Arun Leisure Centre

The town's main indoor sports and fitness facility

Arun Leisure Centre is Littlehampton's primary indoor sports facility, providing a swimming pool, gym, fitness studios, sports hall and other facilities for the use of residents and visitors. The centre is managed on behalf of Arun District Council and serves as the hub of organised sport and fitness activity in the town, offering something for every age and ability level.

The swimming pool is one of the centre's most used facilities, offering a main pool for lane swimming, recreational swimming, swimming lessons and aqua fitness classes, along with a smaller learner pool for young children and beginners. The pool programme balances the competing demands of different user groups, with dedicated sessions for lane swimmers, families, women-only swimming and school groups. Swimming lessons are available for children and adults, taught by qualified instructors following the national learn-to-swim framework.

The gym provides a range of cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, including treadmills, cross-trainers, rowing machines, exercise bikes and a full selection of free weights and weight machines. The gym is staffed by qualified fitness instructors who provide inductions for new members, personal training sessions and advice on exercise programmes. Memberships are available on monthly and annual terms, and casual pay-as-you-go access is also available for visitors and those who prefer not to commit to a regular membership.

Fitness classes are offered in the studios, covering a wide range of exercise formats including yoga, Pilates, spinning, body pump, circuits, Zumba and high-intensity interval training. The class programme caters for all fitness levels, from gentle classes for beginners and older adults to intense sessions for experienced exercisers. The classes are led by qualified instructors, and the social aspect of group exercise, the camaraderie of sweating together in a room, adds motivation that solitary gym work sometimes lacks.

The sports hall accommodates badminton, basketball, five-a-side football, netball and other indoor sports, with courts marked out and equipment available for hire. Club bookings, casual hire and school use share the available court time, and the hall is busy throughout the day and into the evening. Sports clubs based at the centre provide opportunities for competitive play and social sport, and the centre's staff can direct enquiries to the appropriate club.

The leisure centre also caters for younger users, with soft play sessions for toddlers, children's activity programmes during school holidays and birthday party packages. The family-friendly facilities are well used by parents seeking indoor activities for rainy days and school holiday entertainment.

The centre's importance to the community extends beyond the immediate health and fitness benefits. It provides employment, supports local sports clubs, contributes to the physical and mental health of the population and offers a social environment where people from different parts of the community mix. The investment in the leisure centre is an investment in the health and cohesion of the town.

Accessibility is a priority at the centre, with facilities designed to accommodate users with disabilities, including pool hoists, adapted changing rooms and equipment that allows participation in a wide range of activities. The centre's commitment to inclusive access ensures that the health and fitness benefits of the facilities are available to the whole community, regardless of physical ability.