wellness
Kensington Parks Launch Free Outdoor Fitness Circuits With Pull-Up Stations
Kensington parks provide equipped stations for pull-ups, squats and running drills without any entry fees.
How we reported this
Kensington residents gained five new free outdoor fitness circuits this year after the Royal Borough completed upgrades at two major parks.
Summer demand has risen sharply since the council removed indoor gym subsidies in January 2025, pushing more locals toward park equipment that stays open from dawn until 10pm. Borough records show 3,400 registered users accessed the sites in the first quarter of 2026, a 28 percent increase over the same period last year.
Two circuits that draw steady crowds
Holland Park’s main station sits on the north side along Holland Walk, with eight pieces of equipment including parallel bars, a leg press and a rowing simulator installed in 2023. The circuit runs a 400-metre loop marked by painted arrows that connect the stations. A second set of equipment opened last spring at Kensington Memorial Park off St Quintin Avenue, featuring pull-up bars, battle ropes and balance beams spaced every 50 metres along the eastern fence line.
Both locations receive weekly checks from the borough’s parks team, and users report that rubber flooring added in April keeps surfaces usable after rain. Local running clubs meet at the Holland Park site on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for group circuits that last 45 minutes.
Practical steps for first-time users
Council data from the 2025 parks survey lists average daily visits at 87 people across the two sites, with peak hours between 7am and 9am. No bookings are required, though the Memorial Park circuit can fill quickly on weekends when families use the adjacent playground. Visitors are advised to bring water and to wipe down shared handles, following signs posted at each entrance.
Anyone new to the equipment can follow the illustrated panels installed beside each station, which show three difficulty levels. For personalised guidance, residents contact the borough’s active lifestyles team through the council website or drop by the information desk at the Kensington Central Library on Hornton Street.