Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Sports and exercise

In Cambridge and Chelmsford, our gyms and sports halls are open to the public. You can also join us on campus in Chelmsford for free, weekly Heart and Sole walks. Read more about gym membership and Heart and Sole walks below.

Chelmsford gyms and fitness classes

The Old Factory gym

The Old Factory gym is opposite our campus, just a five-minute walk from Chelmsford train station.

We offer Les Mills classes such as BodyPump, BodyCombat and BodyBalance, as well as other fitness classes. Our large gym features a multi-functional fitness rig, three squat racks, two ten-metre sled tracks as well as a host of cardiovascular equipment, fixed-resistance machines and free weights.

There's free parking on site.

Find out more and join The Old Factory online

Mildmay Sports Hall

Mildmay Sports Hall features four badminton courts and is fully equipped for a range of other indoor sports including basketball, netball, futsal and indoor cricket. The centre has changing facilities, lockers and accessible changing facilities on site.

You can hire a single court, half the hall, or the whole hall.

Read more about Mildmay Sports and Hall and book courts

Heart and Sole walks

At our Chelmsford campus you can take part in free lunchtime walks, led by walk leaders.

The walks take place on Tuesdays throughout the year, from 12.15-12.45pm. We meet outside the Lord Ashcroft Building and our route takes us through the beautiful Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve. After the walk you’re welcome to visit our café and enjoy a free tea or coffee.

The walks are part of Chelmsford's Health Walk scheme, Heart and Sole.

Cambridge gym

Helmore Gym

In Cambridge, our gym is on our main campus on East Road.

Helmore Gym boasts a broad range of cardiovascular equipment with 15” LCD touchscreen consoles with built in digital channels and internet browsers. In addition to this the gym has Olympic lifting platforms and racks aimed at our performance based athletes, dumbbells ranging from 2.5kg–50kg and modern, functional resistance machines. The equipment at the gym provides options for everybody, no matter the goal.

Explore Helmore Gym and join online