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Leisure centres and swimming pools

We have six leisure centres and one outdoor pool in South Oxfordshire.

Work on our leisure centres to improve energy efficiency

Park Sports Centre, Wheatley – update June 2026

Decarbonisation work continues to progress well. Roofing upgrades are now complete, including insulation and installing 268 solar panels to provide renewable electricity. They are expected to create 113,045kWh per year (equivalent to the electricity used in 40 average UK homes. The scaffolding has been removed from the sports centre as have the end-of-life gas boilers – making the leisure centre officially gas-free. Air source heat pumps designed to provide hot water are already in place and will also provide any heating needed during the summer months. The next step will be the addition of the larger air source heat pumps which will provide the main heating – these will be in place before the autumn when the weather turns colder. We successfully bid for government funding towards this work. 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.

A view of the roof of Thame Leisure Centre of the solar panels
Solar panels installed on the roof of Thame Leisure Centre May 2025

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:

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 dialling)

South Oxfordshire District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE