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Keeping fit this winter

Walking

Great for the mind and body, pull on your boots, wrap up warm and explore the local area for your daily exercise. If you are looking for new walking routes on your doorstep then take a look at our guide for those that love walking or the walks in our explore section for inspiration. 

Explore one of the many trails in Basingstoke and Deane. 

  • Streets Alive Trail – Spot all the colourful street furniture brought to life with poems and illustrations by local artists. Basingstoke Festival has partnered with TrailTale, and created a guided walk map featuring all the Streets Alive artworks, which you can download for free here.
  • Follow in the footsteps of Whitchurch resident and author Richard Adams as you explore the stunning new Watership Down 24 mile circular trail marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of Watership Down, the much loved modern classic and the 50th anniversary of the creation of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the setting for the story.
  • ‘Hunt for the Lost Toys’ is a free family trail from High Street Safari. Join heroes The Luminauts on a free family adventure around Basingstoke town centre. To play, simply scan the QR codes at the 10 stops to find the presents and choose what happens in the story next. See the characters spring to life in augmented reality and download your digital fun pack.
  • Take in Basing House, Basingstoke Common, Crabtree Plantation, War Memorial Park and Eastrop Park on the Basing trail, a seven-mile circular walk.
  • Basingstoke ‘history’ town trail - Enjoy the self-guided walk showing you more about the town’s history, from Domesday to the modern day. Pick up a copy from The Willis Museum or find the trail on the free TrailTale app.

Jogging / Running

If you enjoy walking, you can also try jogging, start off easy with a few minutes and keep increasing the time gradually. It’s an easy and inexpensive activity, all you need are comfortable clothes and a good pair of trainers.

Once you’re comfortable with jogging you can try running! If you’re new to running, try the NHS Couch to 5K, you can easily download the podcasts or app to your phone and follow the instructions!

Once you are comfortable running 5K or if you are a regular runner you may wish to try the weekly Park Run at War Memorial Park on a Saturday. This is free to join in and they meet for a post run coffee at the Orchard Café! If you have little ones interested in running there is a Junior version that takes place at Stratton Park on a Sunday morning. This 2k course is suitable for those aged four to 14 years and is also free to join.

Cycling

For those that prefer exploring on two wheels check out our guide for cyclists which has some ideas for routes together with links to shops that offer bicycle supplies so you can also support local businesses.

Health and Fitness Clubs

You'll find lots of gyms in and around Basingstoke. If you are looking for something with other facilities such as a pool or tennis courts then take a look at these.

  • Beechdown - not just somewhere to exercise but somewhere to relax and unwind or enjoy a great coffee. Members can enjoy access to a gym with cardio and resistance machines, exercise classes, an indoor pool, tennis, squash and badminton courts. They also have childcare for under 8s.
  • Anytimefitness  - open 24/7, you can exercise whenever you wish with secure access throughout the day. Offers a wide variety of equipment, you can either accommodate your training depending on your needs, from cardio to lift weighting.
  • Better – located in the Festival Place, the Basingstoke Sports Centre facilitates a wide variety of activities for all ages and capabilities. It includes squash courts, a large gym, a women-only gym, and studios offering a variety of classes, from Pilates, Zumba, Spinning, to HIIT. It also offers swimming lessons for babies and toddlers up to 3 years old.
  • Village Gym Basingstoke – enjoy group activities with over 400 classes. The well-being club also features an indoor, heated swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, and steam room. Plus, every weekend the children can enjoy some pool time with Splash n' Swim sessions.

Other pools

If you are looking for a more leisurely swim on an ad-hoc basis then there are a number of pools around Basingstoke and Deane:

  • The Aquadrome at Basingstoke Leisure Park has a range of swimming sessions, from family swims for all ages to lane swimming and casual swimming for those looking to improve their fitness.
  • Tadley Health and Fitness Centre has a 25m swimming pool, great for improving your fitness, lane swimming or learning to swim.
  • You’ll find a 23 metre, 4 lane swimming pool at Queen Mary’s College which is open throughout the week for lane swimming, family swims and aqua aerobics.

Exercise Classes

There is no shortage of exercise classes in Basingstoke and Deane, a quick google search for your preferred type of class will provide many options. It’s also worth checking out your local community centre or hall as many are held in these venues.

Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. Whilst the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information. If your business is not included in the list then drop us an email: hello@lovebasingstoke.co.uk

November 2022

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