For a small town, Teddington punches well above its weight when it comes to staying fit. It has a Royal Park, the calm upper reaches of the Thames, and a busy roster of clubs that welcome beginners as warmly as their racers. Whatever gets you moving, there’s probably a group here that would love to have you.
On the water
The river is Teddington’s great outdoor gym. Walbrook Rowing Club sits on Trowlock Island, half a mile above the lock, on the calm, non-tidal stretch of the Thames. It’s an open club for juniors from 12, seniors and masters into their seventies, and it runs learn-to-row courses for complete beginners. Saturday outings end with coffee and cake on the balcony.
Members of the Lensbury can also paddleboard and hire motorboats straight from its riverside grounds.
On two wheels
Waldy Wheelers began when a group of friends rode from Teddington to Paris in 2014. It’s now a small, friendly club with a busy women’s section. The Sunday-morning social ride leaves from the Diana car park in Bushy Park, and members branch out into sportives, time trials, cyclo-cross and an annual tour abroad.
On foot
The Stragglers are Bushy Park’s big running club, with more than 600 members and groups for every pace on Thursday club nights. And don’t forget Saturday’s Bushy parkrun, the 5km run where parkrun began in 2004. Our runner’s guide has more on that.
On court
Teddington Lawn Tennis Club has been on Vicarage Road since 1914, with six courts (three artificial grass and three artificial clay, five of them floodlit), coaching, social sessions and a big league programme. For a bigger set-up, the Lensbury has 24 courts for tennis, padel, squash and pickleball, plus a gym, pools and more than 165 classes a week. Both are membership clubs.
In the studio
For a hard 45 minutes before work, F45 on The Causeway runs team-based HIIT classes, with the workout on the screens and a trainer on the floor. At the gentler end, Concrete Jungle on the High Street is a yoga-first studio with hot flows, aerial yoga and a hot-stone sauna.
If you’d rather dance, Awesome Studios runs adult classes with no exams and no pressure, and Teddington Dance Studio has adult tap alongside its children’s classes.
On the mat
Busen Martial Arts & Sports Trust, just over the border on Stanley Road, has been teaching judo and karate for more than 50 years. It also offers ju-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing and tai chi for adults, and you can try a class for free.
For the kids
Children aged 5 to 12 can try gymnastics at SIMMSplitz or athletics on the Sir Mo Farah track at SIMMSAthletics, both at St Mary’s University. Busen, the dance studios, the Stragglers’ juniors and Walbrook’s junior squad are all waiting when they’re ready for more.
When something hurts
Even the best-planned training goes wrong sometimes. JS Massage Therapy on the High Street offers sports massage, trigger-point work and rehab support to get you back out there.
