Get active
Being active is good for your body and health and wellbeing.
Adults, including people who are pregnant, should aim to do 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. Moderate activity means you are moving enough to feel a little out of breath.
Children should be active for at least one hour every day. Any extra movement can make a difference, even if you start small.
Tips to help you move more
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Get into a good habit
Set a reminder on your alarm or timer on your phone to get up and move every 30 minutes during the day. Try stretching during TV ad breaks or pacing around the kitchen while the kettle's boiling.
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Leave for lunch
Lunchtime is a good opportunity to fit in some activity. Take a break to stretch and unwind, or even fit in a quick 10-minute home workout. -
Your own stand-up routine
Try standing when you can instead of sitting - even short periods will add up and improve your strength. -
Take up a hobby
Active hobbies like gardening or DIY can be great for your mind as well as your body. -
Track your progress
Hitting your daily target will feel great! Using tracking apps can help, but even just a checklist on a piece of paper will do. -
It's better together
If your friends and family want to be more active too, try engaging everyone's competitive side with activity challenges like seeing who can do the most steps in a day. -
Go from strength to strength
Strength-building activities like carrying heavy grocery bags, or following an online pilates or strength workout video help to keep muscles, joints and bones strong. Aim to do this at least twice a week. -
Reward yourself
Set yourself activity goals and rewards. You could go for a long walk then treat yourself to an episode of your favourite TV show. -
Find something you enjoy
Not sure where to start? Give one of the offers below a go to find something that's right for you, or try searching for an online programme. Whether it's running, yoga or simply dancing around your living room, it all counts.
Check Better Health Get active to get active including how to take part in initiatives such as couch to 5k visit.
Activity finder
Find activities in your area to help you move more, every day, your way.
Find out more on the Get Active in Redbridge website
Parks
Redbridge benefits from a wide range of open spaces and parks, see how you can get active on your own or with others.
Walking
Walking provides an easy and cheap way to keep active.
The Walk Redbridge brochure (PDF 1.1MB) is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to start leisure walking. It gives bus routes to the walks’ starting points and grades each walk depending on the type of terrain.
Vision Walking Activities include:
- Wellbeing Walks (walking for health)
- Inclusive Walks
- Walking football
- Walking Netball
Swimming
Redbridge is home to three swimming pools, with a fourth on the way in Wanstead.
Our pools provide public sessions for adults, families, and competent young swimmers 12 years and over.
- Fullwell Cross - One 25 metre swimming pool and a children’s pool
- Loxford - One 25 metre swimming pool (Booking not available via the app)
- Mayfield - One 25 metre swimming pool
Find out more on the Vision website
Swim for £1
During the Easter and Summer holidays all children 15 years and under can swim for £1 at any of our swimming pools in Redbridge (Fullwell Cross, Mayfield, Loxford).
Children under the age of eight can also swim for £1 as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
- Under 4’s: 1-1 adult to child
- 5-7 years old: 2 children to 1 adult
- Under 16’s non swimmers need a competent adult supervising
- Accompany adults will be charged £4 off peak/£5.50 peak. Peak times are weekends
- Over 60’s free swimming available 2pm to 5pm weekdays
Find out more about Swim for £1 on the Vision website
Tennis in Redbridge parks
Play tennis at one of Redbridge’s parks. It’s a great way to keep active, have fun and enjoy the outdoors.
Find out more about Tennis in Redbridge Parks.
Outdoor gyms
Why not give one of our outdoor gyms in various Redbridge parks a try?
There isn’t a better way to exercise these days than an outdoor gym, breathing the fresh air into your lungs whilst toning those muscles at your local park and best of all it’s free!
We have outdoor gyms in the following parks:
- Barkingside Recreation Ground
- Claybury Woods
- Clayhall Park
- Goodmayes Park
- Hainault Recreation Ground
- Loxford Park
- Ray Lodge Park
- Seven Kings Park
- South Park
- Valentines Park
Check out the locations of all outdoor gyms
Athletics, hockey, football and more
Interested in athletics? Why not visit our newly refurbished Ashton Playing Field where you’ll find an eight lane track, competition specification hammer, two long jump/triple jump pits and javelin and shot put areas, as well as high jump and pole vault facilities.
There’s a 2G AstroTurf perfect for football, hockey, three full sized and one junior grass football pitches for hire at Ashton Playing Fields and more.
Find out more about Ashton Playing Field on the Vision website
Find out more about Sports Pitches in Redbridge
Redbridge gyms
In our busy, stressful lives, we all need to take time out to look after ourselves, learn to love our bodies, and reap the benefits of exercise which can be far reaching. Exercising makes you feel more positive, increases your sense of well being and gives you the energy needed for living a full and happy life.
Become a Vision member and use all of the following gyms:
- Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre
- Mayfield Leisure Centre
- South Woodford Library & Gym
- Wanstead Leisure Centre
- Woodford Green Library & Gym
We also have a small gym at Ashton Playing Fields membership from just £25 per month
Find out more about Redbridge gyms on the Vision website
Cycling
Cycling is a great way to improve your health and fitness.
At Redbridge Cycling Centre cyclists of all abilities can rent bikes and try out the purpose built road, BMX and off road tracks.
The Centre has qualified British Cycling coaches on site and offers school holiday courses, coaching for schools, individuals and groups of all abilities.
Holiday activities for children
We know that every child is unique, and their interests and abilities can vary.
We have a Mega Mix of activities, ranging from sports, to dance and drama, learning new music skills or digital workshops available for a subsided rate through the summer holidays.
There are also adapted sessions available for children who would benefit from additional support, including arts & crafts, cycling, water sports, boccia and kurling.
Find out more about Children's events on the Vision website
Get your community active with Fit for Fun
Fit for Fun offers 20 weeks of free one-hour physical activity sessions for groups of 10 or more people across Redbridge.
Sessions are fun, friendly and inclusive. They can help you and your group be more active, improve your health and wellbeing and enjoy time together.
Community groups, families, workplaces, schools, charities, faith organisations and other local organisations can take part. Sessions are open to people of all ages, abilities and experience levels.
If you are not already part of a group, we can help you bring people together and set up a Fit for Fun group for your community.
