Sports and fitness
Running
Get your running shoes on and explore the city with fantastic flat routes or more challenging hills. With weekly running schemes and seasonal events to enjoy, Portsmouth is a great place for running enthusiasts.
Events include the Great South Run, Race for Life and Parkrun.
Swimming
Take a refreshing dip in one of the swimming pools across Portsmouth.
The Mountbatten Centre houses an impressive 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool, perfect for any swimming enthusiast.
The new Ravelin sports centre, part of the University of Portsmouth, is open to the public. It boasts a 25 metre, eight lane variable depth pool where swimmers have the sensation of swimming in the open-air due to the views of the park from the pool.
Football
If you're looking to experience first-hand a pure passion for sport, we would suggest that you visit Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth Football Club.
Portsmouth Youth Football League (PYFL)
The PYFL is one of the largest youth football leagues in the south of England, serving Portsmouth and the surrounding area, with over 4000 boys and girls signed up for competitive football and another 500+ involved in non-competitive mini-sided football.
Competitive Football
There are many local amateur clubs and opportunities to play everything from small sided 5, 6, 7 a side leagues, to traditional 11 v 11, to futsal, walking football or beach soccer. The Hampshire Football Association can help to find right opportunity for you, near Portsmouth.
Cycling
Explore Portsmouth by bike. With miles of dedicated cycle paths, Portsmouth is an amazing city to explore on two wheels. Also, being as flat a city as you're likely to get, Portsmouth is the perfect place for cycling beginners. Don't worry if you're a little more experienced, though, as there are a great number of routes that are slightly more challenging - whether it's a trip up the Portsdown Hill incline or even a loop around to the South Downs.
Gyms
We all know that regular exercise is the path to a longer, healthier and happier life. And whatever your fitness goals, from Aquasize to Zumba, kickboxing to yoga, there a gym with a regime for you.
The facilities range from gyms, health suites and fitness studios. Each centre can advise on the facilities they have and what they can offer.
Examples include 24/ Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Better Gym Portsmouth, Fit4Less Portsmouth, Fratton Gym, Horizon Health and Fitness, John Pounds Centre, Lougars Gym, Mountbatten Centre, Nuffield Health, Portsmouth Marriott Leisure, Portsmouth University Gym, Roko, Spirit Health Club, The Box - Crossfit, The Gym, The Village Gym and Wimbledon Park Sports Centre.
