Richmond upon Thames is the borough boasting the most exercise per week in London.
According to Office for National Statistics data, almost four in five adults exercised for 150 minutes or more each week.
This places Richmond top in London and third nationwide, behind only Oxford and Cambridge.
London dominated the top ten with Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark placing high for the total minutes of exercise per week.
In fact, when only considering the total minutes of exercise per week for men, Richmond is the highest in the country at 82%.
Richmond’s high levels of exercise could be attributed to their average-smashing number of sports facilities in the area.
While on average London has the fewest number of sports facilities per 10,000 people at 7.7, Richmond has 12.2 sports facilities per 10,000.
Westminster is the only local authority in London which has a higher number of sports facilities than Richmond at 13.9 with the next nearest authority, Bromley, on 11.
Assistant Head of Sport Development at St Mary’s University Michael Collins believes his life would be completely changed without the access to sport that Richmond provides.
He said: “Sport has a huge role in my life and for me distance running has been my lifelong passion.
“Simply, the quality of my training and performance would suffer as would my overall sense of wellbeing.
“I’d feel as if a core part of my life was missing. We all experienced during Covid what happens when we can’t access sport facilities and as an endurance runner, I probably suffered far less than many.
“That serves as a reminder of life without access to sports and sport facilities which is something none of us want to repeat.”
The number of sports facilities available in Richmond could be responsible for both men and women strongly feeling that they are able to be physically active.
Collins added: “We all know how participating in sport and physical activity can enhance and add value to people’s lives and lead to a healthier and happier society, so of course being above average in terms of sport facility availability in Richmond is of benefit to all residents.
“It’s imperative to have good access to sports facilities. The availability of fitness facilities in Richmond hugely enhances how I can train and perform.
“We’ve been fortunate here at St Mary’s to host a number of elite level international athletes and teams.
“This clearly shows not only the quality of our facilities within Richmond, but also that externally, people know the quality of what is on offer.”
‘The Happiest Borough in London’, Richmond, leads the way in the UK in terms of the residents believing that they have the opportunity to be active at 85%.
Breaking this down further, Richmond sits top in London for women as 82% agree that they are able to be physically active.
Meanwhile, the district places second in London, behind Wandsworth, for men with 88% agreeing.
Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Services Committee of Richmond Council was delighted that their initiatives were paying dividends.
She said: “Richmond upon Thames champions physical activity, with an extensive network of parks, riverside, and sports facilities that provide opportunities for everyone to get moving.
“Building on these strengths, Richmond Council is committed to encouraging active lifestyles by investing in our leisure facilities, supporting grassroots sports clubs, and creating welcoming, inclusive opportunities for all residents to take part in sport and exercise.
“The council recently agreed a leisure infrastructure plan seeking to strengthen partnerships and invest in our leisure facilities, with nearly £9 million secured to protect and improve our facilities and assets.
“Through targeted programmes, improved accessibility, and partnerships with local clubs and organisations, we want to ensure that every resident can enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle and a healthier future.”
The council’s new leisure strategy sets out long-term plans to improve accessibility and inclusivity in sport, ensuring that facilities and programmes continue to meet the needs of all residents.
Richmond Moves is a new initiative set up to increase the district’s participation in physical activity by making it more accessible to all.
This includes making fairer pricing at all leisure centres, increasing opportunities for women and girls, commissioning specialist leisure providers and developing an online local activity finder.
Neden-Watts added: “Through our leisure, sport and physical activity strategy, and initiatives like Richmond Moves, we are working to increase access, particularly for those who may face barriers to participation.”
A further reason behind Richmond’s sporting prowess could be the access to sporting events in the area.
The borough is home to numerous sports teams and stadiums such as Twickenham Stadium which is home to England rugby as well as Harlequins at The Stoop.
London Scottish, London Welsh and London French are also based within the borough as well as lower league rugby side Teddington.
Hampton and Richmond FC, who have ironically been helped by the TV show Ted Lasso and the fictional team ‘AFC Richmond’, also play their home games in Richmond.
The array of sporting events available means that Richmond is second highest in London for total sports attendance at 19%.
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