One of London’s most iconic venues is opening its doors to the community this month, with a packed day of activities, a celebrity appearance and the chance to explore facilities that hosted some of the most memorable moments of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games — all for just £2 per activity.
The London Aquatics Centre Community Open Day takes place on Sunday 17 May 2026, starting at 10am. Team GB sprinter, Commonwealth gold medallist and television personality Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will be the special guest for the day — attending meet and greet sessions, joining in a Zumba class, and taking part in fitness challenges across the venue. All proceeds from the day’s activities go to two charities: The Ben Kinsella Trust and Breast Cancer Now.
Who Is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey?
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is one of Britain’s most decorated sprinters and one of the most recognisable faces in UK sport and television. He has won medals at each of the past three Commonwealth Games, including gold at Birmingham 2022 and Gold Coast 2018, and is a three-times gold medallist at the European Championships.
Beyond athletics, Harry has built a significant television profile — appearing on Celebrity MasterChef and the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, among other BBC programmes. He is Everyone Active’s inaugural YOU+ Ambassador, a role announced recently that reflects a broader partnership focused on community wellbeing and making leisure facilities genuinely accessible to people at every stage of their fitness journey.
Having spent years training in Everyone Active centres, Harry has described these facilities as “the beating heart of local communities, bringing people together through more than just exercise.”
Booking is strongly encouraged for sessions involving Harry, as demand is expected to be high. Places can be reserved at everyoneactive.com.
What Is Happening on the Day?
The 17 May open day features a full programme of activities running throughout the day, with something genuinely available for every age and fitness level:
Swimming:
- Lane swimming sessions in the centre’s 50-metre main pool — one of only a handful of full-length Olympic pools available to the public in London
- Fun inflatable sessions featuring the giant Atlantis inflatable — a family-friendly water activity that turns the pool into an obstacle course of slides, climbing frames and splash zones
Fitness and gym:
- Gym taster sessions allowing visitors to explore the state-of-the-art equipment
- Personal training taster sessions with qualified instructors
- Fitness challenges across the venue floor
Group exercise:
- A range of group exercise classes designed for all fitness levels — including a high-energy Zumba session that Harry will be joining
- The Zumba session draws on Harry’s well-documented enthusiasm for dance, which has made him a natural fit for this kind of community event format
All activities are priced at £2, with proceeds going to The Ben Kinsella Trust — the anti-knife crime charity founded in memory of teenager Ben Kinsella, who was stabbed to death in Islington in 2008 — and Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity.
About the London Aquatics Centre
The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50-metre swimming pools and a 25-metre diving pool in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, it was one of the main venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, used for the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events.
After significant modification following the Games, the centre opened to the public in March 2014. The iconic wave-like roof — one of Zaha Hadid’s most celebrated structural achievements — makes it one of the most architecturally distinctive sports venues in the world, and one of the few Olympic venues that has genuinely transitioned into everyday community use rather than sitting underused after the Games.
The centre offers a main competition pool, a 50-metre training pool, a dedicated group exercise studio and a state-of-the-art gym. It has been operated by Everyone Active in partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) since April 2024 — part of the LLDC’s broader mission to ensure that the Olympic Park’s world-class facilities continue to serve east London communities for generations.
The Charities: Where Your £2 Goes
Every £2 paid for an activity on 17 May goes directly to two of Everyone Active’s corporate charity partners:
The Ben Kinsella Trust campaigns against knife crime and delivers educational programmes in schools across England, reaching tens of thousands of young people each year with the message about the consequences of carrying a weapon.
Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, funding research into the disease and providing support to those affected. The charity’s goal is that by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live — a target that requires sustained funding of research and clinical trials.
For families visiting the open day, the £2 entry model means a family of four can participate in multiple activities across the day for under £20 — genuinely exceptional value for a world-class facility in the heart of east London.
How to Get There
Address: London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ZQ
Getting there by public transport:
- Stratford station (Central line, Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground and National Rail) — approximately 10-minute walk through the Olympic Park
- Stratford International station (Southeastern High Speed) — approximately 5-minute walk
- Bus: Multiple routes serve Stratford including the 25, 86, 97, 108, 238, 276 and 308
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is one of London’s most accessible major destinations, with more rail and Underground connections than almost any other site in east London. The park itself is free to walk through, and the route from Stratford station to the Aquatics Centre takes visitors past several of the other legacy venues from 2012 including the London Stadium, the Velodrome and the ArcelorMittal Orbit.
London’s Wider Community Health Picture
The London Aquatics Centre open day is one of a number of community health and wellbeing initiatives taking shape across the capital in 2026. Across south London, the recently opened Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre in Lewisham — funded with more than £2.5 million from Maudsley Charity and developed through years of co-design with local residents — represents a similarly community-focused approach to health, bringing joined-up support services directly into the neighbourhoods they serve. Both initiatives reflect a growing recognition that community wellbeing depends on accessible, welcoming spaces where people can get support, stay active and connect with others.
Quick Reference: London Aquatics Centre Open Day 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday 17 May 2026 |
| Start time | 10am |
| Location | London Aquatics Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2ZQ |
| Activity price | £2 per activity |
| Special guest | Harry Aikines-Aryeetey |
| Charities | The Ben Kinsella Trust & Breast Cancer Now |
| Nearest station | Stratford (Central, Elizabeth, DLR, Overground) |
| Booking | Strongly recommended — everyoneactive.com |
All event information is based on confirmed details from Everyone Active and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as of May 2026. Always check everyoneactive.com for the latest session times and booking availability before attending.
