Littledown Centre to get a £1m gym upgrade from BH Live
BH Live will spend £1 million on the gym and fitness facilities at Bournemouth's Littledown Centre, a year after a £400,000 changing room refit.
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Littledown Centre, one of Bournemouth's biggest leisure centres, is getting a £1 million upgrade to its gym and fitness facilities. The money comes from BH Live, the charity and social enterprise that runs the centre in partnership with BCP Council, the unitary authority for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The investment was reported by the Bournemouth Echo on Thursday 24 September 2026 and confirmed in BH Live's own announcement. It follows a £400,000 refit of the centre's changing rooms last year.
What will the £1 million pay for?
The money is for the gym and fitness side of the centre. BH Live has not yet said exactly what will change: it says plans for the gym, including improvements to the customer experience, will be announced in the coming weeks.
That means there is no confirmed start date, finish date or word yet on whether parts of the gym will close while work is done. Members should watch for BH Live's detailed plans before assuming any disruption.
Rob Cunningham, BH Live's director of leisure and business development, said the investment shows the charity's commitment to healthier, more active communities, and to keeping Littledown a good place to reach fitness goals for years to come.
Why does Littledown matter?
Littledown is one of the largest leisure facilities on the south coast. BH Live says it records more than 1.2 million attendances a year, holds the QUEST quality accreditation and has won a National Fitness Award for local authority and leisure trust gym of the year.
Alongside the large gym, the centre has several fitness studios, a 25-metre pool and a learner pool, a sports hall, floodlit 3G pitches, soft play, a café and a bar. As a charity, BH Live puts any surplus back into its venues, which also include the Bournemouth International Centre and the Pavilion.
What it means for residents and long-stay guests
For residents who already use Littledown, the next few weeks should bring the detail: what equipment changes, when, and how the work will be phased. Our guide to leisure centres in Bournemouth lists the alternatives if part of the gym does close for a spell.
For anyone in Bournemouth for a month or more, a gym is often the first thing to sort after the Wi-Fi. Littledown is on the eastern side of town, close to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, so it suits healthcare staff on placement; our piece on NHS staff accommodation in Bournemouth covers the practical side of those stays. People moving here for work will find more in relocating to Bournemouth for work.
The Bournemouth Guide's long stays guide and its guide to getting around Bournemouth without a car help with the routine of a longer stay. Flexiestays offers monthly stays in Bournemouth from 28 nights, and the Help Centre explains what is included in the monthly rate.
BH Live also runs the town's big stages, and its autumn and winter season at the BIC and Pavilion is the other half of its autumn news.
Frequently asked questions
BH Live is investing £1 million in the gym and fitness facilities. It says the detailed plans will be revealed in the coming weeks, so timings and any disruption to members are not yet known.
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, runs the centre in partnership with BCP Council. It reinvests any surplus into its venues and services.
