets
  • £21.50 inclusive membership and £5 drop in rates for casual activities during peak times, such as swimming and gym access

View the free sports, gym and swim flyer

View Places Leisure’s drop-in sports session schedule.

Battersea Park concessions

Recumbent Bikes: Offering 20% discount on full price for Access for All groups. Telephone: 020 7228 6843

Go Ape

A generous offer in Battersea Park for those eligible under the Access for All Scheme. 

To receive your discount code email your name and post code to marketing@goape.co.uk. Allow 24 hours for discount code to be emailed to you if requested Monday to Friday. Any emails received over the weekend will be fulfilled on Monday.

Terms and conditions:

  • Discount is valid at Go Ape Battersea only, Sunday to Friday, and on all activities
  • Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, gift voucher purchases or on Saturdays and is subject to availability

How to use your discount code:

  1. Visit the Go Ape website
  2. Select activity and click on book now
  3. Choose participants and check availability
  4. Select date and time required
  5. Check basket info and select ‘proceed to billing’
  6. Enter discount code in the order summary section and click ‘apply’
  7. Fill out your contact details and click continue to payment
  8. Enter payment details

Free intensive swimming lessons

We are offering free intensive swimming lessons for Wandsworth children in years 5 to 7 who are yet to meet the Key Stage 2 swimming criteria.

The lessons will run throughout the school holidays and are for beginners. Each child will get five consecutive days of 30-minute intensive swimming lessons.

Sites:

  • Balham Leisure Centre
  • Latchmere Leisure Centre
  • Putney Leisure Centre
  • Tooting Leisure Centre
Swimming lessons timetable
Holiday Dates from Dates to Weeks
Summers holidays 2024 24 July 2024 1 September 2024 6
October half term 2024 26 October 2024 3 November 2024 1

Register your interest on the Places Leisure website.

Tennis

The following is on offer:

  • Fred Wells Gardens - one free access to tennis court (turn up and play)
  • Roehampton Playing Fields - Free Parks Tennis Programme (equipment provided)

Junior free play

For under 18s between 3 and 5pm on weekdays, when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Equipment is provided, and subject to availability.

There is also free places on camps and courses for refugees

Available at:

  • King George’s Park
  • Wandsworth Common
  • Wandsworth Park
  • Leaders Gardens
  • Tooting Common
  • Furzedown Recreation Ground

WAND/WAND+ card holders

WAND/WAND+ Cards are available to SEND young people across Wandsworth.

  • Places Leisure offer free supervised swimming, gym and playzone access at their sites.
  • Enable run disability programmes.
  • In addition, discounts are offered at Putt in the Park, Battersea Park Zoo, and Go Ape, with some spaces at Go Ape offered for free each calendar year.

Padel - coming soon

Padel courts will be a new addition to King George’s Park. As part of this provision, there will be several additional offerings:

  • Free padel school provision
  • Junior padel free play drop-ins from 3 to 5pm midweek, where padel courts and equipment will be free to children under 18
  • Women-only sessions run during weekday daytimes
  • LGBTQ weekly sessions in a safe and inclusive environment 

Parkrun

An adult parkrun takes place at 9am on Saturdays on Tooting Common.

A junior parkrun also takes place weekly at 9am on Sundays on Tooting Common. A second junior parkrun also takes place on Sundays at 9am in Battersea Park.

Eligibility

The offer is open to Wandsworth residents only. The following people are eligible for this offer:

  • Children in receipt of free school meals (all ages)
  • Asylum seekers/refugees
  • Looked after children/care leavers

The offer can also be claimed by those in receipt of:

  • Universal Credit
  • Jobseekers Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Support
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Carer's Allowance
  • Child and Working Tax Credit
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit (plus those eligible but not receiving it)

Proof of eligibility

You will be required to show proof of eligibility to take advantage of the offer. Visit the relevant operator website for full details, noting that proof of residency will be required.

Locations

This offer can be used in several venues across the borough. Facilities available depend on the venue,

Places Leisure venues

The following venues are run by Places Leisure:

Enable venues

The following venues are run by Enable:

How to access the offer

Visit the relevant website for full details including terms and conditions, eligibility proof required, and how to take advantage of the offer.

Up to Sport and fitness

Updated: 05/09/2024