Staying active in Walthamstow: simple ways to move more

Being physically active is one of the most effective things you can do for your health. It helps with blood pressure, weight, sleep, mood, joint pain and long term conditions such as type 2 diabetes. The good news is that it does not require a gym membership or expensive equipment.

Adults are advised to aim for around 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, spread across several days, plus activities that strengthen muscles twice a week. Moderate activity simply means moving enough to feel warmer and breathe a little faster while still being able to hold a conversation.

Places to walk, wheel and cycle locally

• Walthamstow Wetlands, with flat, accessible paths and plenty of places to rest
• Lloyd Park, which has open green space, a playground and a cafe
• The Higham Hill streets and quieter residential routes for short everyday journeys
• Walthamstow parkrun on Saturday mornings, which you can run, jog, walk or volunteer at

Building movement into everyday life

You do not need to set aside a separate hour for exercise. Walking or wheeling part of a journey, getting off the bus a stop early, taking stairs where you can and doing short bursts of movement during the day all count towards your weekly total.

If you have a long term condition, are recovering from illness or have not been active for a while, start gently and build up. Contact us online if you would like advice about what is safe for you, or to ask about our social prescribing support.