Outdoor gyms

Outdoor Gym

Tone up and get fit for free at your local outdoor gym.
Do you want to get fit or lose weight? Is the idea of going to a gym enough to put you off going? Can’t afford gym membership?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, try an outdoor gym. They're free to use, suitable for all ages, and make it easy to squeeze some physical activity into busy days.

Also visit the A -Z of activities page

Locations

Croydon is lucky to have outdoor gyms at: 

• Duppas Hill
• Lloyd Park
• Thornton Heath Recreation Ground
• Sanderstead Recreation Ground
• Coulsdon Memorial Ground

Five new outdoor gyms have opened since November 2017:

• Goldcrest Way, New Addington
• Purley Way Playing Fields
• Grangewood Park, Thornton Heath
• King George’s Field, Selhurst
• Norbury Park

Benefits

The benefits of using an outdoor gym include:

• You burn more calories when exercising outside
• Just 5 minutes every day can lead to improvements in mood and self-esteem, as well as physical fitness
• Ever-changing scenery 
• You save on paying gym membership
• It's free

You can exercise outside no matter what the weather: the key is wearing layers and having a waterproof.

Choosing the 5 new outdoor gym locations

The locations of the new outdoor active spaces were selected based on factors such as: where we already have outdoor facilities, what other facilities are available within the area, how many people live in each of the areas, and the life expectancy of people in the area.

How the new outdoor gyms were paid for

All 5 of the new spaces have funding from the council and mental health charity the Matt Palmer Trust, which is contributing £100,000 towards the project. The trust is a non-profit organisation that aims to support the mental well-being of men of all ages in the UK and Ireland.

The 4 ward councillors from New Addington and Fieldway have put £25,000 of their ward budgets towards the space at Goldcrest Way, New Addington.

The space at Purley Playing Fields has received a £5,500 donation from the charity Croydon Relief in Need, and £1,500 from local councillors' ward budgets.

Why are outdoor gyms important?

The Department of Heath recommends 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Outdoor gyms are proven to help people to achieve this as they are free, accessible and make it easy to slot exercise into a normal daily routine.

A - Z of activities

Also visit the A -Z of activities page