Westminster Sports Centre is open to everyone - not just students from brookes! Also its not one of…read morethose gyms that is only open to members - you can buy a single swim or gym session without signing up to a membership! Its one of the cheapest gyms i've been to and the by far the friendliest. It has a number of facilities, including a 25m swimming pool, a 55 station gym, two squash courts, a large meeting/training room, badminton facilities, basket ball facilities, a number of tennis courts, 6 outdoor pitches and an 18 hole golf course. The pricing of the memberships are very competitive. Don't expect to pay more than about £25 per month for most if not all of the facilities. Locals get discounts (as well as service men & women) and can knock up to a quarter of the price. Prices range from £16 to £48 per moth depending on the degree to which you wish to use the facilities. Phone up to check availability. The swimming pool is kept to about 30.5 degrees centigrade. The gym is large and spacious and airy. It can get a little hot later into the evening but there is air conditioning (which i've been told is being improved). The squash courts are the best i've played in. The centre offers a number of classes that can be found on their website, including spinning which is well run and is usually in the air-conditioned training room. The staff are friendly and are always up for a good chat! Its always nice to come in from a long day at work and see a smiling happy manager behind reception. The place is kept clean and tidy by a team of dedicated lifeguards and cleaners who if asked will always help you out. There are only a few negatives: the car park at the moment is a hassle - as i gather it, the university don't like people parking and have a barrier system in place. The bad side of this deter ant on us as customers is that we have to get a token from reception, for every time you use the facilities. This is a hassle to begin with but you get used to it. If you don't think you'd like this then you can always ride your bike/moped/push bike to the centre; which provides bike storage by the barrier to the car park. Or alternatively you could catch the U1, which stops on the campus by the teaching facilities. The other negative is that sometimes its frustrating to see managers or reception staff sat behind reception doing nothing (browsing facebook/ playing games/ texting) whilst the cleaners are in the gym, and the lifeguards on poolside. Admittedly the centre is never that busy, but its plain to see there are jobs to be done to tidy the place up a bit. If not just in the reception area? Anyway over all its a great little centre that not that many people know about and really has a family/friendly feel to it. I would definitely recommend it and its always there to try.

It's a big shame, but it has been ruined. My children have both used the swimming lessons there for…read moreyears very happily. Unfortunately, there is a new incompetent manager (Stuart McC) there. When my daughter progressed to the end of the swimming lessons with 2 lessons to go, we informed Stuart that we would like the refund for 4 lessons that were still pre paid. He explained that nothing could be done about the 2 lessons that were for the end of the course (fair enough). However, he could refund the remaining 2 lessons....in 57 days time at the earliest because he was 'short staffed'. I have been a manager for years and this does not wash. When produced with a letter he signed himself saying that you could get a refund, I received a nonsense email filled with bluff, jargon and no substance. Still curious as to whether it will take 57 days to get a £16.00 refund. Personally, I wouldn't sign up to any sports membership here whilst this incompetent manager is in charge, unless you want to find yourself in this situation over any membership fees.

PEEP offer early education support and services to groups and individuals around Oxford, from…read morebabies to rising-5s. Your Health Visitor should be able to put you in touch with a PEEP activity group, or you might receive contact from a home visitor after your baby is born. Take them up on it. We had a wonderful experience with PEEP, from the first visit bringing sing-a-long tape (now CD), nursery rhyme book and a picture book designed for newborn babies' vision, to the last group session we attended when my son was not quite four. Parents can study parenting and achieve a certificate through the groups and workbooks, and receive encouragement and support to (re)take GCSEs; children get a good grounding in learning through play, singing and music, and just plain making friends. PEEP also attend local fetes and fairs to provide a good distraction for under-fives. The PEEP shop (play centre) at Cowley Centre needs a separate review, but details can be found from the main centre here.

Oxford Ice Rink Oxpens Road Outdoor skating may be the cool…read morething to do (couldn't resist the pun) but for real ice and a big space, go to the Oxford Ice rink. The surroundings are rather grotty and can't compare with Somerset House or possibly Oxford or Warwick castles (I've not been to the two latter but I imagine they are scenic) but it is bigger and size does (whatever men say) count. There is enough room to get up a bit of speed or just to get up a bit of confidence. It can get very busy at week ends and during school holidays. The disco music can be too loud for anybody except teenagers. Check with the rink before you go if you don't want to find yourself in the middle of an ice disco. During the week the early evening sessions are much quieter. It is run by the council so it isn't that expensive and you can get a discount card if you are a regualar visitor - you may also get special deals if you have a "Slice" card for the council run sports centres. Non-skaters can pay a pound to accompany their children.

Good old Oxford ice rink. It's a typical ice rink in that it's a bit run-down, a bit dirty and…read morerather ugly from the outside, but hey, you don't go there for the aesthetics. The rink is a fair old size and they run lots of great events such as ice dancing lessons, family discos and ice hockey training. Various teams train regularly there, although often late at night, and it's home to Oxford Alternative Ice Hockey (essentially ice hockey for amateurs, but great fun according to my friend who does it regularly). Entry is pretty cheap, although as others have mentioned, it's best to walk there if you want to avoid the parking charges. There are vending machines and lockers, and the staff are friendly and enthusiastic.

Just wanted to say what a fantastic Personal Training team you have at Feel Fit Gym. You guys…read morehelped me get into my wedding dress! Lol , I dropped 2 sizes in 5 weeks!

Really excellent gym. Great facilities, incredibly good value, really friendly and genuine staff, 2…read morefloors of matts, free and machine weights, running, cross training, cycling machines, boxing ring, octagon, classes in muay thai, bjj, boxing, mma, sauna, stream room and all for £25/month or £20 off peak!!! Seriously why go anywhere else. I have a personal trainer there also who is excellent. Really highly recommended.

When in Oxford go punting! During the final days of my trip to Oxford I had a difficult decision to…read morego to London or enjoy the afternoon in Oxford. Going punting was a great choice! In the beginning, my group was split in to 2 boats. Both punting boats had trouble staying straight. That's what he said. The boating system relies on a long stick pushing on the floor of the canal. Think of a gondola only with out the singing. The difficulty is using the pole to steer the boat. Against your instincts you must steer the tale in the direction you want to go and not the way you think it will go. Let's just say one boat was going in circles and the boat house owner didn't look amused. I got suck in a tree trying to avoid the other group boats. A tip don't fight the water let the water take you. Push it real good! We had some vary embarrassing moments captured on photos and instagram but it added to the fun on the experience. It was great for team building and nobody fell in. When all desperation was high and hope was lost. We pushed forward because our goal was to find a place to get drinks. The one person with some boat knowledge and paid attention during the punting instructions became our leader. We did get 2 large Pimms pitchers once we reached our destination. So worth it! Don't worry I was a designated punter so I didn't drink too much. Surprisingly after drinking and relaxing punting is a lot easier. Despite embarrassment we all had a great laugh and memorable stories to tell of our adventure. I highly recommend punting with friends if weather permits.

This is a must-do activity when in Oxford and I cannot recommend it enough!…read more Punting has a long tradition in Oxford and this boathouse has been connected to Magdalen college since its conception. This gives the place a rich history, and it can be seen as you travel along the river. this is actually the second time I have gone punting at this place this year, and both times we have had a wonderful experience. The staff at the boathouse are all very busy but always friendly and approachable. There is a high turnover of people getting in and off boats, but there is never the feeling that we are cattle being moved around and having money taken form us. There is still a personal element to it which is very nice. The owner of the boathouse has been working both days I have been, and he is an incredibly friendly man who recommended buying champagne and strawberries to enjoy the punting more. On the second time of punting he actually remembered us. This is a subtle yet very important point as he must see hundreds of customers a day but he remembered me 3 months later. That was a very nice touch. For those interested in punting, you have two options: Sit back and enjoy your own guide to punt you and your friends/significant other around the scenery. OR Punt yourself! We chose the second option and had such a fun time! I obviously was amazing at punting being a sort of veteran by now, but others just couldn't seem to nail the technique. Both outcomes led to a very relaxing float down the river in the figure of 8 loop mapped out. If it is sunny, and you want to treat yourselves to an hour or two of champagne and relaxation, come down here and get on the river!

The White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre is only a few years old, and purpose built - which means…read morethe facilities are pretty good. There's plenty of car parking and it's near the town centre. The swimming pool isn't very large or deep, and gets very crowded - so you have to get your timing right if you want to go for a serious swim. They also have aqua aerobics classes there a couple of evenings a week. There's a separate kids pool with a 'bubbly' area that's on sometimes. There are saunas and steam rooms (which cost extra) and plenty of changing rooms, although at busy times you can spend a while queueing for the showers. The gym is airy and has plenty of the popular machines, as well as weight-lifting gear. Behind the gym is a smallish studio where some of the aerobics classes take place; larger classes are held on the badminton courts. All-in-all the centre seems to be well run and the facilities are good. It can be a bit pricey if you go regularly, but you can sign up for a membership.

Abingdon and the surrounding villages are served by the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre,…read morewhich offers a gym, aerobics classes, squash courts, sports hall and an eight-lane competition swimming pool. There are also indoor and outdoor, public pay-and-play tennis facilities. Definitely one of the best places to keep fit, according to our Abingdon team.

Great place for adventurous children…read more There's a skateboard park(though I think they didn't get the funding to replace it so it may be on it's way out), a rope swing and aerial runway, a BIG slide and some things for smaller people as well.

The Oxford Cycle Workshop is more than just a bike shop, it's the hub of a community. Regular fun…read morecycling events for you what ever your bike. They will sell you bikes (new and refurbished) or parts, and do a very good job of servicing your bike for you, but this is a place where passion is more important than business. As well as acting as a gathering point for Oxford cyclists, and a distributor of information on safe cycling, they provide a membership scheme. For an annual fee of £9 (£6 for the unwaged), you get free workshop access and support, a dividend card which allows you to collect point on all items in stock which build towards discounts, discounted Introduction to Cycle Maintenance Courses, one-on-one training, access to further courses such as wheel building, and a monthly e-mail newsletter. The staff are both knowledgeable and friendly, and their website is full of information. If you're a cyclist in Oxford for any length of time, you should be a member here. Email us at: mail@oxfordcycleworkshop.org.uk Twitter with them at: http://www.twitter.com/cycleoxford Check their Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oxfordcycleworkshop Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/ocwfacebook Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kettlegun Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-yZ2N_L1SA

Friendly with a personal touch. Hard working staff who care about bikes and not just about making…read moremoney with mass production. Really helpful, and have 'new' stock all the time so do go back if they don't have what you're after first time. V helpful for bike maintenance as well as purchasing. Would definitely recommend getting a good quality 'recycled bike' from here rather than a new shiny one that matches all the others from one of the Cowley Rd shops...