The brand-new Woolwich Waves leisure centre, named by local residents, opened its doors on 1^st January 2026, replacing the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich.

Council Leader Anthony Okereke said: “I can’t wait to see the look on residents’ faces when they visit for the first time. Woolwich Waves is once again proof that we not only get things done in Greenwich, but we get things done to an incredibly high standard so that residents can enjoy them for generations to come.”

Designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects and built by Morgan Sindall Construction, with engineering support from Buro Happold, Woolwich Waves is a state-of-the-art facility that offers an 8-lane, 25m swimming pool, a training pool with sensory and interactive lights, a leisure pool with jets and a jacuzzi, two water slides and a splash zone; a health suite with a sauna and steam room, a two-storey gym, a six-court sports hall; a five-a-side football pitch; a multi-purpose exercise studio, squash courts; a soft play area, and a cafe. The rooftop solar panels sustainably contribute towards the heating of the building.

Ustigate is incredibly proud to have worked with all of the teams involved in the design and build of Woolwich Waves. Our design team identified aquatic ways in which the leisure pool could be enhanced for all ages groups, incorporating a row of stimulating Rooster Tail water jets along a wall and overhead features that spray into the pool. The leisure pool is a lovely bubbly place to be with its jacuzzi, Pool Bubbler jets and water features that offer a multitude of incoming splashes.

The aquatic play mix is guaranteed to entertain large quantities of water players at every given time; with climbing and sliding options for the youngest of aquatic enthusiasts, right up to the confident thrill seekers looking for the tallest water slide possible and the fastest descent back to ground.

The splash zone is a hub of aquatic play activity with a Cascade Loop that offers flow play for a group of children with accessible water channels, weirs, funnels and orbs and several products from award-winning Explora, a Vortex collection that engages children to move, push, pull, spin and splash! There is a water spraying Frog and Snail, known to be fun-loving favourites amongst toddlers and two water cannons and an award-winning Astra No.2 with three tipping buckets, known to be popular with those that arrive with water-confidence and ambition to get soaked! Some of the exciting water features are situated in shallow water and others are situated without water depth, ensuring Woolwich Waves offers accessible and inclusive water play for everyone.

The new Woolwich Waves in Woolwich town centre smashed all expectations in its first week of full opening (1st January 2026 – 7th January 2026); receiving three times the number visiting the previous facilities! Family fun swims in the leisure pools proved to be the most popular – with around 6000 visitors in the first 3 days to the flumes and splash pad. The two-level gym, health and wellbeing facilities and the Elevate Studio for Bootcamp (HIIT) Fitness Classes were busy too.

Richard Gallagher, GLL Partnership Manager for Greenwich said:

“Woolwich Waves is the first-class replacement for the much-loved Waterfront Leisure Centre which had served Woolwich residents proudly for 36 years.”

“GLL are over the moon to have been entrusted by The Royal Borough of Greenwich to operate their brand-new facility with a remit to get more people active.”

“It has certainly got off to a great start this new year with visitor numbers up 300% compared to the same period last year at the old centre.”

Woolwich Waves is operated by GLL (Better) in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich. To book any of the activities, please visit here: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/greenwich/woolwich-waves/facilities