Based in Braintree, Essex, this hockey club caters for juniors and adults of every ability, with both competitive and social playing options. Newcomers are welcomed whatever their age or experience. Alongside matches and teams, the club runs a junior section, holds social events such as quiz nights, and has recently received a donated defibrillator.

A local sports club like this is generally a good way to get regular exercise, learn a team sport and meet people nearby. Hockey clubs often field several sides across different levels, so players can usually find a team that suits them, whether they want league fixtures or a more relaxed game.

All abilities welcome

Competitive and social hockey

Junior section

Free junior sessions

Club social events

Defibrillator on hand

Hockey club in Braintree, Essex offering competitive and social hockey for juniors and adults of all abilities, with new members welcome.

Braintree Hockey Club

Based in Manchester, the Longsight & District Sports & Social Club is a community sports and social venue serving Longsight and the surrounding parts of Greater Manchester. It brings together people from the local area for sport, activity and social time under one roof.

Sports and social clubs like this one tend to be welcoming spaces where members can take part in activities, meet others nearby and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere away from the more formal gym setting. If you're looking for a local spot in Manchester, it's worth getting in touch directly to find out what's currently on offer.

Longsight & District Sports & Social Club is a community sports and social venue in Longsight, Manchester.

Longsight & District Sports & Social Club

Fairfield Bowling Club

Based in Hartlepool, the Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation is listed in our directory under football. As the name suggests, it is the community sports arm connected to the town's football club, and it is a useful starting point for local people looking to get involved in the game.

Football organisations like this generally offer a friendly way to stay active, build confidence and meet others who enjoy the sport. Whether you are new to football or returning after a break, it is worth getting in touch directly to find out what is currently on offer and how to take part.

Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation, a football organisation in Hartlepool. Find out how to get involved in local football.

Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation

Aiki Shotokan karate

Based in the centre of Rotherham, Aktive Martial Arts is a family run martial arts and kickboxing club that has been running since 2010. It offers separate programmes for children and adults, along with self defence and life skills training, welcoming people and families of all ages across the local area.

Martial arts clubs like this are a good way to build fitness, confidence and discipline while learning practical self defence. Newcomers can usually start with a beginner friendly introductory session before deciding whether to join.

Adults and children

Family run club

Free intro lesson

Self defence

Central location

Established 2010

Aktive Martial Arts is a family run martial arts and kickboxing club in central Rotherham, with classes for adults and children.

Aktive Martial Arts

In the Bainsford area of Falkirk, AMA Gym is a martial arts gym offering a mix of striking and grappling disciplines. The timetable covers boxing, kickboxing, MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, giving people a choice of styles under one roof.

Martial arts gyms like this generally suit a wide range of goals, from building fitness and confidence to learning practical self-defence or preparing for competition. Newcomers can usually expect a structured warm-up, technique work and drilling with a partner, with sparring or rolling introduced gradually as skills develop. If you are curious about a particular discipline, it is worth getting in touch with the gym directly to ask about getting started.

Striking disciplines

MMA and BJJ

Based in Bainsford

AMA Gym is a martial arts gym in Bainsford, Falkirk, offering boxing, kickboxing, MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

AMA Gym Falkirk

Billings Rhythmic Gymnastics

Body Success Fitness

Clyde Arrows Archery Club

Denby Crown Green Bowls Club

Diversity Fitness is a gym based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, serving people in and around the town who want a local place to train. The club has its own website, which is the best place to check current details before visiting.

Gyms in general suit a wide range of goals, from building strength and improving fitness to simply staying active week to week. Visitors to a local gym can usually expect a mix of training options, and it is often worth asking about inductions or getting started if you are new to regular exercise.

Diversity Fitness is a gym in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, offering a local place to train and stay active.

Diversity Fitness

Founded in 1920, Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance is a long-established dance school in Bath, Bath and North East Somerset. Lessons take place in purpose-built studios, with classes for children and teenagers aged 3 to 18 alongside sessions for adults. Styles on offer include ballet, pointe, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre, plus audition preparation for those aiming higher.

A dance school like this is generally a good place to build confidence, coordination and fitness while learning technique in a structured setting. Many students also enjoy the chance to perform, and the school highlights performance opportunities for its pupils as part of the experience.

Established in 1920

Wide range of styles

Classes for ages 3 to 18

Adult classes

Purpose-built studios

Audition preparation

Dance school in Bath, established 1920, offering ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop and more for ages 3 to 18 and adults.

Dorothy Coleborn

Based in Swindon, Everyone Swim Academy provides swimming lessons for a range of ages and abilities. Programmes cover babies with a parent, toddlers and preschoolers, and school-age children, along with lessons for adults, all offered in and around the local area.

A swimming academy is a good place to build water confidence and technique through structured, progressive lessons, whether you are starting out with a little one or looking to improve your own strokes as an adult.

Lessons for all ages

Adult lessons

Baby and parent classes

Local venue

Everyone Swim Academy offers swimming lessons for babies, children and adults in and around Swindon.

Everyone Swim Academy

Evoke Dance Studios

Based in Walsall, Football Coaching UK is an independent football academy offering coaching for children. Weekly development courses run on Mondays at Queen Mary's Grammar and on Saturdays at Harris Academy, with the focus on keeping young players on the ball and maximising time spent playing. Sessions mix individual ball technique with small-sided games, and holiday fun camps run during every school holiday, alongside a technical development camp.

Children's football coaching is generally a good way for young players to build confidence, coordination and teamwork in a structured setting. Themed holiday camps can also be a sociable option for keeping kids active outside term time while they learn new skills.

Coaching for children

Weekly development courses

Two Walsall venues

Small-sided games

Holiday fun camps

Technical development camp

Independent children's football academy in Walsall offering weekly development courses and holiday fun camps every school holiday.

Football Coaching UK

Based at Sir Thomas Rich's School in Longlevens, Gloucester Little Ducklings is a private swim school serving families around Gloucester and Cheltenham. It has been teaching children since 1995, with a structured programme that takes young swimmers from complete beginners (Ducklings) through to an advanced level (Mallards).

Classes are kept small with a good ratio of staff to pupils, and the school supplies all the equipment, so children simply turn up ready to swim. Learn-to-swim lessons like these generally focus on building water confidence, safety and good technique step by step, giving children a useful skill for life while having fun in the pool.

Established in 1995

Beginner to advanced

Small class sizes

Equipment provided

School pool venue

Lessons for children

Private children's swim school established in 1995, with small, structured classes from beginner to advanced at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Longlevens.

Gloucester Little Ducklings

Gymtastic Pre-School Gymnastics Club is a gymnastics club in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, listed here for families looking for activities for younger children in the area. As the name suggests, the club's focus is on pre-school gymnastics.

Pre-school gymnastics sessions generally aim to help little ones build balance, coordination and confidence through movement, often using soft play shapes, simple apparatus and games. They can also be a sociable way for young children to get used to group activities and following instructions. If you're interested, it's worth contacting the club directly to ask about sessions and availability.

Gymtastic Pre-School Gymnastics Club is a gymnastics club for young children in Bristol, South Gloucestershire.

Gymtastic Pre-School Gymnastics Club

Tae Kwon-do classes in Kingston upon Thames are run here by HED TKD, a group with several clubs that welcomes people of all ages and abilities. Newcomers can try a free first lesson without booking ahead, and the club pitches its training as something to enjoy with friends or as a family activity. HED TKD is associated with the TAGB and follows a coloured belt grading path towards black belt.

Tae Kwon-do is a Korean martial art known for its kicking techniques. A typical class generally mixes fitness work, patterns, technique drills and some sparring, with students progressing through graded belts over time. It can suit anyone looking to get fitter, build confidence and learn self-discipline.

Free first lesson

Family activity

All ages and abilities

Qualified instructors

Belt grading path

Tigers programme

Tae Kwon-do classes in Kingston upon Thames for all ages and abilities, with a free first lesson and no need to book.

HED TKD Tae Kwon-do Kingston

Irby Dance Studio

JK School of Dance

Kombatkids

London Krav Maga

Based in Stoke-on-Trent, M Swim is a swimming school that operates within M Club Spa & Fitness in Staffordshire. It offers lessons focused on building water confidence and swimming skills.

A swimming school is a good option for anyone learning to swim or looking to improve their technique in a structured setting. Depending on the programme, sessions can suit a range of ages and abilities, from complete beginners through to more confident swimmers.

Based at a fitness club

M Swim is a swimming school in Stoke-on-Trent, based within M Club Spa & Fitness in Staffordshire.

Clubs