I was given 2 goldfish for Christmas and Maidenhead is the nearest aquatic centre to me. I've…read morevisited the adjoining garden centre before and admired the fish there. There is adequate parking for most times but on busy Sundays, it can get busy. There's a large room with fish to admire. Don't forget to look at the big tanks down low with bigger fish. The information on the tanks isn't the greatest as to what type of fish go with others etc and the grouping of the types of fish isn't the clearest. However, the staff are all very helpful, so don't be shy - just ask for help. Next door is a medium sized shop with assorted fishy food and gadgets. There is a fair selection but not the biggest. There's a beautiful tropical coral tank wih clown fish (Nemo!) to admire in there too. The shop also supports outdoor ponds with large tubs outside. To exit, you have to go through the garden centre.

There is something that totally amazes me about fish. I started off with the usual goldfish in a…read morebowl then moved onto a mammoth sized tank then onto tropical multicoloured fish of all shapes and sizes. Fish keeping the easiest or cheapest of hobbies, but all the same as soon as you walk into Maidenhead Aquatics in Morden Hall Garden Centre it is impossible to not be totally amazed. This aquatics shop is more like an aquarium, with rows of hundreds of tanks full of tropical and cold water, fresh and salt water fish. You do have to be careful when buying fish that they are not diseased or you could wake up the next morning to find every one of your fish new and old, floating at the top of the tank, but I found Maidenhead Aquatics the most reliable and high quality fish shop in London. As well as selling fish, they also have a shop next door selling everything you could ever need for your aquarium. Most importantly, the staff here know a thing or two about fish keeping, so even if you are amateur, they will quickly show you the ropes.

I used to play quite a bit of tennis when I was younger but then I got older. A while back I…read moredecided that maybe I'd quite like to take it up again but on a smaller court, where I could have a few drinks either before or after and not be completely and utterly destroyed for days. Things had got bad with the fitness and the tennis. So that's when I decided that badminton might be the answer. After considering the options in the local area I dragged a friend down to one of their open sessions on a Sunday evening. It's £10 for about two hours and if you're new you get lessons in with that. Not cheap really but it's good to see if you like it enough to continue. After that you can either join or try table tennis, an even smaller court. I didn't end up continuing the badminton for very long but actually did really enjoy it here. It's an ultra friendly club, very neighbourhoodly, a little bit suburban and most members are either older or very young. Good indoor racquet sport options though for cold weather adverse. Gym too.

A brief study of previous clubs I've been to…read more Nearly all of the badminton clubs I've had the pleasure of gracing tend to subscribe to various extremes. These can be applied to the temperaments of the people, the quality of the play, the poise and precision of post-play banter, height, width and length of the hall, and the quantity of shuttle cocks. Because without enough shuttle cocks we might as well be swatting flies as a form of sweaty recreation. I recall two clubs in particular in Maidstone in Kent. I can't remember what they're called. I forgot them successfully. The first one interested me, because even the worst of players acted in a godlike manner. I left this club. The second abomination had a hall so small, and a ceiling so low that I'm convinced the dwarfs stranded outside wanted their wedding reception back. Why the Wimbledon Racquet & Fitness Centre is a 'keeper' in my view? Beyond expectations frankly. Lockers (which require only £1 deposit) and have enough room to keep all you groceries, a child of average height, a jacket, a brief case, and anything else associated with a burdensome modern lifestyle. The halls (playing space) is huge, immensely well kept and there is ample space allocated for those who wish to watch including (can you believe) more locker space near the court. But never fear, there aren't endless opportunities for the humble and nimble to spectate gormlessly at the sidelines. Whatever skill level you happen to be; whatever your racquet wielding disposition; you'll get regular on-court action. And advice to improve your game. The opportunities for improving your technique are constant, and the trainer's timekeeping sharp. For example on Sundays from 5 to 7pm the Beginners & Improvers Session takes place. This is £6 to members and £12 to non-members. The coaching sessions and playing sessions mix in perfectly. Either you can train (the coaching is excellent) or play mixed (or non-mixed) doubles games. There is also the Open Session on Friday which cost me, as a non-member, £12.50. But that's for over three hours of solid badminton and half time snacks (often delicious Chelsea Buns, doughnuts and Apple Turnovers). And hot tea. This is all thrown in to the price. If you haven't got a racquet they always have a good quality piece of equipment to hand - no extra charge or renting fee etc. Excellent stock of badminton goods to buy. I purchased my court shoes from the club for roughly 30 quid (excellent quality - superb in usage). Sublime cushioning. They're good. There are gym facilities. Full membership includes unlimited use of a fully equipped air-conditioned gym, unlimited use of saunas and changing-room facilities, and a free gym induction/training programme. Massive bonus: they're not (I repeat not) cliquey like a great many clubs. Anyhow I could go on and on. And you (doubtless) want your evening to yourself. I recommend the place. You can find out more here: http://www.wimbledonclub.co.uk Words: Phillip J Cogger

If you only came to buy a quarter ham or a half ham, you're in the wrong place, because the only…read morething you can get here is a Fulham. First-Hand Experience: I was lucky enough to visit Fulham's training ground because I have a friend who lives just around the corner, and told me that it's actually easy to access if you go at the right time of the right day (when nobody is there). In this day and age I worry that trespassing on sporting properties will get me arrested, but I love taking pictures and adding them to my collection of places I've been. I don't recommend anyone else do the same thing. Besides, I've been caught at other grounds and they usually just kindly ask you to leave, or even let you stay. They understand the fandom and obsession. Maybe you do too. Maybe not. It was one of the less impressive training grounds I've seen, and the fact that the owner is who he is now, causes me to drop it from 3 to 2 stars. I liked this team quite a lot under Al Fayed and they would have scored 4 or 5 despite never winning a major honour. Largely because they were cute and adorable and hate Chelsea, and they were full of Americans and were punching above their weight, but most of all because they had a Michael Jackson statue at the stadium which was one of the highlights of the ground. But everything changed when the new owner bought them. He's done a lot of good things for the Jags apparently (although I don't see sold out stadiums at All-Tel and I don't see the Jaguars ever in the play offs, ever, ever, so idk), but for Fulham, all he's done is hire one bad manager after another, and tear down the Michael Jackson statue which was part of the reason I loved this team. So really, he's taken them from one of my fave teams to being one of my least fave. Then we have to look at the fact that they're a rich team from West London, and have never won a single thing ever, and the picture is less rosy. They play in boring black and white, too. Formed in 1879, playing in front of 25k, and they spent 13 years in the Prem which was great. But they're not there anymore.

Whatever subscription you choose be careful of what you are getting yourself into and know how to…read moreget yourself out of. David Lloyd seems to still have a standard policy whereby you need to give them 3 months notice before wishing to cancel a membership. I was burnt badly during a period of extreme stress where I was not even going to gym and my membership (which was pre-paid 12 months ahead) concluded. A month later they mailed me saying my account is in arrears and I still need to pay them at least three months going forward. They referred me to an online terms of conditions PDF which I apparently signed, which of course I cannot find a copy of in my email. And of course no-one in support customer service will actually provide support or customer service when it comes to this. Nothing like UK corporate greed in a time when cost of living is sky-rocketing. Lovely. Good job David Lloyd.

Thank you Jodie Powell, your Zumba is my favourite class of the week, so much fun and a great…read moreworkout. I just wish there were more in the week.

The David weir centre is great gym to go to if you are on a budget, it's not like your David lloyds…read moreor virgin gyms where equipment is being updated every 6 months, however they do have suffice workout equipment and adequate room for stretching and putting exercise steps/balls out! As this is more than a gym because there are a lot of athletics that train here there is a running track, and high jump inside the sports hall and outside, a additional separate weights room and a long jump area inside the centre, there is a dance studio upstairs where most of their exercise classes are held which ranges from body pump to Zumba to yoga! There's a class for everyone at what ever exercise level you are! The gym staff are very helpful! If there was an award for the top members of staff, this would go to Craig! He introduces himself to new members , he creates exercise plans for you and advises best ways to take your training further, and he will follow up with you to see if you need any additional help or just additional motivation! The gym has a lot if potential of updating the changing rooms and updating the air con machine but as I said before it does have everything you need to have a good training session. There is also a cafe upstairs and a crèche / kids playing area, and they do cater for birthday parties !

The name of this has actually changed to David Weir. It has…read morea huge outside running track with a section for long jump and high jump, regularly used by GB athletics. It also has an indoor runnin track, with indoor long jump and high jump facilities. There is a exercise room with machines and weight and a seperate free weights room. They also have toddler time full of under 5 toys and apparatus aswell as a play barn, great for birthday parties with food provided by the cafe upstairs or you can bring your own.