Children tried the clip and climb, families used the pool and sports hall, and more than 2,000 people came through the doors as West Drayton’s new Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre held a free opening celebration over the weekend of Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May.
The Hillingdon Council facility, which opened on 20 April, used the two-day event to give residents a closer look at what is now available locally: swimming, fitness classes, soft play, climbing, racket sports and gym sessions under one roof.
More than 2,000 visitors try the new centre
The open weekend was designed as a free community introduction to the Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre, giving residents and visitors the chance to test activities before deciding whether to return regularly.
According to Hillingdon Council, the programme included swimming sessions with access to the splash pool and flume, gym and fitness classes, soft play, clip and climb, basketball, badminton and pickleball in the sports hall.
The turnout gives an early indication of demand in West Drayton for a local leisure hub serving families, children, regular gym users and people looking for affordable ways to stay active close to home.
The centre is managed by Greenwich Leisure Limited, also known as GLL, Hillingdon Council’s established leisure partner. Since opening on 20 April, it has already issued more than 1,700 health memberships and signed up 700 swim school members.
West Drayton families welcome activities closer to home
For some residents, the appeal is not only the facilities but the location.
Veronica Barker, from West Drayton, attended with her nine-year-old daughter Summer and tried the clip and climb. She said the open weekend was good for the community because not everyone can travel far for activities.
“There are people who can’t travel as far so having it local is great and it’s a good opportunity to socialise and meet new people,” she said.
Barker added that if her daughter enjoyed the clip and climb, it could become something they use weekly or monthly.
Gloria De Decker, also from West Drayton, said the centre gave people a way to come together and see what was available. “The children can play, and it’s affordable,” she said.
The comments point to one of the clearest local effects of the new site: reducing the need for families to travel outside the area for swimming, climbing, soft play or indoor sport.
Swimming, climbing and sport under one roof
The range of activities offered during the celebration shows how the centre is being positioned for different ages and levels of fitness.
Families with younger children were able to use soft play and the splash pool, while older children and adults could try climbing, racket sports, basketball and gym-based sessions. Swim school sign-ups also suggest demand from parents looking for structured lessons.
That mix matters in a growing residential area where leisure centres can act as both fitness facilities and social infrastructure. A local pool, sports hall and children’s activity space can support after-school routines, weekend family time and low-barrier exercise for residents who may not use a traditional gym.
Readers looking for similar family activity options elsewhere in London may also find our coverage of free half-term sports and swimming activities in Haringey useful.
Council says centre is supporting active lives
Daniel Kennedy, Hillingdon Council’s Corporate Director of Residents Services, said it was encouraging to hear how residents were already using the facilities.
He said the centre was intended to support people of all ages and abilities to live healthy and active lives.
The opening weekend followed the centre’s launch on 20 April and gave the council and GLL a public test of early local interest. With more than 2,000 visitors across two days, the first community event has now provided a clearer picture of how West Drayton residents may use the site beyond its opening month.
Residents can find out more and sign up through Better’s Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre information page.
Source: Hillingdon Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on Hillingdon Council’s notice about the Platinum Jubilee Leisure Centre opening celebration and its early usage figures.
- Confirmed the open weekend dates as Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May.
- Matched the reported visitor figure of more than 2,000 people.
- Checked the stated opening date of 20 April and early membership numbers.
- Kept resident quotes attributed to the named speakers in the source item.
- Source
- Hillingdon Council
- Scope
- West Drayton
- Updated
- 2026-05-28 11:11
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