October 2025 half term swimming crash courses
🏊♀️October half term 2025 swimming crash courses – Build skills and confidence in just 5 days!
Looking for a fun and effective way to boost your child’s swimming skills this October half term?
Our October half term Swimming Crash Courses are the perfect way to help children aged 4 and above gain confidence in the water, improve technique, and stay active during the half term break.
💧 What’s Included:
- A 5-day course with a 30-minute lesson each day
- Small group sessions led by qualified, friendly instructors
- A focus on water confidence, safety, and skill development
- Suitable for beginners and improvers alike
With prices starting from just £6.32 per lesson, it’s a cost-effective way to give your child a head start in the pool.
📅 Course Dates & Locations:
| Venue | Start date | Level | Time |
| Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium | 27/10/2025 | Stages 1,2,3,4 | 10am – 12pm |
| Tiller Leisure Centre | 27/10/2025 | Stages 1,2,3,4 | 9.30am – 12.30pm |
| York Hall Leisure Centre | 27/10/2025 | Stages 1,2,3 | 9.30am-12.30pm |
🖱️ How to Book:
Click the button below to view available sessions and secure your child’s place. Just select the centre you’d like to book for and select ‘Junior group swimming lessons.’
🧒 Who Can Join?
These courses are open to children aged 4 years and above. Whether your child is just starting out or looking to improve their technique, our crash courses are tailored to support their progress in a fun, safe environment.
Spots are limited and fill up fast—so don’t miss out on this splash-tastic opportunity to make waves this October half term.
New free women only swim buddy sessions
We now have a new, women only, swim buddy session at York Hall Leisure Centre on Mondays 12.30-13.30 during our women only free swimming sessions. This is in addition to our existing swim buddy session at Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium on Tuesdays.
Our swim buddy sessions have a dedicated swim buddy, a qualified swim instructor, who is available by the pool to help you with your swim technique or build confidence in the pool.
Whether you’ve never been in the water, or you’re a regular swimming looking to improve your technique, our swim buddies are happy to help! Our swim buddies are easy to spot – they’ll be wearing an orange Be Well T-shirt. Just give them a wave and they’ll come over and assist you.
Please note these sessions are not structured lessons but our swim buddies will be more than happy to give you some drills and techniques to work on.
Women attending these sessions will need a free swimming membership (available to women and girls aged 16 years and older living in Tower Hamlets Borough)
Session times
| Location | Day | Time |
| York Hall Leisure Centre | Mondays | 12.30 – 13.30 |
| Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Stadium | Tuesdays | 10:00 – 13:00 |
How to book
- Click the ‘Book now’ button below
- Select Mile End or York Hall Leisure Centre
- Select Women and girls only swimming
- Select one of the times above. Swim buddies are only available during the times listed above and are not available during all women only free swimming sessions.
Mayor’s Cup football tournament ends in spectacular style
This year’s Mayor’s Cup football tournament came to an exciting finale at Mile End Stadium on Sunday 21 September, following two action packed weekends of competitions which attracted a total of 966 players, with teams playing across 10 age categories.
On 13 and 14 September, teams went head-to-head at Victoria Park in the keenly contested women’s open age competition.
In the final, Royal Regents defeated Ladies East End Academy to lift the women’s open age trophy after a thrilling penalty shootout. The final score was 3-1 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw at full time.
The day also featured a successful Girl’s Festival of Football attended by more than 40 aged between 10 and 15 years. The tournament’s first female match official Millena Billong is amongst those who ensured the success of the games, including the youth and men’s finals.
The action-packed youth finals at Mile End Stadium mini pitches saw Victoria Park v Vallance at U16’s; Burdett v One Goal at U15’s and Frontline v Vallance at U14’s.
Emotions were running high in the men’s finals on Sunday 21 September as London Sportif FC and Barnardo’s FC battled it out on the pitch from kick off until the final whistle.
London Sportif sealed the day with a 2-1 victory.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets said:
“The Mayor’s Cup gives people of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to come together in healthy competition, to support grassroots football.
Huge congratulations to all the teams and those who helped to make the Mayor’s Football Cup 2025 an outstanding success with a record number of participating teams and more categories than in previous years.”
Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:
“It was inspiring to see football clubs and players of all ages compete in this year’s annual tournament, which helps fund grassroots football and encourages residents to foster healthy, active lifestyles. We would like to thank all participants, managers, parents and sponsors for their support.
We also thank our partners the Inner London Football League, Sporting Foundation and coordinator Sana Miah from Osmani Trust, who helped organise the tournament.”
The full list of winners
- U8’s – Vallance
- U9’s – Victoria Park
- U10’s – Vallance
- U11’s – Mindset
- U12’s – Shadwell Central Tigers
- U13’s – Victoria Park
- U14’s – Frontline
- U15’s – One Goal
- U16’s – Vallance
- Open Age Women – Royal Regents
- Open Age Men – London Sportif
Free body conditioning class for National Fitness Day
🏋️♀️ Free Body Conditioning Class at Whitechapel Leisure Centre for National Fitness Day
Mark your calendars for Wednesday 24th September. We’re hosting a free body conditioning class at 12pm at Whitechapel Leisure Centre to celebrate National Fitness Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to get moving, feel great, and be part of a nationwide celebration of physical activity.
💪 What to Expect
This body conditioning class is designed to work your entire body through a mix of cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises. Led by our experienced instructors, the session is suitable for all fitness levels – whether you’re a regular gym-goer or just curious to try something new.
Expect a fun, energising workout that will leave you feeling stronger, more confident, and ready to take on the rest of your day.
🗓️ About National Fitness Day
National Fitness Day is the UK’s biggest celebration of physical activity. It’s a chance for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and experience the benefits of being active – whether that’s improved mental health, increased energy, or simply the joy of movement. Events like this free class are happening across the country to inspire everyone to get involved.
📍 Event Details
- What: Free Body Conditioning Class
- When: Wednesday 24th September at 12pm
- Where: Whitechapel Leisure Centre
- Cost: Free and open to all
Whether you come alone or with a friend, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive and uplifting environment.
Let’s move together this National Fitness Day. We look forward to seeing you there!
Boiler upgrade at John Orwell Sports Centre
We’re excited to share that an upgrade to the plant room boiler system at John Orwell Sports Centre will begin on 22 September 2025 and is expected to finish by December 2025.
This project is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to improving the infrastructure of Be Well centres, ensuring our facilities remain welcoming, modern and sustainable for everyone in the community.
Once completed, you’ll benefit from:
- More reliable heating and hot water throughout the building
- Greater energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact
- Smarter, better-controlled systems for comfort and performance
What to expect during the works
As the plant room is located in our main building, there will be some temporary disruption while equipment is moved and installed. At times, this may include:
- Increased noise levels during working hours.
- Restricted access in certain areas as equipment is transported.
The areas most likely to be affected include:
- Reception area
- Fitness room
- Studio
- Functional zone (occasional impact)
Car park spaces at John Orwell Sports Centre will also be restricted until the boiler upgrade works are completed in December 2025.
Working hours and safety
- Contractors will typically be on site from Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm.
- Weekend work is not expected, though it may occasionally be necessary.
- Some after-hours work may also be required.
Throughout the upgrade, customer and staff safety is our top priority. Our centre management team will work closely with contractors to minimise disruption and keep the centre running as smoothly as possible.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding while these essential works take place and we look forward to welcoming you to a warmer, more efficient, and more comfortable John Orwell Sports Centre before the end of the year.
If you have any questions, please email: bewell-johnorwell@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Be Well celebrates first year with community giveaway and continued investment
As part of its one-year anniversary, Be Well, Tower Hamlets leisure and wellbeing service, has marked a first year of delivery with a community giveaway, strong resident engagement and further commitment to investment in local facilities.
Launched in May 2024 following the conclusion of the council’s contract with GLL (Better), Be Well was created to provide inclusive, community-led leisure services focused on holistic health, participation in physical activity and barrier-free access – especially for women and girls, older adults, and residents with or at risk of long-term health conditions.
To celebrate the anniversary and thank residents for their support, Be Well ran a borough-wide giveaway linked to a community survey, receiving 2,842 responses.
Key findings from the survey found that 84% of respondents rated the Be Well brand (name, logo, look and feel) as good or excellent.
72% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the facilities at their local Be Well centre, including gyms, pools, and changing rooms.
The giveaway winner, Shazmin Begum, received the first-ever Be Well membership card, granting one year of free membership and five day passes to Be Well The Spa.
In its first year, Be Well recorded a total of 37,277 members across leisure centres, with a shift in gender inclusion – 82% of members are now women, up from just over 40% before the service was brought in-house.
In addition, 19,150 free swim memberships have been taken up by women and girls aged 16 and over and men aged 55, removing barriers to accessing physical activity.
Continued investment for 2025-26
Looking ahead, Be Well is continuing to invest in the borough’s leisure infrastructure, and continue to listen to direct feedback from residents. Planned improvements include:
- Mile End Outdoor Pitches – Full upgrades with new 3G rubber crumb surfaces, fencing, floodlights, and goals. Work began in June 2025, with reopening expected in August 2025.
- Women-only gyms – Reconfigured and enhanced at Poplar Baths and York Hall.
- Health suite upgrades – Ongoing improvements at Whitechapel and Mile End Leisure Centres.
- Changing village improvements – Major updates at Mile End Leisure Centre.
- New water inflatables – to be available across centres with swimming pools.
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation said:
“Be Well is a powerful example of what’s possible when leisure is brought back into local hands.
In just one year, the service has delivered a remarkable increase in participation, especially among women and older adults, while maintaining a focus on inclusion, quality, and community connection.
We’re proud of the impact Be Well is already having and we look forward to deepening that work in year two and beyond.”
Be Well will continue to evolve its offer in 2025 and beyond, listening to residents and ensuring services remain welcoming, affordable, and community-led.
New swim for all session times at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre
New Swim for all sessions summer timetable and weekend sessions
Over the summer we’ll be running extra ‘Swim for all’ sessions at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre. These sessions are perfect for families looking for fun activities over the summer. Those wishing to do lane swimming should book into our ‘Swim for fitness’ sessions.
Summer Holiday times:
| Day | Time |
| Mondays |
10 – 11am (Main pool and small pool) 11am – 12pm (Main pool and small pool) 1-2pm (Main pool and small pool) 2-3pm (Main pool and small pool) |
| Tuesday |
10 – 11am (Main pool and small pool) 11am-12pm (Main pool and small pool) 2-3pm (Main pool and small pool) |
| Wednesday |
10 – 11am (Main pool and small pool) 11am – 12pm (Main pool and small pool) 1 – 2pm (Main pool and small pool) 2 – 3pm (Main pool and small pool) |
| Thursday |
10 – 11am (Main pool and small pool) 11am – 12pm (Main pool and small pool) 1 – 2pm (Main pool and small pool) 2 – 3pm (Main pool and small pool) |
| Friday |
11am – 12pm (Main pool and small pool) 1 – 2pm (Main pool and small pool) 2- 3pm (Main pool and small pool) |
Weekend times (all year round)
| Day | Time |
| Saturdays |
11:30am – 12:30pm (Main pool only) 12.30 – 1.30pm (Main pool only) 1.30-2.30pm (Main pool and small pool) 2.30-3.30pm (Main pool and small pool) |
| Sundays |
10am – 11am (Main pool and small pool) 11am – 12pm (Main pool and small pool) 12pm – 1pm (Main pool and small pool) 1 – 2pm (Main pool and small pool) |
Cost
£5 per child, per session. £7.90 for adults.
Book via the app or our website!
Click the button below and then select Poplar Baths Leisure Centre as your location and select ‘Swim for all’.
Inflatable Swim sessions at Tiller Leisure Centre
New Inflatable sessions at Tiller Leisure Centre!
We’re excited to announce that we’ll be running new inflatable swim sessions over the summer holidays at Tiller Leisure Centre. Our giant inflatable sits on top of the swimming pool and acts as a fun obstacle course complete with a slide at the end! A fun activity for the kids over the summer break.
Please note children must pass a quick swim test at the beginning of each session. This will involve a continuous 25 metre swim without stopping. Children not able to pass this test will need to be accompanied by a competent swimmer aged 16 years or older and will be restricted to the shallow end only. The accompanying adult must provide active supervision throughout the session.
Please note children must complete the swim test each time they attend the session, regardless of previous attendance.
Times:
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 14:00–15:00
• Fridays: 14:00–15:00 and 15:00-16:00
Cost
£5 per child, per session. £7.90 for adults.
Children must be aged between 8 and 13 years old to take part.
Book via the app or our website!
Click the button below and then select Tiller Leisure Centre as your location and select ‘Inflatable Swim Session’.
Over 20,000 Tower Hamlets residents access free swimming
More than 20,000 residents in Tower Hamlets are swimming for free as the council celebrates the first anniversary of its free swimming programme – a major investment in public health and community well-being.
20,583 residents are now signed up to the scheme, of those, over 18,000 are women and girls aged 16 and over, and nearly 3,900 residents aged 55 or over, helping to tackle persistent health inequalities and create more accessible routes into physical activity.
The programme has significantly boosted female participation across the borough’s leisure centres, with women and girls now making up 82% of users – up from just over 40% before the scheme launched.
At a time when swimming pools are closing nationwide, with 500 pools lost since 2010, and 42% of those closures since 2020 – Tower Hamlets is investing in public leisure rather than cutting back.
Younger adults have engaged strongly with the scheme, with over 3,400 members aged 16-24 and more than 5,700 aged 25-34. An additional 4,448 residents aged 35-44 and over 3,100 aged 45-54 are also actively participating, showing broad community engagement across all age groups.
Tower Hamlets is protecting and expanding access by also offering free swimming lessons for women and girls to build confidence and skills to support long-term participation.
Tower Hamlets is a borough with poor health, with half of adults either overweight or obese. Women in the borough are more likely to be inactive than men, with women’s life expectancy seven years younger than that of men. Older adults have the lowest rate of physical activity than any other age groups.
The free swimming programme is a core part of the council’s commitment to tackling inactivity, reducing health inequalities, and making physical activity more accessible – particularly for residents who face barriers.
Hussain Rabbani Chowdhury, a local resident said:
“I go for my free swim once a week and am really happy it’s more accessible.
“I feel like it’s helped my health and wellbeing overall, and I feel lighter after my swim – it’s improved mobility in my arms and legs.”
Joanne Barry, a local resident said:
“I’m a carer with my work and an old age pensioner, and I try to keep as active as possible.
“I thought swimming was more expensive than other activities and it can all add up at the end of the month – I think it’s great that it’s now free.”
Cllr Mohammed Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said:
“In Tower Hamlets, we’re taking real action to tackle the deep health inequalities in our communities.
“At a time when access to swimming is vanishing elsewhere, we’re proud to be investing in public leisure, making it easier for thousands of residents to be active, healthy and connected.
“This isn’t just about swimming, it’s about building healthier communities.”
To learn more about Be Well’s free swimming programme, visit the free swimming for residents webpage.