Physical activity

The University is situated on the doorstep of Snowdonia national park, it's unique location offers access to a diverse and rugged landscape, spanning the mountain ranges of Snowdonia, to pristine lakes and beaches, ideal for exploring the outdoors and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

On and off campus, the University promotes a variety of ways to adopt physically active lifestyles.

Sport and recreation facilities

The University boasts an extensive range of indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities across four locations.

Canolfan Brailsford is the University's main sports centre for both members of Bangor University and the local community. Conveniently located on Ffriddoedd road, Canolfan Brailsford has a variety of sport facilities, including an Astroturf, climbing wall, gyms, squash courts and much more.

A fitness programme offers classes every day of the week, including spinning, yoga, Pilates, high-intensity interval training, and boxing. Personal training sessions can help individuals to meet their health and fitness outcomes faster, improve technique and form and develop a fitness regime tailored to personal needs and preferences.

A salary deduction scheme for membership at Canolfan Brailsford is available for University staff. For all students living in University Halls of Residence, Canolfan Brailsford membership is included. Please visit our membership page for prices for students, staff, alumni, and the public.

Keeping active at Bangor

Active Staff and Staff Bootcamp

The Active Staff programme offers staff the change to experience a new activity every month of the year. Staff can enjoy classes in posture and back health, boxing, couch to 5km, archery and much more. Staff bootcamp is designed to build strength and fitness through a mix of aerobic, strength training and speed. Active Staff and Bootcamp sessions cost £2 per session. Staff do not have to be a member of Canolfan Brailsford to join in.

Campus life and sports

The Campus Life Programme has been developed to help students get the most from their time living in Halls. A programme of free events runs throughout the year, including film nights, adventures to explore local beauty spots, outdoor activities, and fitness classes. Download the Campus Life Calendar & App ( you can search for the app under Campus Life Bangor University). Join our Facebook page to keep up to date with everything going on.

Campus Sports is a free programme of team sports available to all students at Bangor University. It’s a great way to meet new people, build team and leadership skills. Discover this year's campus sport programme and follow us on Facebook

Get cycling

Get Outside

GetOutside was founded by Ordnance Survey, to help more people to get outside more often. An active outdoor lifestyle helps you live longer, stay younger and enjoy life more. Find lots of things to do outside, with events, points of interest, activities, guides and free ideas locally and across Great Britain.

Sport clubs and societies

Sport at Bangor is accessible to all, regardless of ability or interests there is an activity for you. Voted 2nd in the UK for its Sports and Societies by WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2020, the Student Union proudly offers over 60 sport clubs with the Athletic Union (AU), over 120 different Societies, and over 50 Volunteering Projects, and all are free to join.

The AU offers both competitive and recreational sports, from surfing or scuba diving the North Wales coast lines, to gymnastics, tennis, archery, or athletics. Many of the student sports clubs compete in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events, with regular fixtures against other universities.

To explore the full range of activities within a club environment that will make you feel more than welcome to be there, please visit the Athletics Unions website.

Sports volunteering

Volunteering during your time at Bangor University is a great way of getting involved in sport and gaining valuable experience. Explore the range of sport volunteering opportunities at Bangor, from badminton, netball, basketball coaching, to supporting event organisation.

Start swimming

Swimming is a fantastic low Impact exercise that engages every muscle group and provides an all-over body workout. If you enjoy swimming for fitness or for leisure, there are several locations across North Wales to choose from. Find your local swimming and leisure centre.

Walking North Wales

Walking is one of the simplest of ways to maintain overall health and fitness. By walking the daily recommended steps, 10,000 steps a day (eight kilometres) you can keep your heart healthy and reduce your body fat. Walking can also increase your muscle tone, boost your metabolism, ease stress, raise energy levels and improve sleep.

Walking can be easily fitted into your daily routine. Our walks webpage features lunchtime walks from various points on the Bangor and Menai Bridge sites and some historical walks to learn about the local history and heritage. You can also find a collection of the most scenic walks from the Snowdonia mountains, Lleyn Peninsula, Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path, and the County of Conwy.

Supporting you to full physical health

The University offers a range of services to help address physical health conditions.

Leaf health
Canolfan Brailsford in partnership with LEAF Health offer a range of treatments. University staff and students can avail 10% discount on all treatments, such as sports therapy and massage, osteopathy, acupuncture and much more.

Occupational health
Occupational Health enables the rehabilitation of staff returning to work following ill health, and ensures appropriate measures are in place to support staff with health concerns or problems to work safely and effectively.

RCS Wales
As a member of staff ill off work, or struggling at work with a health condition, RCS Wales offer free physiotherapy services, with expert guidance and exercises to help you improve your physical health and address any musculoskeletal problems that are affecting your ability to work effectively.

Resources for physcial health and activity

  • Care first lifestyle website browse information on wide-ranging topics in fitness, nutrition and diet, physical health, smoking and drinking and much more
  • Desk stretches to ease aches and pains try these stretches, specially designed for you to do at your desk or wherever you’re sitting with your computer, to help ease the strain.
  • It’s Your Health discusses ways to adopt a healthy lifestyle and help prevent or reduce the risk of developing diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, and obesity. ‘How to guides’ present advice and tools to control cholesterol, stop smoking and reduce your blood pressure.
  • Kickstart your health healthy changes start with little changes. Try these tools and tips to keep active every day and explore the range of NHS recommended apps to support better health and wellbeing.
  • MIND Physical activity and your mental health provides information about how physical activity can help your mental health, tips for choosing an activity that works for you, and how to overcome anything that might stop you from becoming more active.
  • NHS Live Well features physical activity guidelines, exercises for back pain and sciatica, fitness guides and running tips.

Podcasts and videos

  •  Don’t tell me the score invites athletes from across the world to discuss their upbringing, their route into sport, and often the psychological impact of performing at the highest level.
  • Found My Fitness is science heavy, however Dr. Rhonda Patrick, does a great job in explaining complex research into actionable advice. She speaks with expert guests on the latest research around improving the quality of your life, as well as your longevity.
  • Discover the thought provoking and inspirational Ted Talks and articles about exercise, including ‘What’s makes muscles grow’, ' Why your brain loves it when you exercise’ and ‘Why some people find exercise harder than others’.  
  • RCS Wales Physical Wellbeing Webinar explores ways of maintaining wellbeing across three key areas, sleep, physical activity, and nutrition