Active Lambeth

What Active Lambeth does

Active Lambeth is the trading name for leisure services operated directly by the London Borough of Lambeth Council, following the council's takeover from previous operator GLL (Better) on 1 April 2023. The organisation runs 9 leisure centres across the borough — Archbishop's Park, Brixton Recreation Centre, Clapham Leisure Centre, Ferndale Community Sports Centre, Flaxman Sports Centre, Herne Hill Lifestyle Centre, Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre, West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre, and Brockwell Lido (heritage outdoor pool since 1937, integrated into the network in 2026). Services span gym facilities (up to 100 stations), swimming pools, an Olympic-sized ice rink, sports halls, soft play, bowling, karaoke rooms, mini-golf, and a multi-sport simulator.

The underlying technology stack is modest and consumer-facing: a WordPress-based website, the Bookly booking system, and a free Active Lambeth mobile app (iOS/Android, powered by Innovatise) that handles class bookings, membership management, QR-code centre access, and integrates with Apple Health and Google Health Connect for fitness tracking. Analytics tooling includes Google Analytics and Hotjar; Wistia supports video content. There are no proprietary technology assets, patents, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

The business model is hybrid: recurring subscription memberships (Boroughwide £65.95/month, Off Peak £47.50/month, Centre Only from £32.55/month), pay-and-play usage fees, structured lessons (swimming, ice skating, gymnastics), corporate memberships, digital gift cards, and facility/space hire. Customer segments include local residents, families, seniors, people with disabilities (via Active Health concessions), schools, and Lambeth-based corporate partners. Active Lambeth operates exclusively within the London Borough of Lambeth, with no disclosed revenue, external investors, or headcount data.

Name

Active Lambeth

Legal name

The London Borough of Lambeth

Website

https://active.lambeth.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Active Lambeth is the London Borough of Lambeth's council-operated leisure service, running 9 leisure centres offering gym, swim, ice skating, lessons, and family entertainment to local residents via memberships, pay-and-play, and corporate programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Leisure Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Trampoline & Active Play Parks (Trampoline, Ninja/Obstacle, Indoor Active Parks) (THAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Climbing & Mountaineering Gyms/Guides (Indoor, Outdoor, Via Ferrata) (THAAAKAG)

Keywords

• Public leisure services
• Leisure centre membership
• Swimming and gym facilities
• Recreation services
• Fitness and family activities

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly direct debit and one-off annual payment memberships providing access to gym, swimming, fitness classes, and other facilities across leisure centres. Includes Off Peak, Centre Only, and Boroughwide options.
2. Pay and Play: Pay-as-you-go access to individual activities and facilities including swimming, gym access, classes, mini-golf, bowling, ice skating, and other recreational activities.
3. Gift Cards: 1-month and 3-month gift cards available for purchase, valid at specific leisure centres.
4. Lessons and Courses: Revenue from swimming lessons, ice skating lessons, gymnastics, and other structured instructional programs.
5. Corporate Memberships: Discounted corporate memberships for Lambeth-based businesses, offering staff discounts and corporate partner benefits.
6. Facility and Space Hire: Hire of sports halls, meeting rooms, function spaces, and outdoor facilities to individuals and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Active Lambeth is a council-operated leisure services platform managing 9 leisure centres across the London Borough of Lambeth. It sells memberships (Boroughwide, Centre Only, Off Peak), pay-as-you-go access to swimming, gym, fitness classes, ice skating, bowls, soft play, mini-golf, karaoke, and a multi-sport simulator, plus structured lessons in swimming, gymnastics, and ice skating, with bookings managed via a mobile app and website.

Product overview

Active Lambeth is a unified leisure services platform operated by the London Borough of Lambeth, providing access to 9 leisure centres across the borough. The platform offers a comprehensive portfolio including membership programs (Boroughwide, Centre Only, Off Peak), facility access (gyms, swimming pools, ice rinks, sports halls), fitness classes, swimming and gymnastics lessons, and family entertainment (soft play, bowling, karaoke, mini-golf, multi-sport simulator). The Active Lambeth mobile app serves as the primary digital interface for booking management, membership access, and fitness tracking. Additional services include therapy treatments, holiday clubs for children, SEND sessions, and corporate partnership programs. The organisation transitioned from GLL in April 2023 and acquired Brockwell Lido in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boroughwide Membership All-inclusive membership providing access to 8 leisure centres across Lambeth, including gym access, multi-gym access, priority booking, free classes, free kids activities, health suite, sauna and steam, and racquets once a week. Priced from £65.95 per month.
• Off Peak Centre Only Membership Membership providing access to one leisure centre at off-peak times, including off-peak gym access, gym induction, swimming, and discounts. Priced from £47.50 per month.
• Centre Only Membership Membership providing access to one specified leisure centre. Price varies depending on centre, starting from £32.55 per month.
• Swimming Lessons Swimming lessons and courses for all ages from non-swimmers to advanced levels, including the International Learn to Swim programme for children and adults.
• Ice Skating Public skating and ice-skating lessons at the Olympic-sized ice rink at Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre, suitable for all ages.
• Gymnastics Gymnastics programs and camps for children and young people, run by experienced instructors with a play-based learning approach.
• Active Putt & Play Mini Golf Outdoor mini-golf course at Ferndale Community Sports Centre inspired by local Lambeth landmarks, with prices starting at £5.25.
• Active Bowling Three-lane bowling alley at Brixton Recreation Centre with colourful, easy-to-use lanes suitable for all ages.
• Karaoke Rooms Private karaoke rooms at Brixton Recreation Centre with over 20,000 songs available in multiple languages.
• Multi-Sport Simulator Interactive simulator at Brixton Recreation Centre offering over 60 different sports and games using real equipment, suitable for ages 7+.
• Family Leisure Zone Family-oriented facilities featuring soft play areas, climbing walls, agility courses, and interactive play equipment at Brixton Recreation Centre.
• Soft Play Areas Soft play facilities for young children at Clapham Leisure Centre (ages 0-5) and Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre (ages 0-7 and 0-8).
• Active Lambeth Therapy Massage and therapy services offered at Active Lambeth centres for relaxation and wellness.
• Holiday Clubs School holiday programs for children aged 8+ featuring games, creative sessions, movement-based activities, arts and crafts, and swimming at Brixton and Streatham centres.
• SEND Sessions Special Educational Needs and Disability sessions empowering every ability across every Active Lambeth centre.
• Active Health Concessions Discounted memberships and programs for individuals with disabilities, adults over 66, and those with health conditions requiring special access arrangements.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available in 1 or 3 month options for membership at participating Active Lambeth leisure centres, delivered by email.
• Corporate Memberships Corporate partnership program offering 10% discount on standard membership prices for Lambeth-based businesses, with additional benefits including VIP goody bags and meeting room hire.
• Facility and Space Hire Hire of sports halls, meeting rooms, function spaces, and outdoor facilities to individuals and organizations.
• Active Lambeth Mobile App Free mobile application for iOS and Android that enables members to book classes, manage bookings, access membership accounts, book swimming lessons, view centre information, and scan QR codes for quick centre access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 45% discount on standard prices for Lambeth residents with concessionary memberships

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fusion Lifestyle: Fusion Lifestyle is a not-for-profit leisure trust that manages public leisure facilities on behalf of local authorities. Directly comparable in its council-contracted, multi-site, mixed-membership model.
• Better (Greenwich Leisure Limited / GLL): Better/GLL is the largest UK charitable leisure operator running council leisure facilities on a contract basis. It was Active Lambeth's predecessor operator until April 2023 and operates an almost identical model (membership subscriptions, pay-and-play, lessons, multi-site council leisure).
• Everyone Active: Everyone Active is a major UK leisure trust managing council leisure centres under contract, offering gyms, swimming, classes, and family activities. Closely comparable to Active Lambeth in service mix and target customers (local residents on subscription + pay-and-play).
• Places Leisure: Places Leisure operates council leisure facilities across the UK on a community-Trust model. Directly comparable service offering (gyms, pools, lessons, memberships) and customer base to Active Lambeth, with similar council-contract governance structure.
• Better UK (legacy): Same as the Better/GLL peer above — captured to reflect that Active Lambeth directly inherited Better's pre-existing member base and facility contract portfolio when it took over.

Broad incumbents

• PureGym: PureGym is the UK's largest budget gym chain with multiple Lambeth-area locations offering 24/7 low-cost memberships. While it does not operate pools, ice rinks, or family leisure zones, it competes directly for Active Lambeth's gym-only and centre-only membership tiers on price and convenience.
• David Lloyd Leisure: David Lloyd is a premium UK health club operator with clubs featuring pools, tennis, family facilities, and group exercise. Comparable in offering a broad family leisure proposition (pools, classes, kids' activities) but at premium price points and as a private operator rather than council-run service.
• The Gym Group: The Gym Group is a UK budget gym chain with locations in/near Lambeth, offering low-cost no-contract memberships. Comparable in competing for Active Lambeth's price-sensitive gym customers, though with a much narrower facility mix.

Regional players

• Southwark Council Leisure Services: Southwark operates council leisure facilities (including the Camberwell Leisure Centre, Peckham Pulse) directly comparable to Active Lambeth's offering in a neighbouring London borough. Same product/customer overlap but geographically separate catchment.
• Westminster City Council - Everyone Active Westminster: Westminster leisure centres are operated by Everyone Active under contract with Westminster City Council, providing a directly comparable council-leisure service in the neighbouring London borough. Same operational template (memberships, lessons, pay-and-play) but a different borough catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LeisureForAll
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/activelambeth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/active-lambeth

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Active Lambeth