Walnuts update, vaccine dates and town-centre events
Published Thursday 18 June 2026
This week: Walnuts nears reopening, MenB bookings are coming, town-centre football activities and roadworks to plan around.
Top Updates
Walnuts Leisure Centre is nearly ready to reopen
The £17m transformation of Walnuts Leisure Centre is almost complete, with the reopening date due to be announced soon. The new centre will include a competition-length pool, sauna and steam rooms, refreshed cafe and reception areas, new changing rooms and lockers, a new exercise studio and EGYM smart strength training equipment. Read the Walnuts Leisure Centre update.
MenB vaccine bookings open in July for eligible young people
A one-off NHS MenB vaccination programme will offer two doses to Year 13 pupils and some young people under 25 starting university or residential further education this autumn. Online booking opens on Monday 13 July, and walk-in pharmacies will offer vaccines from Monday 20 July to Thursday 31 December. Check the MenB eligibility and booking details.
Two Orpington shops named in illegal tobacco closure orders
Bromley Trading Standards has secured three-month closure orders for five shops across the borough, including Easy Shop at 242 High Street, Orpington, and Blue Mini Market at 72 Cotmandene Crescent. Only named residents and authorised people can now enter the affected premises while the orders are in place. Read the council's closure order notice.
Dates For Your Diary
13 June to 19 July
World Cup Party in Orpington town centre
Orpington 1st is running six weeks of football-themed town-centre activity, with free family sessions, football skills, live entertainment and community events during the tournament. The programme also folds in the Motor Show and Priory Live, so it is worth checking before you plan weekend trips into town. See the World Cup Party programme.
Sunday 28 June, 10am-3pm
Orpington 1st Motor Show at Walnuts Market Square
The free Motor Show returns to Walnuts Market Square with vintage, collectable and unusual vehicles on display in the town centre. It is free for visitors, and vehicle owners can still ask the organiser about displaying a car. Check the Motor Show details.
What's On
Saturday 20 June
Orpington parkrun at Goddington Park, 9am. The free weekly 5k is open to walkers, joggers and runners at Goddington Park. Register once before your first visit and bring your barcode if you want a timed result. Find out about Orpington parkrun.
Next week
Orpington Library activities for children and families. Orpington Library has regular activities including Baby Bounce and Rhyme for under-fives, Storytime for children aged 2 to 4, Chatterbooks for ages 8 to 11, teenage reading groups, Pictures Alive for ages 4 to 7 and LEGO club. Some sessions need booking, so check before setting off. See what's on at Orpington Library.
Roadworks and Transport
Leesons Hill closure continues into July: A Scotia Gas Networks road closure on Leesons Hill is in progress and is scheduled to run to Friday 10 July. Expect local diversions around St Paul's Cray and allow extra time on school, station and high-street routes.
The Landway works run through the weekend: The Landway in Petts Wood has gas works with a road closure scheduled to end on Sunday 21 June, plus separate Bromley carriageway incursion works running to Monday 22 June. Check your route before driving between Petts Wood, Crofton and Orpington.
Town-centre and main-road works to watch: High Street works are scheduled around the Walnuts area through Monday 22 June, Repton Road works continue to Tuesday 30 June, and short works are listed on Station Road, Sevenoaks Road, Chislehurst Road and Southlands Avenue this week. For live changes, use the Bromley roadworks map.