Try a new activity for free to celebrate National Fitness Day
Free gym sessions, swimming, group exercise classes and other activities are on offer for everyone in Leicester to celebrate National Fitness Day.
National Fitness Day is on Wednesday 16 September, and to mark the occasion, the city council’s Active Leicester leisure centres are offering the chance to get fit for free.
Swimming will be free of charge at Aylestone Leisure Centre, Braunstone Leisure Centre, Cossington Street Sports Centre, Evington Leisure Centre, Leicester Leys Leisure Centre, New Parks Leisure Centre and Spence Street Sports Centre.
In addition, the city council is inviting people to enjoy a free round of pitch & putt or footgolf at its Humberstone Heights golf course.
Tennis will also be free, with sessions at tennis courts available to book through the ClubSpark booking system (you will need to register for a free account, if you don’t already have one).
And dozens of activities such as group cycling, HIIT classes, yoga and circuits will be available for people to try, with the usual charges waived for the day.
Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “I’m very proud of our Active Leicester offer, which demonstrates the council’s commitment to providing high-quality leisure facilities across Leicester. Unlike other councils, we have kept these facilities in-house, rather than hand them over to the private sector.
“This year’s National Fitness Day sees us offering a wider range of free activities than ever before, so we’re inviting everyone to come along and try them out. We also have a really good range of memberships if you decide to join – and our friendly classes and activities are a great way to socialise and make new friends.”
As well as encouraging new participants, National Fitness Day will be celebrating current Active Leicester members, who can take part in The Big Rep Challenge at leisure centres, and will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win their membership for free for 12 months. All members will get details by email.
People wishing to use the gym, play pitch & putt or have a go at footgolf during National Fitness Day don’t need to book, but those wishing to swim or join a class are advised to reserve their free place in advance to avoid disappointment.
Places can be booked at activeleicester.gladstonego.cloud/book – if you’re not already an Active Leicester member, you can create a free profile to secure your place.
Places can also be booked by phone or in person at leisure centres. To find out more and read terms and conditions, visit the Active Leicester webpage.
National Fitness Day is an annual campaign run by UK Active that highlights the role of physical activity in helping people to lead healthier lives.
LCC News - Published on Monday, September 14, 2026
