📍 John Orwell Sports Centre

📅 Sunday 6 April | 9am – 5pm

What better way to start the Easter holidays than a fun day packed with activities for all the family.

This free event is a great chance to try out different sports, find out about local activities and services as well as get creative with activities like arts and crafts and face painting.

There will be activities for all ages and abilities (including the parents!) with targeted SEND sessions for children with additional needs.

Activities will include

• Arts and crafts
• Badminton
• Bouncy Castle
• Boxercise
• Circuits class
• Face painting
• Football
• Games (including an egg and spoon race)
• Hockey
• Junior Gym
• Musical instrument lessons
• Table Tennis
• Tennis

With more activities to be confirmed! We’ll also have information stalls from local organisations to help you find out about children’s activities and health, wellbeing and support services for children and families.

Book your free place – click the book button below, select ‘John Orwell Sports Centre’ and select Family Fun Day.

Celebrate Mother’s Day in style with a free dance fitness class at John Orwell!

💃 All mums welcome!
🌸 Bring your mum, your bestie, or come solo – just bring your moves!
🤘 No dance experience needed – just good vibes and energy!

📅 Sunday 30 March
⏰ 10-11am
📍 John Orwell Sports Centre

Looking to boost your child’s swimming skills?

Our intensive swimming lessons are the perfect way to help young swimmers gain confidence, learn new skills, and stay safe in the water.

Whether your child:
✅ Wants a head start before returning to school
✅ Needs extra support to master the basics
✅ Or simply wants to try out our swimming lessons

…our intensive short course offers a focused and effective way to improve swimming ability.

Course details

📅 Dates: 7-11 April 2025
⏰ Time: Between 9am-12pm (each lesson is 30 minutes)

📍 Mile End Park Leisure Centre
👧 Ages: Suitable for children aged 4 and above
👨‍🏫 Class sizes: 8-10 pupils per teacher to ensure the best support. Class sizes may vary in the higher ability groups.

Our friendly and experienced swimming teachers will guide non-swimmers and beginners directly in the water to create a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Open to the whole community – everyone’s welcome!

Book your child’s place today and help them make a splash this Easter at Mile End!

We’re back with another round of lifeguard training!

We’re offering more training opportunities, giving individuals of all backgrounds the chance to gain life-saving skills, boost their confidence, and start a rewarding career in leisure.

Like last time, we’re running two training groups: one mixed and one exclusively for women.

This training cycle includes some free spaces – see full details below.

Applicants applying for the free training spaces must meet the prerequisites and pass a swim test. No swim test is required for those paying for their training.

Don’t miss this chance to develop essential life skills!

Course details

Course 1 – women’s only lifeguard training

This course offers 6 funded spaces. The remaining 6 spaces are available for £200 each.

• Course dates: Monday 7 April to Friday 11 April 2025

• Location: Tiller Leisure Centre, E14 8PX

• Assessment date: Saturday 12 April 2025

• Training is daily from 9am to 5pm at Tiller Leisure Centre

Course 2 – mixed (men and women) lifeguard training

There are no funded spaces for this course. Each space is available for £200 each.

• Course dates: Monday 7 April to Friday 11 April 2025
• Location: Poplar Baths Leisure Centre 
• Assessment date: Saturday 12 April 2025
• Training is daily from 9am to 5pm at Poplar Baths Leisure Centre

Swim test dates 

A swim test is required for the 6 free spaces available on the women’s-only training cycle at Tiller Leisure Centre. No swim test is required for those paying for their training.

•  Women’s only free lifeguard training swim test – Thursday 20 March 2025 at 1:30pm, at Tiller Leisure Centre, E14 8PX

Unfortunately, we’re unable to organise swim tests outside of these times.

Prerequisites for applying

• 16+ years of age on the date of assessment
• Be able to jump/dive into deep water
• Be able to swim 50 metres in no more than 60 seconds
• Be able to swim 100 metres continuously on front and 100m continuously on back
• Be able to tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
• Be able to surface dive to the floor of the pool
• Be able to climb out of the pool unaided without using a ladder/steps where the pool design permits

Please email Jessica Johnson to register: jessica.johnson@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

You asked, we listened!

Following the success of our extended hours at Mile End, we’re excited to bring the same opportunity to Whitechapel Sports Centre!

We’ve been listening to your feedback and working to understand which spaces and places you need open later to support your health and wellbeing journey – especially for those who work shifts or have busy schedules.

That’s why, for a three-month trial period, and in conjunction with Ramadan and Lent, we’re extending our operational hours Monday – Friday until 11pm, starting 3rd March. This applies to the gym and sports hall, giving you more flexibility to train, play, and stay active later into the evening.

Plus, we’re introducing a special reduced badminton offer between 9pm – 11pm during this trial at Whitechapel only – so grab a racket and make the most of the extra hours!

Weekend hours remain unchanged.

Take advantage of this trial period and let us know what you think!

Extended gym opening hours at Mile End

📅 28 February – 30 March 2025
⏰ Monday to Friday | 6am-11pm
📍 Mile End Park Leisure Centre

Extended gym and sports hall hours at Whitechapel Sports Centre

📅 From 3 March – 31 May 2025 (3-month trial)
⏰ Monday to Friday | 7am-11pm
📍 Whitechapel Sports Centre
🎟️ Reduced badminton offer from 9pm-11pm

3-9 March 2025

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in partnership with Be Well and other local organisations, is proud to celebrate International Women and Girls Week 2025 with a week-long programme of community sports and physical activities for females aged 5 to 50+.

From swimming and boxing, to self-defence, badminton, basketball, and football tournaments, this initiative is about more than just sports – it’s about breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and empowering women and girls across the borough.

We’re committed to making these activities as accessible and affordable as possible, ensuring that more women and girls can take part, get active, and enjoy the benefits of movement.

By getting active together, we’re aiming to improve health, boost confidence, and strengthen communities. Whether you’re trying something new or rediscovering a passion, this week is all about celebrating movement, inclusion, and the power of women in sport.

The full schedule, including how to book various activities, can be found in the programme below.

Join us and be part of the movement!

This Ramadan, we’re here to help you stay on top of your fitness goals!

Whether you’re looking to maintain your routine or start a new one, we’re making it easier than ever by extending our gym hours all month at Mile End Park Leisure Centre – open until 11pm on weekdays.

Prefer an energising post-iftar session to wind down your day? No matter your schedule, we’ve got you covered to fit around your Ramadan routine.

Extended opening hours

🗓️ 28 February – 30 March 2025
🕚 Monday to Friday | 6am-11pm
📍 Mile End Park Leisure Centre, E3 4HL

Taking a break?

If you’re planning to pause your workouts during Ramadan, no problem! You can freeze your membership for the month for free and pick up right where you left off – keeping all your benefits at the same price when you return.

🔹 Freeze by 4pm on 27 February to pause your membership.
🔹 Unfreeze anytime when you’re ready to return.

However you choose to spend the month, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Wishing you a healthy and fulfilling Ramadan!