The closure of Folkestone sports centre has left many residents, clubs and groups looking for alternative locations where all ages can continue activities to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
The following is not a complete list of locations, clubs and activities but ones highlighted by the various organisations across the district to help fill some of the gaps left by the sports centre closure.
Sports facilities
Visit the Three Hills Sports Park
Cheriton Road, Folkestone, CT19 5JU.
Tel: 01303 846020
Email: enquiries@3hsp.co.uk
Indoor sports hall, cricket pitches, astro pitches, 3G pitches netball courts and athletics track.
Visit the Hythe Sports Pavilion
South Road, Hythe CT21 6AR
Tel: 01303 266152
Indoor facilities for sports events, exercise classes as well as outdoor facilities for football, tennis and bowls. Play areas and skate park too.
View our East Cliff Sports page for more information
Wear Bay Road, Folkestone CT19 6PY
Open air sports facility with eight grass tennis courts, an 18 hole pitch and putt course, 18 hole putting green and six lane bowling green. Tickets available from the kiosk.
Tickets for pitch and putt, tennis and bowling available at kiosk.
The following schools offer gym and sports facilities for hire – Folkestone Academy, Turner Free School and The Marsh Academy.
Visit the Hawkinge Community Centre
Heron Forstal Avenue, Hawkinge CT18 7FP
Fitness Suite and Sports Hall offering activities including over 60s keep fit, walking football, pickleball, multi sports for young people.
Visit F51
Tontine Street, Folkestone, CT20 1SD
Multi-storey indoor skate park and climbing centre, with dedicated bouldering area. Also home to Folkestone Amateur Boxing Club.
Swimming pools
View our Hythe Swimming Pool page fore more information.
36 South Road, Hythe, CT21 6AR
Tel: 01303 269177
Facilities include a 25 x 11 metre pool and a 9.5 x 4.5 metre learner and baby pool.
Email: hythe.pool@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk
Some of the district’s health and leisure clubs also have pools of various sizes, including Spindles Health and Leisure Club (Hotel Burstin), Hythe Imperial Hotel , Bannatyne Health Club in Folkestone and the New Beach Holiday Park in Dymchurch(park guests only during school holidays).
Swim classes for babies to four-year-olds are also held at The Beacon School in Folkestone.
Gyms
There is a cardio zone fitness centre at Hythe Pool with treadmills, cross trainer, rowing machines and exercise bikes.
Free to use outdoor gym equipment is also offered in Radnor Park, Folkestone.
There are a number of private gyms across Folkestone and the district offering a range of facilities and with varying membership costs.
Community health and fitness sessions and classes
Wellbeing Activity Programme – Age UK South Kent Coast
Daily activities at various locations in the Folkestone & Hythe district and some in the Dover district.
Walking cricket, tennis and netball are on offer as well as Pickleball (a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis), a scrabble club and garden club.
Costs vary and some sessions are free.
Programme and contact details - Folkestone Hub
Hythe Community Support Hub
Sanford House, Stade Street, Hythe CT21 6BD
Monday to Friday sessions including seated exercise, seated yoga, walking football and low impact aerobics - Hythe Community Support Hub.
All are welcome but please always call first to book and check arrangements - 01303 269602.
Lyminge Community Support Hub
Everist Court, 63 Station Road, Lyminge, CT18 8HQ
Activities include Pilates on Friday morning - Lyminge Community Support Hub
All are welcome but please always call first to book and check arrangements - 01303 269602.
Hythe, Lyminge & Ashford Age UK run a walking group and other social events to help people living with dementia.
Parks
View our Radnor Park page for more information
Open space for a wide range of informal recreation activities including bowls and new pétanque pitches. Two modern play areas, picnic tables (and grass areas for picnics), fenced dog run, 20 metre long zip line, a raised hill, and climbing equipment including a six metre high pyramid net for eight to 12 year olds.
View our Lower Leas Coastal Park page for more information
One of the largest play areas in the south east offering free adventure play with tube slides, tunnels and a pirate ship to explore.
Visit Sandgate Park and Fremantle Park
A range of free activities across two sites, including play areas, children’s zip wire, multi-use games area, picnic area including barbecue stands, petanque pitch and and a fenced dog run.
Other activities
Visit Folkestone Harbour Arm Adventure Golf
Open 10am-6pm every day over the summer holidays.
Physical activity and sport opportunities can be found by location by using the Activity Finder on the Everyday Active website.