If you are just wanting to find a nice walk for your dog, fancy joining a gym or learning a new sport, SE16 has a great range of possibilities for you. In the first of two posts, Anthony Mayatt (@BreatheFitPT) a local resident and personal trainer offers his take on the health and fitness places on offer round here.
SE16 is an area located only two tube stops from Central London and the pollution, tall buildings and stress that London life can bring. This having been said, as close to town as it is, the area is lucky to be filled with some amazing outdoor spaces and facilities making it the perfect area to get fit and healthy in the capital.
Outdoor Spaces
Sometimes people underestimate what is right on their door step and in SE16 we are lucky to live by the river Thames with the path leading all around the edge of the area making it the perfect place for a walk or a run. The area also has amazing parkland from Southwark Park which has a weekly free running club and outdoor gym to encourage more people to exercise. Russia Dock Woodland and Stave Hill Ecological Park (see above) also contains walkways, a man-made hill, off-path tracks whether you want to go for a run or just take a leisurely walk. We are very lucky in this area to have these amazing areas right on our doorstep.
Facilities
SE16 has something that makes other parts of London very jealous by having our own Surrey Docks Watersports Centre on Greenland Dock, run by Fusion Lifestyle. Here you can learn to sail, kayak, row and even dragon boat racing can be done here. The dock is one of only two London docks still used so to have this is absolutely fantastic. The centre also contains a gym and studios for classes that can be joined with a membership.
The area also has the Living Well health club located at the Hilton London Docklands Riverside offering swimming, gym and classes and the same is available at the Seven Island Leisure Centre run by Fusion Lifestyle next to Southwark Park. Seven Islands offers a pay-as-you-go option if you want to see what it’s like rather than take out membership. They have a gym, swimming pool and also kids classes. There are just way too many classes to mention here but if you are looking for a class for your kids or yourself then look no further than Seven Islands.
Southwark Park has a sports centre (with a gym of its own) that at the moment is slowly decaying but the great news is that planning permission has been given to redevelop the athletic centre to create a new track and field facility plus pitches in the middle, all floodlit. As part of this renaissance, the London City Athletics Club was formed in April. Mixed O2 touch rugby is played in the Park weekly and three eleven-a-side football pitches can be used. The Park also hosts the Southwark Park Bowls Club and the newly formed Southwark Park Cricket Club (Contact Martin Kovats). You can of course always use a free tennis court or cricket pitch in the Park as well.
If you fancy learning Dodgeball or a game of badminton, then you can try the Bacon’s College Community Sports Centre in Timber Pond Road SE16. You can hire out their astroturf football pitch or enjoy volleyball or basketball in their well appointed sports hall. They have netball and tennis courts as well as indoor cricket nets in the winter.
Millwall FC are also located in SE16 and offer activities in the community for kids with football camps during school holidays, which are great as my little one has been there a few times so I know how good they are.
The second part of Anthony’s guide to the #fitSE16 health, sport and fitness is coming up. Look out for his recommendations to brush up your body and keep the pounds off at the most difficult time of the year. Anthony hopes to join us at @SE16Hour next week to answer questions and offer any advice. If you know of other great places to get fit or stay trim in SE16, do let us know either below in the comments or using our Facebook page.
