Leisure centres and swimming pools
Work on our leisure centres to improve energy efficiency
Park Sports Centre, Wheatley
We successfully bid for government funding towards installing solar panels and air source heat pumps to replace end of life gas-fired boilers at the leisure centre in Wheatley. Contractors began work in October 2025 initially carrying out roof replacement work and insulation to improve energy efficiency. More info on our news page.
Thame Leisure Centre
Work was completed in summer 2025 at Thame Leisure Centre to install just over 150 solar panels, reducing the site’s reliance on fossil fuels and lowering its carbon emissions. The solar panels cover large areas of the roof space at the centre including the gym and the sports hall. The panels produce renewable electricity for the centre reducing the running costs. The work was made possible thanks to a successful bid by South Oxfordshire District Council for just over £160,000 from Sport England – via its Swimming Pool Support Fund. This project follows other work carried out at the site to improve energy efficiency including the installation of LED lighting. More info on our news page.
We have six leisure centres and one outdoor pool in South Oxfordshire.
- Abbey Sports Centre, Berinsfield
- Didcot Wave Leisure Pool
- Didcot Leisure Centre
- Henley Leisure Centre
- Thame Leisure Centre
- Riverside Park, outdoor pool, campsite and Jubilee Splash Park (summer season only)
- Park Sports Centre, Wheatley
The centres are run by our partners GLL – you can recognise them by their green ‘Better’ logo.
You can find out about memberships and prices by visiting ‘Better’ memberships .
If you sign up for ‘Better’ membership you will also be able to use the facilities at the following leisure centres in the Vale of White Horse:
- Abbey Meadow outdoor swimming pool (summer season only)
- Faringdon Leisure Centre
- Wantage Leisure Centre
- White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Abingdon
Outdoor Pitches
Two junior football pitches are provided free of charge at Barrow Hills and Long Furlong in Abingdon. To book these pitches please contact email our Parks Team. A five-a-side floodlit artificial turf pitch is available to hire at Abbey Sports Centre Berinsfield. To book click on the link to Abbey Sports Centre, Berinsfield or call 01865 341035.
Contact us - Leisure
01235 422240
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)
South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
