Brand-new gym opens at Wandle Recreation Centre

Wandle Recreation Centre has opened its brand-new gym and wellbeing suite, offering a state-of-the-art facility for the whole community with a particular focus on supporting people recovering from injury or managing long-term health conditions. 

In June 2025, Wandsworth Council awarded Places Leisure with a 10-year contract extension to operate eight of the borough’s leisure centres. The contract included a commitment from Wandsworth Council and Places Leisure to invest £24 million across the facilities. The new gym and wellbeing suite opened on Saturday 18 July and is part of a £1.2 million investment into Wandle Recreation Centre. The gym space has been completely transformed into a modern, welcoming area designed to support everyone with new equipment and the latest technology.  

Providing users with 20-station station gym with a mixture of strength and cardio equipment as well as a free weight area. The suite provides a unique offering to the centre is the ten Innerva power-assisted machines which provide users with smooth, controlled movement, making it ideal for those new to exercise, returning after injury or managing a health condition. It offers a low-impact way to build strength, improve mobility and boost confidence in a safe and supported environment. 

The space is also equipped with EGYM smart fitness technology, providing users with insight into their health and body data helping them to better understand how to make and maintain process. Guided by Places Leisure colleagues, EGYM will provide users with personalised workout programmes based on their measurements and abilities. Users will be able to create their tailored programme using the EGYM Hub and utilise the six smart strength machines which automatically adjust to the user’s body, provides guided visuals and measurable performance. 

The wellbeing suite will play a key role in supporting Places Leisure's Healthy Communities service, providing a dedicated space for Exercise Referral, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Neurological Rehabilitation and Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation programmes. The facility will support referrals from healthcare professionals, social prescribers and community partners, helping residents living with long-term health conditions or recovering from illness and injury to access tailored physical activity support in a welcoming and inclusive environment. 

Ed Lane, Contract Manager at Places Leisure, said: “The opening of the gym and wellbeing suite at Wandle Recreation Centre marks an important milestone in our vision for creating a health-focused facility that supports people at every stage of their health journey. Parts of the gym have been designed specifically for individuals who are recovering from injury, living with long-term conditions or looking for a safe and supportive environment to improve their fitness. We recognise that returning to physical activity after injury or while managing a health condition can be challenging, and having access to the right equipment, specialist support and a welcoming environment can make a significant difference to recovery, confidence and long-term wellbeing. This facility will provide access to the latest specialised equipment and expert guidance. 

“Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities this new facility will provide including the ability to work more closely with NHS partners to deliver programme that can make a real difference to the community’s lives. 

“The completion of this work marks the first phase of development works for this centre and is part of the wider investment into the leisure facilities across Wandsworth. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Wandsworth Council to enhance facilities and services across the borough.” 

Councillor Ethan Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment at Wandsworth Council said: "This new gym and wellbeing suite is about much more than fitness. It’s about helping residents of all ages and abilities to gain confidence and live healthier, more active lives, whether they’re taking their first steps into exercise, recovering from an injury, or managing a long-term health condition. 

"This upgrade is part of wider improvements to leisure facilities across Wandsworth which aim to ensure all residents have local access to modern, high-quality spaces that support both physical and mental wellbeing. We look forward to seeing how local people benefit from the new fitness suite at Wandle Recreation Centre, as well as the further enhancements planned for the centre in the months ahead." 

As part of the wider £24 million investment into the leisure facilities across Wandsworth with a range of upgrades and works across all seven sites in the borough, the next phase of works at Wandle Recreation Centre will see Padel courts introduced to the site. 

Find out more on the Places Leisure website.