The Littledown Centre, run by the charitable operator BH Live Active, ranks among the largest leisure venues in Bournemouth: a big indoor and outdoor sports complex a short way inland from Boscombe. It is an everyday leisure centre rather than a sight to visit, but for anyone staying nearby it's a handy place for a swim, a workout, or letting children run off some energy when the weather turns.
Swimming, spa and gym
Inside are a 25-metre main pool and a smaller 17-metre teaching pool, with a spa area offering a sauna, steam room and sanarium. The Bournemouth Swimming Academy is based at the centre, teaching children along the Swim England pathway. The gym carries cardio, resistance and free-weight kit, and the group exercise studios put on well over a hundred classes each week, from spin through to aerobics.
Sports hall, soft play and pitches
Badminton, five-a-side football, gymnastics and trampolining all take place in the eight-court sports hall, which is also pressed into service for community events. The youngest children have an Ofsted-registered crèche and a soft play area. Out the back are floodlit 3G and grass pitches, a cricket pitch and parkland, the home ground of Littledown Juniors football club, whose teams start at age three.
Planning a visit
Weekday hours are long, roughly 5am to 9pm from Monday to Friday, with shorter opening at weekends and on bank holidays. Gym, pool and class times differ by session, however, so consult the online timetable first. Parking on site is free for up to three hours, and a café is on hand for a coffee after your swim. Boscombe and the seafront are a short drive or bus ride away; for more ideas on filling a day in the town, see our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.