Leighton Buzzard’s New £33.9m Leisure Centre to Open 27 June With Olympic and Paralympic Stars

A £33.9m investment in sport, wellbeing and community — opening this month with a free Family Fun Day.

Leighton Buzzard is preparing to welcome one of the most significant community facilities in Bedfordshire’s recent history, as the brand-new Leighton Leisure and Community Centre prepares to throw open its doors on Saturday 27 June 2026 — complete with appearances from two of Britain’s most celebrated sporting heroes.

Olympic athletics legend Colin Jackson CBE and Paralympic swimming champion Maisie Summers-Newton MBE will be on hand to officially open the £33.9 million facility, joining residents for a free Family Fun Day packed with activities, tours and entertainment for all ages.

A £33.9m Investment in Leighton Buzzard

The centre represents the largest single investment in leisure infrastructure in Central Bedfordshire in a generation. Built on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council and operated by Everyone Active, the facility replaces the ageing Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre, which will close its doors at midday on Friday 26 June — just hours before the transition to the new site.

“This is a landmark moment for Leighton Buzzard and for Central Bedfordshire,” a council spokesperson said. “We’ve invested significantly in this facility because we believe that access to high-quality sport and leisure provision is fundamental to community health and wellbeing.”

World-Class Facilities

The new centre offers facilities on a scale that Leighton Buzzard has never previously seen. Highlights include an eight-lane swimming pool with a dedicated learner pool, a 150-station gym — one of the largest in the county — two squash courts, two multi-use studios suitable for classes ranging from yoga to spin, three treatment rooms for community health use and private hire, a flexible community room with kitchenette, and outdoor play areas and a multi-use games area.

The centre has been designed with inclusivity at its core, featuring step-free access throughout and facilities designed to accommodate users of all abilities and fitness levels.

Olympic and Paralympic Stars for the Opening

The choice of opening ambassadors reflects the facility’s sporting ambitions. Colin Jackson CBE held the world indoor record for the 60-metre hurdles for over two decades, while Maisie Summers-Newton MBE won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the 200-metre individual medley. Both will be available for meet-and-greet sessions with the public throughout the day.

“To have two such inspirational figures — one from athletics, one from swimming, both Paralympic and Olympic achievers — is a real statement of intent about what this centre stands for,” said a spokesperson for Everyone Active.

Smooth Transition for Existing Members

Current Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre members need not take any action. Existing memberships will automatically transfer to the new site, with opening times remaining consistent with current arrangements. Anyone wishing to enquire about membership in advance can do so through the Everyone Active website.

The Family Fun Day on 27 June is free to attend with no booking required for most activities. Specific events requiring pre-registration will be announced in the week ahead of opening.

Once open, the centre is expected to serve tens of thousands of residents across Leighton Buzzard, Linslade and surrounding villages, hosting community health programmes, school groups and affiliated sports clubs. For more information, visit centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/llcc.

Sources: Central Bedfordshire Council press release; Leighton Buzzard Online.