Wycombe Leisure Centre is the big council-owned sports centre at Handy Cross, right by junction 4 of the M40 — pools, a gym, a climbing wall, a sports hall and squash courts under one roof. It's run by Places Leisure on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council, and it's open to everyone, whether you've got a membership or just want a one-off swim with the kids on a wet Saturday.
Here's what's actually there, how the swimming and classes work, what it costs and where to park.
The pools
The headline act is a 50m, eight-lane competition pool. Most of the time it's split by a movable boom into two 25m halves, so lane swimmers get one end while lessons or clubs use the other.
Alongside it is a 20m, four-lane community pool, which is warmer and better suited to little ones and beginners, plus a splashpad for toddlers. Top tip if you're using the splashpad — bring your towels with you! My daughters used to love splashing around here while I unceremoniously shivered on the sidelines after a session in the pool.
A few sessions worth knowing about:
Lane swimming — split by speed, bookable through the timetable or the Places Leisure app
Family Fun inflatable sessions — over-5s only (with parents in water, over 8s can have parents out of the water), life jackets on, and they need to be able to swim 15m in 2m-deep water. I tried this out with my 6 year old and a few pals the other day — SO much fun!
Aquafit — several aqua classes a week, listed on the timetable
Ladies only swimming — Thursdays, 8pm–8.45pm in the community pool, with a female lifeguard wherever they can
For post-swim recovery there's a sauna and steam room (over-16s only). The front desk staff told me that it's included for members but non-members can buy a separate ticket for it. Health suite hours run from 7.30am on weekdays and 8am at weekends.
The pool is also home to local clubs including Wycombe District Swimming Club, Bourne End Swimming Club, High Wycombe Sub Aqua Club, and Horizon Sports Club for disabled children aged 6 and up.
Swimming lessons for children and adults run regularly — more on that later!
Gym and fitness classes
The gym is big — around 150 stations — with cardio, resistance machines, a free weights area and a functional training zone with kettlebells, slam balls and plyo boxes. Members get free one-to-one Activate and Focus sessions to build a programme, and the kit has QR codes that pull up video tutorials.
Gym hours are longer than the rest of the building: 5.30am–10pm weekdays, 5.30am–7pm Saturdays and 7am–7pm Sundays.
Classes run across the studios, the indoor cycling studio and the pool:
Les Mills — Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Balance, Body Attack and Sh'bam
Group cycling in the dedicated cycling studio
Fight Klub — punchbag combat workouts set to drum and bass
Aquafit and other pool classes
Gentler studio sessions, plus chair-based exercise
You don't need a membership to use the gym. Day visitors can create a free Places account online and pay per visit. I've done this a few times while my kids have been at inflatable parties downstairs.
Worth knowing: the gym is wheelchair-accessible, with adaptable kit including an upper body ergometer and cable machines. There's also a GP exercise referral scheme, cardiac and cancer rehab classes, Parkinson's Move & Shout, and a Move Through Menopause course on Friday evenings.
Teenagers: 11–15s can use the gym after a 30-minute group induction, with supervised junior sessions after school on weekdays and on weekend mornings and afternoons. The Big Sister project offers free or half-price memberships for girls aged 9–15.
Climbing, sports and the rest of the building
The climbing wall
You'll see it as soon as you walk through the doors and there are plenty of tables and chairs nearby if you fancy watching the climbers while you sip on a coffee. The wall is around 10m high, with 17 roped lines (up to eight of them auto-belay) and 50-plus routes graded from 4+ to 7b, reset monthly.
New to it? Adventure Climb (ages 4+, £16.50) is an hour on the auto-belays with an instructor — a brilliant rainy-day option for kids. Adults wanting to climb independently can book Rock Start sessions (£22, 16+), which teach you enough to pass the safety test in three or four weeks. Kit hire is £4.10 for one item or £6 for two.
Already climb? Pass a safety test and you can turn up whenever the wall's open. There's a Cake & Climb social on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8pm–9.30pm, if you need a partner.
The wall opens from 4pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 2pm Wednesday to Friday, and 9am at weekends, closing at 9.45pm weekdays and 6.45pm weekends.
Sports hall, squash and bowls
12-court sports hall — badminton, five-a-side, trampolining courses and more
Two squash courts
Four-rink indoor bowls hall
Fencing courses, taught by certified instructors
Roller Mania every Friday — family roller skating 5pm–6.45pm (£6.40) and roller disco 7.15pm–9pm (£6.90), with skate hire for £2
Café and meeting rooms
There's a café in the reception area overlooking the pool and climbing wall — very handy for parents watching lessons. Meeting rooms are available to hire.
Swimming lessons and kids' activities
Swimming lessons
Lessons follow the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework and run for all ages:
Pre-school lessons for babies and toddlers up to 5
School-age lessons through the stages
Aquatic skills — competitive swimming, Rookie Lifesaving, synchro and water polo
Adult lessons, whether you're nervous in the water or training for an event
One-to-one lessons and holiday intensives
Most lessons can be booked online, and children on the lesson programme get free swimming in selected public sessions. Parents can follow their progress through the Course Hub.
Both of my kids have done swimming lessons here over the years and they're certainly popular with local families — some lessons sell out quickly if they're at convenient times so it's worth checking the roster regularly for spaces.
I moved my children to a different local swimming club eventually; while they really enjoyed their lessons here, I was looking for slightly smaller classes and the teacher being in the water. Just a personal preference!
For little ones
Active Play & Bounce — inflatable obstacle course and soft play for under-8s, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am. There's a dedicated SEN session on Thursdays, 12.30pm–1.55pm.
Adventure Bounce — 75-minute sessions on the big Air X inflatables (wipeout balls, warped wall, freefall), open to all ages, with extra sessions in the holidays. Not only is this hugely fun but it's a real workout — our family comes regularly and we always have a fantastic time.
Sporting Starts — a six-week course building balance, coordination and agility
Pebbles climbing for 4–6s, then Rock Clubs from age 7 (£42 a month)
Trampolining courses following the British Gymnastics proficiency awards
Birthday parties
The centre does a long list of parties, from pool parties in the community pool to climbing, trampolining, roller disco and inflatable parties. Prices start at around £125 for a trampoline party and go up to £365 for exclusive Adventure Bounce, plus £35 if you want the party room. You can book through the party coordinator on 01494 688100.
I spoke to a staff member about birthday parties and she said they're really popular with local families given as it's easy entertainment for the kids and low-pressure hosting in the party room afterwards.
One top tip though — if you're bringing food and drink in for the party, it might be worth investing in a large camping trolley to cart all your supplies in from the loading bay. You'll have a lot of trips to make otherwise!
Opening hours, prices and memberships
Opening hours
The centre is open from 6am to 10pm on weekdays, and from 7am to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The gym opens a little earlier. It runs from 5.30am to 10pm on weekdays, 5.30am to 7pm on Saturdays and 7am to 7pm on Sundays.
The sauna and steam room are open from 7.30am to 10pm on weekdays and from 8am to 6pm at weekends.
The climbing wall opens at 4pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and at 2pm from Wednesday to Friday, closing at 9.45pm. At weekends it's open from 9am to 6.45pm.
Bank holidays usually run 8am–8pm.
The front desk told me that pool session times change week to week, so it's definitely worth checking the live timetable on the Places Leisure website or app before you set off.
Memberships
A Premium membership covers the gym, swimming and classes, from £53 a month. Younger members pay less for the same thing: £39 a month if you're 19 to 25, and £36 a month if you're 16 to 18.
If you only want one thing, a Gym membership starts at £36 a month and a Swim membership at £35 a month.
All memberships let you book up to 15 days ahead and come with the Places Leisure app.
Not ready to commit? You can pay as you go for swimming, the gym, classes and climbing. You'll need a free Places account to book.
Getting there and parking
Address: Wycombe Leisure Centre, Handy Cross, High Wycombe HP11 1UP (what3words ///wacky.noting.starts). Phone 01494 688100.
By car: it's at the Handy Cross roundabout, just off junction 4 of the M40 and the A404 to Marlow. There's a multi-storey car park on site with 2 hours parking for 60p. I do have a bit of a gripe with the car park: there's only one ticket machine per level and when they're out of order (not entirely unusual 😏), you have to go to a different level — so make sure the kids are with you! If the multi-storey is full, the council's Handy Cross park and ride car park is next door: the first 30 minutes are free, up to 4 hours is £1.50 and up to 10 hours is £3.30. Pay by card at the machine or by app, and Blue Badge holders park free. Saturday mornings get busy, so leave a bit of extra time.
By bus: the Handy Cross coachway and park and ride stop are right opposite, with buses into town and to the train station. Services towards Cressex and Marlow also stop within a short walk.
Accessibility: accessible parking, lifts, a Changing Places toilet, a pool hoist and accessible pool steps, and assistance dogs are welcome.
Wycombe Leisure Centre FAQs
What time does Wycombe Leisure Centre open? 6am to 10pm on weekdays and 7am to 7pm at weekends. The gym opens earlier, at 5.30am on weekdays and Saturdays.
How big is the pool at High Wycombe Leisure Centre? The main pool is 50m with eight lanes, usually split into two 25m halves. There's also a 20m, four-lane community pool and a splashpad.
Can I go without a membership? Yes. Create a free Places account and pay as you go for swimming, the gym, classes or climbing.
Do I need to book a swim? Most sessions are bookable through the timetable or the Places Leisure app, and booking is the safest bet at weekends and in school holidays.
Is there parking? Yes — an on-site multi-storey plus the Handy Cross park and ride car park next door, where the first 30 minutes are free.
Who runs Wycombe Leisure Centre? Places Leisure, in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council. Call 01494 688100.
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