Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex is Walton-on-Thames’s largest public sports, swimming and fitness centre. It sits on Waterside Drive beside the River Thames and brings together two swimming pools, a large gym, fitness studios, an indoor climbing wall, a health suite, an eight-court sports hall, soft play and a Costa Coffee under one roof.
The centre is managed by Places Leisure in partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council, and is open to members and casual pay-as-you-go visitors alike. The adjoining Xcel Sports Hub, with its own athletics track and football pitches, is a separate but connected facility used by local clubs.
Before you go: opening hours, class timetables, prices and activities can all change. This page was checked against the official Places Leisure site in July 2026; always confirm current details there before making a special trip.
At a glance
- Address: Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 2JG
- Telephone: 01932 260300
- what3words: ///chill.atomic.saving
- Operator: Places Leisure, in partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council
- Parking: large free on-site car park with disabled spaces
- Nearest bus stop: the 564 stops directly outside
- Main facilities: two swimming pools, gym, fitness studios, climbing wall, health suite, eight-court sports hall, floodlit outdoor football pitch, soft play, Costa Coffee
- Official site: placesleisure.org
Opening hours
The building’s general opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday: 6am to 10pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 7am to 9pm
These are the building’s overall hours: the pools, gym, climbing wall, health suite and children’s activities each run to their own timetables within that window, and some (like the health suite and climbing wall) keep shorter hours of their own. Check the current timetables before travelling, especially around bank holidays.
Swimming
Elmbridge Xcel has two indoor pools:
- A 25-metre, eight-lane main pool, used for lane swimming, general public swimming, family sessions, swimming lessons, aqua classes, club training and competitions.
- A separate 20-metre teaching pool, used mainly for children’s lessons, beginners and family sessions in a smaller, more manageable setting.
Swimming lessons follow the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework, with programmes for babies and toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-age children and adults of all abilities, plus private one-to-one tuition and intensive holiday courses. Children on the lesson programme get free swimming in selected public sessions. Beyond lessons, the pools also support aquatic skills training including competitive swimming, lifesaving and water polo.
Elmbridge Phoenix Swimming Club, a member club of over 300 swimmers, trains at the centre.
View the current swimming timetable
Gym and fitness
The gym floor includes treadmills, cross trainers, exercise bikes, rowing machines, resistance and cable machines, a free-weights area, kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, medicine balls, BOX12 and TRX functional training equipment, and wheelchair-adaptable equipment options.
New members can access EGYM-based Activate and Focus sessions to get familiar with the equipment and build a personalised programme, and every machine has a QR code linking to a video tutorial.
Gym opening hours match the building’s general hours (6am–10pm weekdays, 7am–9pm weekends).
Fitness classes
The studio timetable includes Les Mills classes (Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Step, Core), group cycling (Coach by Colour and The Trip Virtual), yoga, Pilates and aqua-based classes, alongside a dedicated hot yoga and hot Pilates studio heated to around 35–37°C. View current fitness classes for the full weekly timetable, since it changes regularly, and beginners should read a class description before booking.
Junior gym
Supervised junior gym sessions run for young people aged 11 to 15, each requiring a mandatory 30-minute group introduction (£4.20) before independent use.
Health suite
The health suite, added as part of the centre’s 2024 redevelopment, includes two steam rooms, a sauna, a salt room and heated relaxation loungers, just steps from the gym.
- Monday to Friday: 6am to 9pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 7am to 8pm
Access is included with qualifying memberships, or available on a health-suite-only membership from around £30 a month, or pay-as-you-go.
Indoor climbing wall
The climbing wall is 12.5 metres high, with 18 roped climbing lines and 14 auto-belay lines across more than 50 routes, graded from around 4 to 7c and reset regularly by professional route setters.
- Monday to Wednesday: 2pm to 9.45pm
- Thursday and Friday: 4pm to 9.45pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 6pm
Children’s Adventure Climb sessions (instructor-led, 60 minutes, around £15) are available from age four. Independent climbing has a minimum age of 14, and 14–16 year-olds must complete 10 supervised sessions before climbing unsupervised.
Sports hall and outdoor football pitch
The eight-court sports hall hosts badminton, court sports and programmed sessions, available to hire by members and non-members alike; book ahead for evenings and weekends.
A separate full-size floodlit synthetic football pitch at the leisure complex can be divided for smaller-sided games. It has its own changing facilities and is booked separately from the adjoining Sports Hub pitches, so confirm which facility you’re hiring.
Soft play and children’s activities
The soft-play area sits next to the Costa Coffee seating, so parents and carers can stay close by.
Prices:
- Under 1: £1.25
- Ages 2–3: £5.25
- Ages 4+: £7.75
- Adults and spectators: free
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm
- Saturday: 8.30am to 11.30am
- Sunday: 9am to 6pm
Beyond soft play, the centre runs a gymnastics programme (British Gymnastics’ Rise Gymnastics scheme, with progress tracked through the Course Hub) and trampolining (Trampolining Proficiency Awards Scheme). Active Play and Bounce (a bouncy castle, ball pit and soft play combined) runs Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 9.30–11am (under-5s in term time, under-8s in the holidays).
Children’s parties cover soft play, climbing, pool inflatables, bounce and jungle-run themes, for groups of 6–40, with packages generally ranging from around £130 to £370.
View family and children’s activities
Costa Coffee and swim shop
An on-site Costa Coffee overlooks the pools, open Monday to Friday 8am–6pm and Saturday–Sunday 8am–5pm.
A Zoggs swim shop stocks swimwear, goggles, training aids and pool toys, with staff able to order items not in stock.
Changing rooms and lockers
Changing rooms, showers and lockers are provided for pool, gym and sports users, including accessible changing rooms and showers. Lockers need a padlock; bring your own or buy one from reception.
Accessibility
Elmbridge Xcel’s accessible facilities include:
- Accessible parking close to the entrance
- Step-free access, a passenger lift to the first floor, and wheelchair-accessible turnstiles
- A hearing induction loop at reception
- IFI-accredited gym equipment
- A pool dipper hoist and accessible pool-entry chair
- Accessible changing rooms and showers
Contact the centre on 01932 260300 ahead of your visit if you have specific access requirements.
Membership and pay-as-you-go
Most activities are available pay-as-you-go without a full membership; you may need to set up a free Places account first. Previously published monthly membership starting prices:
- Premium (gym, swim and classes): from £62
- Swimming only: from £32
- Premium, age 16–18: from £32
- Premium, age 19–25: from £42
- Health suite only: from around £30
Prices, joining fees and included activities can change; compare current memberships on the official site.
Xcel Sports Hub
The Xcel Sports Hub sits alongside the main leisure complex and has its own outdoor football and athletics facilities:
- An eight-lane floodlit athletics track to UK Athletics standard, with a central field-events area
- Two full-size floodlit 3G football pitches, plus a full-size grass pitch that converts into mini-pitches
- Six changing rooms and a combined club room
- A divisible function room with bar and kitchen facilities
- Covered spectator seating for more than 500
- A children’s playground and a dog-walking strip
The Sports Hub is home to Walton and Hersham FC, Walton and Hersham United Juniors FC and Walton Athletics Club. It may use different entrances, booking arrangements and changing facilities from the main leisure centre, so check with your club before you visit.
Read Elmbridge Borough Council’s venue information
Meeting rooms and venue hire
Meeting rooms and activity spaces at the leisure centre, and the Sports Hub’s function room with bar and kitchen facilities, can be hired for meetings, courses, community activities, parties and club events. Contact reception on 01932 260300 to check capacity, catering and availability.
History
A council leisure centre has stood on this Waterside Drive site since the 1970s. In April 2023, Elmbridge Borough Council awarded Places Leisure a new leisure management contract running to 2033, alongside a £6 million investment programme covering a new health suite, an immersive cycling studio, a new climbing wall, an extended fitness suite, a Costa Coffee outlet and a new soft-play area. The health suite opened to the public in 2024.
Getting to Elmbridge Xcel
Address: Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 2JG
By car: A large free car park is on site, with disabled parking close to the entrance. It can get busy during swimming lessons, weekday evenings, weekends, school holidays and Sports Hub events.
By bus: The 564 stops directly outside the centre on Waterside Drive. Check current times before travelling, especially on Sundays and bank holidays.
By train: Walton-on-Thames is the nearest railway station, but the leisure centre is some distance from it; plan on a bus, taxi, bicycle or lift rather than walking, particularly if you’re carrying sports kit or travelling with young children.
Frequently asked questions
Is “Elmbridge Excel” the same as Elmbridge Xcel?
Yes. The official spelling is Xcel, but the venue is very often searched for and written as “Elmbridge Excel Leisure Centre.” Both refer to the same site on Waterside Drive.
Is parking free?
Yes, there’s a large free on-site car park with disabled parking near the entrance. It can be busy at peak times.
Can I visit without a membership?
Yes. Swimming, gym sessions, fitness classes, climbing, soft play and court hire are all available pay-as-you-go, though you may need to register a free Places account first.
How long are the pools?
The main pool is 25 metres with eight lanes; the separate teaching pool is 20 metres.
Does it have a sauna?
Yes. The health suite has a sauna, two steam rooms, a salt room and heated loungers.
Can children use the climbing wall?
Yes. Instructor-led Adventure Climb sessions are available from age four; independent climbing has a minimum age of 14.
How high is the climbing wall?
12.5 metres, with 18 roped lines and 14 auto-belay lines across 50+ routes.
Is Elmbridge Xcel close to the railway station?
Not really. It’s some distance from Walton-on-Thames station, so a bus, taxi or bike is usually more practical than walking.
Does it have a café?
Yes, an on-site Costa Coffee overlooking the pools.
Editorial note
This page is an independent local guide produced by Walton-on-Thames.org. We are not the operator of Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex and can’t take bookings, amend memberships or confirm live availability; for that, contact Places Leisure directly on 01932 260300 or via placesleisure.org.
Sources checked July 2026: Places Leisure: Elmbridge Xcel, swimming lessons, climbing, family & kids, fitness & health, more info / access, Elmbridge Borough Council venue page, council £6m refurbishment announcement, Surrey Live local history coverage of the original Waterside Drive leisure centre.