London leisure centre one of big winners at ukactive Awards 2026

Judges recognise the impact of GLL's commitment to local community health and wellbeing.

A London leisure centre in Walthamstow is one of six crowned winners at the ukactive Awards 2026 – the UK leisure industry’s most prestigious awards for excellence and best practice across the sector.

Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre is run by GLL, the UK's largest leisure charitable social enterprise, which operates facilities under the 'Better' brand.

Appearing among a roll call of high-street fitness and leisure operators, sports bodies, and charities, GLL’s wins reflect its important role at the heart of community health and wellbeing across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Its commitment, experience, and innovation play an important part in tackling health inequalities by getting more people more active, more often.

GLL's winners were recognized in the Regional Public Club/Centre of the Year category:

Regional Public Leisure Centre of the Year (Northern Ireland and Wales) - Olympia Leisure Centre & Spa
Regional Public Leisure Centre of the Year (London) - Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre
Regional Public Leisure Centre of the Year (South of England) - Rivermead Leisure Centre

Previous years have seen GLL-operated centres win multiple awards, including the Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre (London Regional Public Club/Centre of the Year 2023) and York Leisure Centre (North of England Regional Public Club/Centre of the Year 2025).

Celebrating community health and wellbeing

Simon Sen, GLL's Operations Director, said: “The ukactive Awards 2026 recognise those leisure organisations, programmes, and individuals who are outstanding in improving health equality and wellbeing through physical activity.

“Demonstrably getting more people more active in our clubs and centres up and down the country is a huge endorsement of the great health partnership work with our local authority clients across the UK.

“We are delighted to have achieved three wins this year and could not be prouder of the impact GLL's programmes and people are having in strengthening the wider UK leisure sector.

“Congratulations to all this year's winners."

The winners were announced during the ukactive Awards Ceremony on 8 October 2026 in Birmingham.

For a full list of winners, visit the ukactive Awards winners and finalists page.