To celebrate National Fitness Day, the UK’s biggest celebration of health and fitness, residents in Bournemouth, Portsmouth, and Southampton can get FREE access to the gym and swimming sessions at selected BH Live Active leisure centres.

Taking place on Wednesday 24 September 2025, the purpose of the day is to inspire more people to get moving and start enjoying the health and wellbeing benefits. Last year’s campaign inspired more than 10 million people across the UK to be get moving.

BH Live is celebrating this year’s theme – ‘Powered by you!’ – with free activities for everyone to try. Residents who aren’t currently active can try a free swim or gym session by quoting ‘National Fitness Day’ at centre reception desks on the day. Activities are subject to availability.

Participating BH Live Active centres* include:

Bournemouth

Queen’s Park, Corfe Mullen, Sir David English Sports Centre, Littledown, Pelhams, and Stokewood.

Portsmouth

Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Pyramids, and Charter Community Sports Centre.

Southampton

The Quays, Bitterne Leisure Centre and Chamberlayne Leisure Centre.

Facilities vary at each centre – check ahead online at bhliveactive.org.uk

BH Live is a registered charity and social enterprise, whose charitable aims include encouraging more individuals to participate in regular sport and physical activity.

As well as participating in national awareness campaigns such as National Fitness Day, BH Live also provides, community open days, taster sessions and concessions to encourage participation in sport and leisure.

In Bournemouth and Southampton, young people aged under 5 can enjoy free swimming when accompanied by a fully paying adult at BH Live Active centres. In Portsmouth under 12s can enjoy free swimming when accompanied by a fully paying adult at BH Live Active centres.

BH Live is a registered charity and social enterprise. The charity operates leisure centres, facilities, and services across the Bournemouth, Portsmouth, and Southampton in partnership with local authorities – BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council.

On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development shared;

“This National Fitness Day, we’re excited to showcase our amazing facilities and highlight just how powerful staying active can be. With gym sessions and swimming it’s a great opportunity to kick-start (or refresh) activity habits. Come along, explore your local leisure centre, and discover how fun and rewarding regular physical activity can be.”

With a quarter of the population in England classed as inactive (averaging less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week), National Fitness Day presents an opportunity to get millions more people active and support the NHS by improving the nation’s health.

The UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines recommend:

• Adults do at least 150 minutes’ moderate intensity activity, 75 minutes’ vigorous activity, or a mixture of both, every week
• Do strengthening activities two days a week
• Reduce extended periods of sitting
• Children and young people do at least 60 minutes of activity a day across the week

National Fitness Day organiser ukactive is helping thousands of gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, studios, and sports clubs across the UK to host free events and highlight the inclusive nature of their services.

A record 11.5 million people are now members of a health and fitness club in the UK. The campaign’s ‘Powered by you!’ tagline highlights that everyone – from individuals, communities, businesses, schools and hospitals – can play their part in spreading the message around the importance of being physically active.

On behalf of ukactive, Huw Edwards, CEO, said:

“As more people in the UK prioritise their physical and mental health, National Fitness Day is a moment to celebrate all the ways we can stay active to support our wellbeing and quality of life. Our theme, ‘Powered by you!’, demonstrates that anyone can get involved, whether you’re a returning gym-goer or just taking the first step on your fitness journey.”

More information about BH Live Active can be found online at bhliveactive.org.uk.

More information about National Fitness Day can be found online at nationalfitnessday.com.