Bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy fun fun fun fun fun -- the wonderful thing about Jump Arena is... OK…read moreit's not the only one. But it's the only one in Leeds, and that's all you need to know. Trust me, I looked up trampolining --not because it's the latest trend in exercise, although it is-- but because I've wanted to get my bounce on for aaaaaages. The only other place in Leeds that I could find looks like it's basically for kids, which is a shame as they have the proper big trampolines. Anyway. This place? So much more than just bouncing. There is trampoline basket ball, trampoline jump in a foam pit, trampoline dodge ball... there's even a tight rope thing you can practice balance on. I love it! They've got a parkour thing in the works too, which is super exciting. Although, the guy didn't really seem to get me when I checked if there would be lessons and if those lessons would be cool for a not-teenager. Whatever I want to run up things. Staff all seem to be about 18. It does smell a little bit like boy and Lynx. But, forget that and just get your bounce on. My friend and I actually spent the first five minutes squealing and bouncing as high and/or as fast as we could until we both collapsed. How do kids DO IT?! Pro tip: warm up a bit. The air in there is super cold which makes your chest hurt if you go nuts like we did. One last question: what is it with alternative exercise places, lasers, and nineties dance music? I mean, weird. But I guess I like it too. DO IT. It's a tenner an hour. Don't go on weekends if you don't want to be surrounded by childs.

We used to be royally spoiled for swimming in Leeds. Those days have long gone and the…read moreInternational Bath fell into a state that couldn't be rescued and alas it went from our lives. Luckily, you've still got a fair few options that don't include just private gyms at your disposal. One being Bramley Baths. Now public baths do usually feel me with fear but not here. It's a nice venue, clean, tidy and very pleasant to woke away the tensions of the day in. What's more they got a steam room. Result! My advice is to avoid anytime's when a gaggle of kids will be about. Easier said than done but they do offer lane swimming sessions, women only sessions and various options that mean you're more likely to get a good swim in rather than fight against a child induced tidal wave. Good work Leeds city council, I'm liking your style.

The pool is small but great for taking kids to swim - esp…read moreafter a muck about in the park over the road. Traditional victorian/edwardian building but charming and kept very clean. This was my local gym for a while and it's a very friendly place, staff are great - worth taking a bodyline card for.

nice little lesuire centre, clean, tidy, friendly staff…read more lots going on especially for the kids in the hols & a great swimming pool. also lovely warm baby pool & a great spectators room upstairs. close to the kirkstall morrisons & shops & on various bus routes including the 38, 91.

Being our local leisure centre I am a regular here. Having a Leeds card gives you a discount and…read morechildren can also get a Breeze card which gives them a discount. Having only ever used two facilities here they are all I can comment on. Childrens parties: We had a bouncy castle which was a great hit with the kids, and then went into a room in which there was a full platter of finger foods and a birthday cake. They do offer different kinds of kids party such as roller disco's. Swimming: There are two pools; a small heated childrens pool and a larger pool. The small pool is brilliant for bringing babies and toddlers swimming and is regularly monitored that there is only a certain number of people in the pool to avoid over crowding. The larger pool is often sectioned off into two ares, a lanes swimming area and then an open pool area for the people who don't wish to swim in lanes. The changing rooms are normally quite clean and tidy although the air conditioning can make it a bit cold. There are 4 showers in the female changing rooms as well as a couple of toilets. Lockers are provided for everyone to use and cost £1 which you get back at the end of your session.

Kirkstall Leisure Centre is a diamond amongst a sleepier part of Leeds. It gives the locals…read moresomewhere to keep fit and for kids to enjoy activities when the park is less inviting through winter months. They have a huge amount of stuff going on to choose from which are bound to keep the little ones occupied during the holidays, and keep us lot from keeping those post Christmas belly's. Things like swimming, a wide range of fitness classes (yoga, step aerobics, aqua aerobics, boxercise and circuit training), childrens activities such as dance or martial arts, football, badminton, squash, kick boxing, fencing, and (deep breath) running club. If that wasn't enough they also do children's parties in case you're stuck for ideas and don't fancy having a group of little monkeys roaming around your house. It is a great thing to have in the area and people of all ages can get involved.

On a recent mission to keep fit (or rather, begin to get fit as it were) my friend and I decided to…read moretry and make a weekly appointment to go and exercise somewhere. Initially, as we had designs on playing squash, we decided to try Holt Park Leisure Centre but failed to ever find that seemingly mythical place. We decided in the end to try Kirkstall as, although they are renovating the squash areas etc, we could swim once a week in the interim. Ah. What a find. It is easy to get to (if you miss rush hour traffic) and nicely laid out. It's a bit of a mission to find the entrance on your first try - go round the front of the car park and follow the route to the door all the way round - but obviously, once you've been there that initial time this should cease to be a problem. Swimming cost around £3.80 (I can't quite remember) which was a shock since the last time I went, albeit it was 8 plus years ago, it cost me about £1.50. The swimming facilities themselves are reasonable. The toilets were certainly in need of a clean and not fully stocked of toilet roll, which is always a bummer. (Pun-tastic...!) The showers, which you are required to utilise pre-swim, were a little on the cold side but warm up after a minute. The pool itself is not huge and not deep but is perfectly adequate for swimming lengths to keep fit - which is what it's all about! Happily, despite the variable of other people which can't be helped, I managed about 24 lengths in about 15 minutes. Yippee! It would have been more had I not had to try three lockers before I could finally get the key out to secure my things. On my first trip here I was really rather pleased, hopefully it is not just the natural seretonin boost that I've gotten from my first exercise in yonks!

It would appear that all I ever do is drink coffee, drink booze, eat or shop. That's not strictly…read moretrue. Pretty much but not strictly. It's all about a balance so I'm also quite keen to keep as active as possible in a failing attempt to undo all of my sins. The South Leeds Sports Centre is a perfect stop off then. When I say perfect, as perfect as flogging your guts in the line of duty ever gets but it really is a great facility. First up, it's cheap as chips. That's the joys of government run centres like this. You've got everything (well pretty much) that private gyms have to offer and then more. If you want to hit the gym, the equipment is more than adequate. You'll also find instructors on hand to help you with fitness goals and the like. I personally go for the squash courts and they are well maintained and again won't set you back mega bucks. It's a great work out too and makes eating that juicy cake all the more sweeter later on. Throw in a swimming pool, loads of classes, football areas and you really can work off that weight any which way you choose.

If you are looking to buy climbing gear in the centre of Leeds forget it, the best place to go that…read moreI have found is Leeds Climbing Wall. I picked up an excellent pair of boots there and I bet the sales leave a few excellent buys to be had. Being forced indoors during miserable months and working with people who liked to tour various climbing walls around the M62 I came to the Leeds wall a couple of time before living here. The routes are pretty good and the bouldering wall has been improved recently.

Good cafe, good shop and great routes. Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere, and has always felt…read morelike a safe place for newbies. Manages to cater to all levels very well in terms of route grades. Shame they seem to have got rid of top roping options on the biggest walls - not everyone wants to lead. Bouldering has plenty of variety, changes regularly, and there's even a campus board area tucked away for the more hardcore. Personal favourite is the 'cow pats' slab route. Despite the gradually vanishing top ropes - or possibly because of, depending on your point of view - this is still the best Yorkshire indoor climbing venue outside Sheffield. Long may it prosper.

This is probably the nicest place to swim in the North - clean and well kept 50m pool which is…read morerarely busy, changing rooms are really well kept, cafe is cheap and chearful, and parking is free - much nicer than Manchester Aquatics, there is no kids pool here tho. Free entrance with a bodyline card which is a steal really as it's a fantastic and under used facility. Stadium next door has a well kept large gym and they will even let you have a run round the track if there's no-one using it. As it's on the edge of Middleton Park it's a great place to run and swim, outskirts of leeds so rarely busy.

this place is great for a family swim, inexpensive,…read more good training pool for the little ones and really good family changing rooms. The staff are always helpful and there is ample parking. Just make sure you check swimming times online or by ringing before you go.

Sometimes we all need to get a nice big helping of fresh air to blast away those work blues or for…read moreme likely hangover. Luckily we're spoilt for choice here. One such place I love to go is Potternewton Park. It's out of the city off Harehills Lane and is well maintained. You've got formal gardens and picnic areas for a start. The active among you can also feel the deep burn with a game of tennis. Lesser assertion is needed for a cheeky spot of bowls and there is often some football going on. What it's also good for is bringing the community together with some annual events. The West Indian Carnival and Reggae Concert is a must. It's a vibrant mix of costumes, music and food and is great when the sun basks down and lights up a beautiful summer's day. If you feel like some greenery and open space then look no further.

Potternewton Park is a great green space in the Chapel Allerton/Harehills area. The surrounding…read morestreets are full of beautiful old style terraced houses and so it's a lovely addition to the area for the local children and teens to go for a wander. I've driven past it so many times on the way to work it seemed only right to stop by and check it out. At the top end there are some really lovely shrubbery arrangements, which I realise isn't the thing most people are interested in, but I quite enjoyed sitting and eating a sandwich with all the greenery around me. Further down there is a play area for the younger kids, which certainly looks more exciting than the likes of parks from when I was a kid, and there are basket ball courts and a skate area for the older ones too. As an adult there is simply a large expanse of beautiful green parkland for an afternoon stroll/sunny picnic. All in all it's a lovely place to visit if the busy roads and city life is stressing you out.