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Summer fun in Barnet

Author: Brendan Steinhardt

Published:

Walking trails, leisure centres, outdoor gyms and SHAPE programmes are just some of the things you can do in Barnet this summer.

Although the temperatures might not be hitting their usual heights, there are still plenty of things to do throughout the borough.

In Barnet, there are five leisure centres: Burnt Oak Leisure Centre, Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, Church Farm Swimming Pool, Finchley Lido and Hendon Leisure and Gymnastics Centre, operated by Better on behalf of Barnet Council with activities available including:
  • swimming
  • gymnastics
  • badminton
  • basketball
  • football
  • tennis
  • performing arts, and
  • fitness classes.
On top of this, SHAPE offers free or low cost sports sessions to young people aged 14 to 19, including basketball, dance fitness, football and more.

You can also boost your health and wellbeing in some of Barnet’s most beautiful areas with trained instructors leading health walks weekly, whatever the weather.

In addition to these walks, there are nine free marked and measured routes, which are pre-plotted routes of 1km, 2.5km or 5km that can be walked, run or cycled and 11 free outdoor gyms located in the parks.

Councillor Dean Cohen, Chairman of the Environment Committee, said: “There are a wide range of ways you can enjoy summer in the borough with plenty of parks and outdoor gyms. This gives residents a chance to increase fitness levels and improve overall health which can also help reduce the chances of certain illnesses and diseases.”

The Barnet Youth Engagement Service provides children and young people across the borough with a broad range of programmes, accreditation, information, advice and guidance.

This summer, there are a number of fun and exciting programmes on offer to engage, inspire and motivate young residents during the holidays including:
  • music production
  • multi-sports
  • animation
  • steel pans
  • water sports
  • pony day
  • app design
  • BMXing, and
  • basketball.
Keep in touch with everything going on by visiting: www.barnetyouth.uk

Tennis coaching sessions for all ages are available in selected Barnet parks to introduce (or reintroduce) you to the sport. Sessions are free of charge and you don’t even need to bring a racquet.

You can also play hockey by joining in the fun at Ashmole Academy; whether you used to play hockey at school, are a regular player who’s looking for a new club or even if you’ve never picked up a hockey stick before.