Get fit for free in Stratford, London

Whether you’ve set a New Year goal to run a marathon, hit 10,000 steps a day or just want to fit a little more movement into your week, there are hundreds of free ways you can reach your fitness targets in 2020.

These days there’s no need for an expensive gym membership to get you motivated. Often it’s just a little bit of fresh air, some team spirit and a common goal that’s required.

We’ve come up with the best ways for you to get fit for free in Stratford this year - from the best running routes to free bootcamp classes, you’ll find the perfect activity for you.

One of the best ways to keep fit without spending hours in the gym is by walking more.

If you work in the local area, why not make the most of your lunch hour and step outside to explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP). There are miles of tracks for you to wander down – if you work at IQL you could even take a walking meeting to get you away from your desk.

The best walks aren’t limited to the local parks either. Moments away from Stratford are the canals of East London, The Jubilee Greenway or The Lee Valley. We’ve rounded up our favourite areas to explore here.

With acres of park land in the area, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a running route in Stratford, London.

Whether you choose to run around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Victoria Park, Hackney marshes or you just fancy pounding the streets of East London, you’ll rack up the miles in no time.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have created a handy map to outline the most popular routes in the park - you can download it here.

Don’t fancy running alone? You’re in luck. Throughout the year there are hundreds of running events for you to sign up to. From the popular weekly Park Run to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park half marathon, you’ll find something for every ability and goal.

If you’re not sure where to start, then read our guide to the most popular running events throughout the year or explore upcoming events to join here.

Join a free Our Park class in East Village’s Victory Park

Our Parks has been created to introduce fun, free fitness classes to a park near to you. Led by qualified instructors, you’ll benefit from group motivation as well as expert knowledge. You can even bring little ones with you so you can get fit as a family.

On the Our Park website you’ll find a list of available classes in your area. Victory Park in East Village offers a range of exercise classes suitable for all - from yoga to a weekly bootcamp. All for free!
Simply sign up on the Our Park website and then view the available classes at Victory Park.

Take things into your own hands and workout without spending a penny.

If you don’t fancy a pricy gym subscription, you can find a place in the park and enjoy a quick HIIT workout with the best view in East London.

HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training is a great way of building stamina and burning fat in just 25-40 minutes. Perfect for those who are tight on time, they’re easy to fit into your schedule.

Not sure where to start? Head to Youtube for follow-along workouts or to get some inspiration to build your own. With a little dedication, you’ll be seeing results in no time at all.

Ok, so there is an associated cost, but there are a number of reasonably priced gyms in London Stratford. To find out more, read our article on the best gyms in the area.