Off Court Leisure & Cultural Activities

Elmbridge has a wide range of leisure and culture activities for you to get involved with from home or at a local venue to keep you activie and to look after your mental wellbeing. Take part either on your own , with a friend, with the family or as an opportunity to meet other local people. 

COVID-19 has not gone away, so it’s important to remember the actions you can take to keep yourself and others safe while participating in any type of activity. Please continue to act carefully, remain cautious and help prevent the spread.

Have a look at the following examples of what is going on the borough, with some national activities to investigate as well, join the movement today. 

 

Wellbeing Walks & Cycle Rides

"Elmbridge Borough Council have been organising small group walks, Nordic walks and cycle rides since 2003. Both regulars and new people join us weekly to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Group walks and cycle rides are a great form of physical activity, especially for beginners, and a good way of getting outdoors to meet other local people for a friendly chat.

They also help you explore your local area and we are certain that we can introduce you to some footpaths and cycle routes you didn't know existed." For further information on the wellbeing walks or cylce rides please use the following links: 

 

Elmbridge self-guided walks 

"Elmbridge has many beautiful open spaces just waiting to be discovered on foot. Below is our selection of self-guided walks. Please download your copy."

 

Shout! Holiday Activities

Stay and Play Drop in Sessions: "There will be lots to make and do for children of all ages. Please note: all children must be accompanied by an adult." Please see https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/childrens-activities/holiday-activities for more information.

You can also follow the  Shout! Facebook page for the latest information on future children and family fun activities. Free events are updated on a regular basis.: https://www.facebook.com/ShoutHolidayActivities/  

 

Elmbridge Museum

"Elmbridge Museum is a forward-thinking and creative local authority service dedicated to increasing opportunities for people to engage in arts, culture and heritage throughout the borough of Elmbridge.

We organise touring exhibitions at a range of community locations around the borough, using the museum collections to explore our rich local heritage. We maintain an active learning programme comprised of regular family fun activities as well as outreach sessions and discovery boxes which bring local history to life for school children, teachers and community groups. We also run a popular local studies enquiries service and maintain an active online presence through our website and social media." https://elmbridgemuseum.org.uk/ 

 

Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre

"Since opening in 1989, Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre has been providing the community with a comprehensive programme of events including drama, classical music, traditional and modern jazz, folk, americana and roots music, comedy, children’s shows, cabaret and art exhibitions. It also offers a variety of classes in arts and crafts for all ages, adults, young people and toddlers." https://riverhousebarn.co.uk/ 

 

Royston Pike Lecture Series

"The Royston Pike lecture programme 2022 will start on 31 March at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Walton-onThames. For further information, contact arts@elmbridge.gov.uk or visit: https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/whats-on-in-elmbridge/royston-pike-lecture-series/" 

 

The Barn Theatre, West Molesey

"The Barn Theatre Club is a professionally run local Studio Theatre, which has provided nearly forty years of continuous entertainment to the community. The Club offers a variety of entertainment throughout the year." https://www.thebarntheatremolesey.co.uk/ 

 

The Vera Fletcher Hall, Thames Ditton

"The Vera Fletcher Hall hosts a wide range of theatrical productions including classical music concerts, opera, drama, music hall, film nights, jazz and contemporary music and shows for families and children. On a weekly basis the Hall offers the local community an exciting range of classes for people of all ages." https://www.verafletcherhall.co.uk/ 

 

Esher Theatre

"Located off Esher High Street, adjacent to the Civic Centre, Esher Theatre is a multi-faceted entertainment venue for the arts. Opened in September 2021, the theatre hosts everything from live music, fashion events, dance, comedy, theatre and poetry. Esher Theatre is available for hire. The venue has a full capacity of 250 and is designed to be adaptable, functional and professionally equipped for any production. It has a bar and a foyer." https://www.eshertheatre.com/ 

 

Street Play

"Street play is a new initiative in Elmbridge, part of the Play Strategy, 2021-2026. It is supported by Play England and follows the Playing Out model that encourages children to play out freely and safely in their streets.

The aim is to encourage children to play actively and independently near their home; contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

Street Play sessions take place during temporary road closures organised by local residents, with the agreement of their neighbours. Everyone is welcome and it's a great way to get to know one another." To learn more about how to get involved please see: https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/childrens-activities/street-play or email: shout@elmbridge.gov.uk.

 

 

LTA Tennis at Home Hub:

"Here you will find everything you need to keep active, healthy and entertained at home. From LTA Youth coaching and educational content to keep children and families busy, to regular physio and yoga programmes to support your physical and mental wellbeing whilst working from home. You can also download tennis themed Zoom backgrounds for all your calls." www.lta.org.uk/tennis-at-home-hub/ 

 

We are Undefeatable | Sport England:

"We Are Undefeatable has been launched to inspire, reassure and support people to be active by showing people living with a variety of conditions – both visible and invisible – on their own journeys to being active. One day, a short walk might be all that’s manageable. For others it might be swimming or getting active at home. It all helps." www.weareundefeatable.co.uk/ 

 

Stay In Work Out | Sport England:

"We're all now spending a lot more time at home than we might like, which is why staying as physically active as possible is more important than ever. Join the Movement is our brand-new campaign, funded by The National Lottery, giving you the advice and tools you need to help you do this while the country deals with the coronavirus outbreak." www.sportengland.org/stayinworkout#join_the_movement 

 

This Girl Can | Sport England:

"No one gets to choose how you exercise other than you. Your body, your call. And whatever that looks like, we think it’s worth celebrating. This Girl Can, funded by The National Lottery, believes that there’s no “right” way to get active. However you jiggle, kick, lift, stretch, or sprint, it’s time to get moving how you damn please." www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/ 

 

One You | NHS 

"Getting exercise doesn't need to be difficult – you don't even need to leave the house! Clear some space in the living room and give our easy 10-minute workouts a go." www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/move-more/home-workout-videos/ 

 

ANDYSMANCLUB LTD

ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. We want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation. #ITSOKAYTOTALK | https://andysmanclub.co.uk/

 

 

Judy Murray Home Activites:

  • Jumping the river: you use a couple of bits of rope to make the river and can stick toy sharks in the middle to make it more fun. Then you get the children to jump or hop over the river, and progress to catching something in mid-air as they do so.
  • Boom boom balloon: this was a favourite for Jamie and Andy as young boys. A balloon costs you nothing. If you fill it with a few grains of rice so it makes a noise - when you hit it it goes 'boom, boom, boom', it's buzzing - then attach a piece of rope from the radiator to the wall for example to to make your court. Then you bat the balloons back and forth. Whenever it bounces on your side or touches the carpet, that's a point for the other player.
  • Cereal Box Table Tennis: this was great for the wet weather. The kitchen table would get cleared, cereal boxes placed across the middle of it and you'd use two biscuit tin lids and a ping-pong ball. A ping-pong ball costs about 20p and again you can make up your own rules and challenges.
  • Double trouble: the children stand opposite each other and then, after a count of 'one, two, three' throw a ball or soft toy to each other at the same time. As soon as you catch the ball, you throw it back. You can develop the game to catch after a bounce, or roll it, or make a net by laying out two chairs with a rope across.