Oxford Sports and Outdoor Activities

(Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK)

There are lots of sports clubs at Oxford university, meaning that there are frequent matches and tournaments for spectators to enjoy. Opened in 1997, the Kassam Stadium is the home ground of the Oxford United Football Club, being built at the cost of £15 million and capable of accommodating more than 12,000 seated spectators. Occasional concerts are staged at the stadium, with Elton John performing here in the past, in front of a crowd exceeding 20,000 people.

Also popular in Oxford is rugby and various rugby union games are played at the Kassam Stadium. If you are looking for a local gym, then the list of fitness centres is certainly an extensive one. Alternatively, there are several swimming pools (indoor and out), cricket pitches, playing fields, bowling greens in local parks (such as Blackbird Leys, Botley and Florence Park), go-kart racing, a greyhound racing stadium and even an ice skating rink.

Rugby Union

The Oxford University Rugby Club has a large following. There are regular local rugby matches played during the rugby season, although most popular match, the Varsity Match against rivals Cambridge, actually takes place in Tickenham. Held each year in early December, this match dates back almost 150 years and is watched by literally millions on the television.

United Football / Soccer

Address: Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1865 337533
Football is one of the most popular spectator sports in the area and the city's main football team is named Oxford United. Regular football matches take place during the season at Kassam Stadium on Grenoble Road, which is located on the south-easterly outskirts of the city and comes with excellent facilities.

Cricket

There are an increasing number of amateur cricket teams in Oxford and the surrounding area, although at present, cricket is still a minority sport in the city.

Fitness Centres and Gyms

There are numerous well-equipped fitness and sports centres in central Oxford, with excellent state-of-the-art weight training equipment, as well as plenty of aerobics courses and personal trainers. Most gyms tend to open seven days a week, from early in the morning until late at night.

Abbey Sports Centre
Address: Green Furlong, Berinsfield, Wallingford, OX10 7NR, England

Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre
Address: Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, OX4 5JL, England

Carterton Community Sports Hall
Address: Carterton Community College, Upavon Way, Carterton, OX18 1BU, England

Didcot Leisure Centre
Address: Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AY, England

East Oxford Games Hall
Address: 5 Collins Street, Oxford, OX4 1XS , England

Ferry Sports Centre
Address: Diamond Place, Oxford OX2 7DP, England

Go Bananas Sports Centre
Address: 34-36 Market Square, Witney, OX28 6BB, England

Kidlington and Gosford Sports Centre
Address: Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 2NU, England

Northway Sports Centre
Address: Maltfield Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9RG, England

Old Fire Station Sports Centre
Address: 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ, England

Oxford Brookes University Centre For Sports
Address: Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BD, England

Regal Sports and Social Centre
Address: St. Martins Street, Wallingford, OX10 0AL, England

South Oxfordshire Leisure Ltd
Address: 6a Hithercroft Road, Lupton Road, Wallingford, OX10 9BT, England

Spiceball Park Sports Centre
Address: Spiceball Park Road, Banbury, OX16 2PG, England

Sport Management Associates Ltd
Address: 9 Blenheim Road, Shirburn, Watlington, OX49 5DN, England

Thame Sports and Arts Centre
Address: Oxford Road, Thame, OX9 2BB, England

The Castle Leisure Centre
Address: St. Georges Road, Wallingford, OX10 8LP, England

The Wizard Cricket Co. Ltd
Address: Laundry Cottage, Back Lane, Bampton, OX18 2DQ, England

Tilsley Park Sports Centre
Address: Dunmore Road, Abingdon, OX14 1PU, England

Wantage Leisure Centre
Address: Portway, Wantage, OX12 9BU, England

Westminster Leisure Centre
Address: Harcourt Hill, Oxford, OX2 9AT, England

White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre
Address: Audlett Drive, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3PJ, England

Windrush Leisure Centre
Address: Witan Way, Witney, OX28 4YA, England

Woodgreen Leisure Centre
Address: Woodgreen Avenue, Banbury, OX16 0AT, England

Hinksey Swimming Pool

Address: Lake Street, Oxford, OX1 4RP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1865 467079
Located on the southern side of the city and close to the South Oxford Community Centre, the Hinksey Swimming Pool is a large open-air pool and is always popular with both locals and visitors during the summer months, weather permitting. The Hinksey Pool is surprisingly historic and dates back as far as 1934.
Open hours: late April to September, Monday to Friday - 07:30 to 09:00, 10:00 to 18:00

Temple Cowley Pools

Address: Temple Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX2 2EZ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1865 467110
Close to Cowley Road, the Temple Cowley Pools centre is home to three large indoor swimming pools, with lessons, spectator seating, a café and a related shop.
Open hours: Monday to Wednesday, 06:00 to 16:30, Thursday and Friday - 06:00 to 22:00, Saturday - 08:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 08:00 to 19:00
Open hours: daily

Kartex Grand Prix

Address: Hanger T2, Grove Technology Park, Downs View Road, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 9FA, England
Tel: +44 (0)1235 772321
Situated roughly 30 minutes to the south-west of Oxford, in the nearby market town of Wantage, the Kartex Grand Prix is a popular indoor racing circuit with excellent karting facilities.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 12:00 to 22:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:30 to 22:00

Karting Oxford

Address: Oxford Stadium, Sandy Lane, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 6LJ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1865 717134
Karting Oxford, close to Cowley Road and just across from the city's Greyhound Stadium, is a popular outdoor racing circuit with a stadium area, floodlights and a café.
Open hours: daily

Ice Rink

Address: Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX, England
Tel: +44 (0)1865 467000
The city's Ice Rink can be found in central Oxford and is a large rink with good skating facilities, such as instructors, classes, disco nights and a café area.
Open hours: daily