Start your Summer with our National Open Weekend!
Grab your friends and family on the 19th and 20th July 2025 – it's a free weekend of fun at our leisure centres in York. With activities for every age, there’s endless excitement waiting! Whether you're a member or a non-member, come and enjoy our Open Weekend. Get active, meet new people, and explore exciting new activities. Read on to discover what's on offer.
Who is it for?
This weekend is perfect for:
New visitors: Discover everything we offer in one action-packed weekend.
Familiar faces: Already with us? Try something new and bring friends or family to join the fun.
Event Timetable:
Saturday 19th July 2025
| Centre | Activity | Time | Cost | |
| Burnholme Sports Centre | Open Day Gym Taster Session (16+) | 09:00 – 10:30am | FREE | |
| Open Day Adult and Junior Gym Taster Session | 1:00 – 2:30pm | FREE | ||
| Energise Leisure Centre | Open Day Gym Taster Session (16+) | 11:00am – 12:30pm | FREE | |
| Open Day Swim School and Water Safety Taster Session (5-11 years) | 11:15 – 11:45am | FREE | ||
| NEW Toddler Splash | 1:30 – 2:30pm | Standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Family Fun Swim | 2:30 – 3:45pm | Standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Yearsley Swimming Pool | Open Day Swim School and Water Safety Taster Session (5-11 years) |
12:30 – 1:00pm 1:00 - 1:30pm |
FREE | |
| Family Fun Swim | 2:15 – 3:00pm | Standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Underwater Hockey Taster Session | 3:00 - 4:00pm |
FREE Organised by York Octopush |
Please RSVP by emailing yorkoctopush@gmail.com | |
| York Leisure Centre | Open Day Swim School and Water Safety Taster Session (5-11 years) | 08:30 – 09:00am | FREE | |
| Kids Swim for a £1 | Swim for All sessions before 10am | Valid in Swim for All sessions before 10am – standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Family Fun Swim | 12:50 – 3:40pm | Standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Open Day Gym Taster Session (16+) | 1:00 – 2:30pm | FREE | ||
| Open Day Adult and Junior Gym Taster Session | 3:00 – 4:30pm | FREE |
Sunday 20th July 2025
| Centre | Activity | Time | Cost | |
| Burnholme Sports Centre | Open Day Gym Taster Session (16+) | 09:00 – 10:30am | FREE | |
| Open Day Adult and Junior Gym Taster Session | 1:00 – 2:30pm | FREE | ||
| Energise Leisure Centre | Kids Swim for a £1 | Swim for All sessions before 10am | Valid in Swim for All sessions before 10am – standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before |
| Open Day Gym Taster Session (16+) | 11:00am – 12:30pm | FREE | ||
| Rollerskating | 4:00 – 5:00pm | Standard admission charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Yearsley Swimming Pool | Kids Swim for a £1 | Swim for All sessions before 10am | Valid in Swim for All sessions before 10am – standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before |
| York Leisure Centre | Open Day Mind and Body Fitness Master Class | 12:10 – 1:10pm | FREE | |
| Open Day Soft Play | 12:30 – 3:00pm | FREE | ||
| Open Day Gym Taster Session (16+) | 1:00 – 2:30pm | FREE | ||
| Family Fun Swim | 2:30 – 3:50pm | Standard swim admission and charges apply. | Book 7 days before | |
| Open Day Adult and Junior Gym Taster Session | 3:00 – 4:30pm | FREE |
Activity Descriptions
Open Day Gym Taster Session
Kickstart your fitness journey with a free trial of the gym. Staff will be on hand to demonstrate machines and advise on the best ways to achieve your fitness goals.
Open Day Adult & Junior Gym Taster Session
Kickstart yours and your child’s fitness journey with a free trial of the gym. Staff will be on hand to demonstrate machines and advise on the best ways to achieve your fitness goals.
Open Day Mind and Body Fitness Masterclass
Feel better inside and out with our Mind and Body group fitness classes. Build your strength and flexibility in our lower-impact classes like Pilates and feel revived and relaxed with our mindfulness-focused sessions, such as Yoga. Experience a few of the disciplines in this Mind and Body Master Class
Open Day Swim School and Water Safety Taster Session
Dive into safety and confidence - Join us for your child's initial assessment in joining our Swim School and get an introduction to water safety ahead of summer for free! Suitable for 5-11 year olds
Kids Swim for £1
Searching for a school holiday activity everyone can enjoy? We have a fantastic value swimming offer for children, allowing under 16 year olds to swim for just £1 (accompanying adults' usual admission applies). The offer is available on participating Swim for All sessions before 10am, Monday to Friday, school holidays and during weekends. Bookings are recommended to guarantee admission.
Toddler Splash
Join us for a delightful swim session designed for children under 5 and their parents or carers in our small pool. Our sessions offer a variety of fun floats and toys for little ones to play with and enjoy in a safe and supportive environment.
Family Fun Swim
At Better, we believe that swimming should be fun and exciting for all the family. Our Family Fun Swim session is the perfect way to enjoy quality time together in the pool. With a relaxed atmosphere, everyone can splash around, play games, and have fun, regardless of age or swimming ability. This session includes floats and toys.
Roller Skating
Roller skating at Energise Leisure Centre is a fantastic activity hosted in the spacious sports hall, open to everyone. Whether you're a seasoned skater or a novice, the facility offers a welcoming environment for all skill levels. The smooth surface of the sports hall makes it an ideal place to glide and twirl with ease. Grab your skates and join the fun at Energise for a thrilling and inclusive roller skating experience.
What to bring
Please wear comfortable and appropriate clothing for all classes and activities; all equipment is provided. Please make sure you bring a towel and water with you.
What if I have a health condition?
Please make sure you let the members of staff know about any health conditions prior to activity.
What if I have never been before?
If you're new to any of the activities or unsure about using certain equipment, feel free to ask one of our staff members. We’re here to guide you. If you’re using the gym or taking part in any physical activities today, please ensure you’ve warmed up first. If you need guidance, our fitness instructors are here to help.
How to book
If you already have an account:
You can simply sign in and book activities.
If you're not a Better member or do not have an account:
You'll need to sign up for a free account so that you can book any of the activities available during the open weekend https://bookings.better.org.uk/register
Booking your open weekend activity online
- Log in via our customer portal. Once logged on, follow these steps:
- Click the "Book Activity" button.
- Select a local leisure centre by entering your postcode or choosing from the list.
- Choose the category 'Other Activities' and tap 'Open Weekend'.
- Scroll to 19th or 20th July, and find an open weekend activity that interests you.
- Click "Book" and confirm the booking.
You can also book activities through the Better UK app. After setting up your account:
- Tap the menu at the top-left and select "My Clubs."
- Tap the plus button and choose a leisure centre.
- Choose the category 'Other Activities' and tap 'Open Weekend'.
- Scroll to 19th or 20th July, and find an open weekend activity that interests you.
- Click "Book" and follow the steps to confirm.
Exclusions: Please note not all activities are available at every centre, please refer to the timetable above. Booking is recommended as spaces are limited and we cannot accommodate walk ins unless spaces are still available. Only ‘Open Day’ activities are free, standard admission and charges apply for regular timetabled activities.
We look forward to your visit on our National Open Weekend