Why getting fit has never been more accessible. We look at the top four entry-level pursuits.

It’s easy to believe that fitness has become an expensive hobby. After all, walk into almost any sports retailer and you’ll be greeted by £200 running shoes, carbon-fibre bicycles costing several thousand, smartwatches capable of tracking everything from your sleep to your stress levels and enough technical clothing to outfit an Olympic team.

Yet the reality is rather more encouraging. According to Sport England, walking remains by far the nation’s most popular physical activity, requiring little more than a comfortable pair of shoes and the willingness to step outside.

Putting one foot in front of the other has quietly become one of Britain’s most underrated forms of exercise. A brisk stroll strengthens the heart, improves circulation, supports mental wellbeing and places relatively little strain on joints compared with higher-impact activities, making it suitable for almost every age and level of fitness. Yet because it feels so ordinary, however, we often overlook it in favour of the latest fitness trend, when in truth its greatest strength may be its simplicity. Begin with 20 minutes, three or four times a week, and you’ll soon discover that consistency counts for far more than intensity.

Running has acquired a reputation for being an expensive pursuit, fuelled partly by clever marketing and partly by the impression that every runner needs GPS watches, specialist clothing and the latest carbon-plated trainers before they can even begin. In reality, the only purchase truly worth making is a pair of properly fitted running shoes.

The same principle applies to strength training. Push-ups, squats, lunges and planks have remained staples of fitness programmes for decades because they work remarkably well, strengthening muscles, improving balance and increasing mobility without requiring a single piece of gym equipment. For instance, a set of resistance bands, costing little more than a family takeaway, can add dozens of additional exercises.

Sometimes, however, the biggest motivation isn’t the exercise itself but the people around you. Few initiatives demonstrate that better than Parkrun, where an estimated 400,000 people gather every Saturday morning to walk, jog or run 5km together, entirely free of charge. There are no membership fees, no intimidating atmosphere and no expectation that everyone should be chasing personal bests.

Swimming deserves a place on the list too. It may not attract the headlines generated by newer fitness crazes, but it remains one of the finest forms of all-round exercise available, engaging almost every major muscle group while allowing the water to support the body’s weight. Many local leisure centres also offer discounted off-peak sessions, making it one of the most cost-effective full-body workouts available.