Leisure

Residents of and visitors to Stevenage enjoy the wide range of cultural and leisure activities on offer. Amongst the many attractions, the town boasts a multi-purpose Arts and Leisure Centre, swimming pool, its own museum, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a major new leisure park comprising a cinema, bowling and range of bars, restaurants and night clubs and the Old Town with its old pubs and fine restaurants.

Stevenage Leisure Park
Located adjacent to the town centre this new development is a major boost for leisure in Stevenage. Facilities developed include a multi-screen cinema, ten-pin bowling centre, David Lloyd Fitness Centre, 2 nightclubs and numerous bars and restaurants to cater for all tastes. The Park forms a hub for the nightlife of the town.

Arts and Leisure Centre
The Arts and Leisure Centre, in the heart of the town centre houses the Gordon Craig Theatre and Concert Hall, indoor sports, health and fitness facilities, art gallery, restaurants, bar and conference suites.

The 507 seat Gordon Craig Theatre offers a programme of drama, comedy and classical and contemporary dance, opera and orchestral concerts, pantomime and top names from the entertainment world.

The 1400 seat Concert Hall has played host to many international stars and is home for the Greene King Rebels, the national league basketball team.

The Boxfield Gallery has a year round programme of exhibitions from local and national artists, photographers and sculptors.

Sports facilities include a multi-purpose sports hall, indoor bowls hall, climbing wall, squash courts, dance studio, health and fitness suites and sunbeds.

There are also two conference suites which can cater for business events and private functions for up to 150 people.

Fairlands Valley Park

email: fairlands@stevenage-leisure.co.uk

Fairlands Valley covers 160 acres of extensive leisure facilities in a beautiful parkland setting. A range of water sports take place on the 11 acre lake, including wind surfing, sailing, and angling. There is also a paddling pool and coffee shop.

A pony trekking track and trim track ensure that horse riders and joggers are catered for.

On 5th November the valley is the setting for a spectacular fireworks display, attracting thousands of visitors.

Golf Courses
There are three 18 hole golf courses in the area; a public course at the Stevenage Golf Centre at Aston Lane and two private courses at nearby Knebworth and Graveley.

John Henry Newman Leisure Centre
A dual use community leisure centre which has a floodlit all-weather synthetic pitch and caters for many outdoor sports including football, hockey, tennis, netball and cricket, as well as indoor activities in its sports hall and gymnasium.

Knebworth House
Historic Knebworth House has been home to the Lytton family for 500 years. The house contains a fine collection of furniture and portraits. It sits in 250 acres of parkland and is a perfect setting for conference and outdoor functions.
The park has in recent years been used to stage rock concerts, most notably in August 1996 when Oasis played one of the largest concerts ever seen in the UK.

Stevenage Borough Football Club
The GM Conference side play at Broadhall Stadium which can host over 6,500 spectators. There is also a social club with catering facilities. The stadium is available for private hire.

Swimming Pool
The recently refurbished Stevenage Swimming Pool, in St George's Way, offers a number of courses and sessions.

Library
Stevenage Central Library offers a wide range of books, music cassettes, CD's and videos for loan.

Parks and Outdoor Sports
Stevenage has nine other parks to enjoy, many with pavilions and good facilities for outdoor sports including football pitches, tennis courts, athletics, bowling, putting greens and pitch and putt.

Play Facilities
The Council operates six neighbourhood play centres and holiday play schemes.

The centres are used by both council and independent pre-school groups.

Museum
Stevenage Museum offers the opportunity to step back in time and discover the complete story of the town from the stone age right up to the 1990s.

Visitors can enjoy the 1950s sitting room, take up the challenge to design your own New Town with touch screen computer quizzes and see the fascinating hoard of Roman coins from the Stevenage of 2,000 years ago.

Exhibitions have varied from the history of pets and Doctor Who to Stevenage 100 years ago.