Gyms, swims, museums and books are back - read all about it

Leisure centres and venues are re-opening and services restarting after the spring lockdown. Salford Community Leisure (SCL) staff have been working hard to welcome back visitors and members safely.

Dive in or get back to the gym

If you need to shift some lockdown pounds, keep fit or re-start your fitness regime Worsley, Irlam and Cadishead, Eccles, Swinton and Pendlebury and Broughton leisure centres are now open.

They offer gym sessions, group exercise classes and swimming. Pre-booking online or via the SCL app is now essential for all activities on offer. Existing members need to unfreeze their membership before they can pre-book classes or attend the centres. Simply complete a request to unfreeze form online and look out for a reply confirmation. If you’re not already a member, you can join online now. Find the right membership for you from the range of options available including All Inclusive, Daytime, Over 70s or Junior Memberships. The Pay and Play option enables non-members to use the gym, enjoy a group exercise class or go for a swim. Family swim sessions are also back on across the pools in the city and already proving popular with young families. Check out the timetable for your local pool. Try something new

If you’ve never tried paddleboarding, kayaking or wake boarding, head down to the Helly Hansen Watersports Centre at Salford Quays.

The open hire sessions give you the chance to try stand up paddleboarding or kayaking. You can book online and get the whole family out on the water together (children must be eight years old or older). The centre is also home to Greater Manchester’s only cable wake park which is 160 metres long. It’s perfect for beginners or more experienced wakeboarders who can reach speeds of up to 37 kilometres per hour and the range of cutting edge obstacles enable riders to complete air tricks. There’s also supervised open water swimming for experienced swimmers, with wetsuits to hire to combat the cold if you don’t have your own.

Read all about it

The Height, Cadishead, Eccles, Little Hulton and Winton libraries are open once again and work continues to get larger libraries in Gateway centres and Broughton Hub back in business.

As well as digital services like BorrowBox where you can download books to read, you can also book a one-hour slot to use one of the computers. With the call and collect service you can arrange to collect books from the library porch and order up to 10 books for collection.

Walk back in time

Ordsall Hall, Salford’s oldest building, has opened its doors and grounds to visitors.

Enjoy a pre-booked guided tour to learn all about the hall’s history and the ghosts who are said to live there. There’s a café with tempting treats and refreshments and visitors can also take a walk or relax in the impressive gardens. Enjoy a combined cream tea and tour at Ordsall Hall in the16th century Great Hall followed by an optional stewarded private tour of the hall. You can even upgrade on the day and add a glass of Prosecco for £4.50.

Or for something completely, try the new Cocktail Club on Thursday afternoons at Ordsall Hall. Enjoy three garden themed cocktails with savoury nibbles which will take place outside on sunny days. You can book for up to six people in your bubble and it is perfect for birthdays and special celebrations. Take a walk down a Victorian street at Lark Hill Place at Salford Museum and Art Gallery and delve into the city’s heritage. The local history library is also open for tracing your family history or discovering Salford’s colourful past. For visits to Lark Hill Place or the local history library, remember to book online in advance.

Time for tea

The cafes at Clifton Country Park and Parr Fold Park are open offering a range of refreshments, hot and cold snacks and ice creams.

Whether you’re out exploring, getting some exercise or simply taking the kids to the swings, call in and enjoy a break.

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