Orpington's Leisure Facilities
| Published: 24th April 2008 01:01 |
Orpington is very well appointed when it comes to leisure facilities. The Walnuts Leisure Centre just east of the High Street, has a six-lane, 33.3 metre indoor swimming pool. It is home to Orpington Ojays Swimming Club which competes at county, district and national level. There are also facilities such as squash courts, a fully-equipped gym with sauna and steam room. At the centre there is also a sports hall which can be used to play badminton, basketball, trampolining and fitness classes. The Sports hall is also used for Women's Artistic Gymnastics, being the training venue for Orpington Gymnastic Club.
At the north end of the High Street near the junction of Cray Avenue and Court Road are the Conservation area and Priory Gardens. There you will find a quiet spot away from the hustle and bustle of the town. There you will find a children's play area, a peaceful pond where you can feed the ducks and ornate arts and crafts-style gardens. The pond is the source of the River Cray which gives the area (Cray Valley) its name. The Priory, outbuildings and walls are all Grade II listed. Indeed the thirteenth century Priory is the only Grade II building in the Borough that gives free access to the public year round.
Also in the gardens can be found the Bromley Museum which is home to some permanent collections as well as being the venue for some great exhibitions throughout the year. Orpington Library (which is the 10th most used library in the Capital!) also is found in these pleasant surroundings. Here too there are exhibitions and themed events throughout the year.
Near to the town you can also find facilities at Priory School such as floodlit synthetic hockey and football pitches, three outdoor tennis courts, two netball courts, four outdoor cricket nets as well as a sports hall and gym.
There are rugby, football and cricket pitches in Goddington Park- this is the home for Westcombe Park RFC, Orpington Cricket Club and Orpington Football Club. Westcombe Park RFC is one of Kent's premier clubs, competing in National Division Two (only two leagues away from premiership rugby).
Other activities include the Orpington Road Runners who meet every Tuesday near The Buff Pub (Green Street Green) and on Sundays at High Elms Country Park. Bromley Indoor Bowls Club is situated off Gillmans Road whilst lawn bowls is played at the Excelsior Club in Poverest Recreation Ground. Knoll Lawn Tennis Club has five tarmac courts tucked away among the houses of Mayfield Avenue. Newstead Wood School for Girls is the home of the Bromley Tennis Centre which has six indoor courts and four floodlit outdoor courts)
Source is Wikipedia
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