Beat the Street

Welcome to Beat the Street Burnley. Beat the Street is an exciting game designed to encourage healthy living, community engagement, and fun through outdoor exploration. It is an exciting and rewarding initiative for everyone, and here in Burnley we are big fans.

We believe in the power of the game for improving, health, resilience and connection to nature for our residents; so much so we have already had three games in the town. Burnley has invested in Beat the Street in 2021, 2023, and 2025 with plans for a further final game for Burnley’s 2027 Year of Culture.

What is Beat the Street?

Beat the Street is an Intelligent Health tool for partners to improve public health and place at scale.
In simple terms Beat the Street is an interactive game that transforms places into a live game. Participants use special cards or an app to tap “Beat Boxes” placed on lampposts around town. Each tap earns points and helps you and your team climb the leaderboard. It’s a great way to discover new parts of the town, stay active, and have fun with friends, family, and neighbours.

How to Get Involved

1. Register: Sign up online. Registration opens a few weeks before the game starts.
   
2. Get Your Card and Map: All primary school aged children will be sent home with a family pack.
   Anyone else looking to join the game, can pick up your Beat the Street card and maps from designated distribution points across the borough.
   
3. Join a Team: Create or join a team to compete against others. Schools, community groups, workplaces, and families can all form teams and work together to win prizes.
   
4. Find Beat Boxes: Use the online or physical paper map to find Beat Boxes located across Burnley. Plan your routes and start tapping.
   
5. Start Playing: Walk, run, or cycle to as many Beat Boxes as possible, tapping them with your card or to earn points. The more you tap, the more points you earn!
   
6. Track Progress: Keep an eye on the leaderboard and see how you and your team are doing. Set goals and try to beat your personal best.
   Find new boxes, routes and keep your eyes peeled for special events and themed weeks where you can earn more points on specific Beat Boxes.

Previous Games in Burnley

In previous editions of Beat the Street Burnley, the community has shown incredible enthusiasm and participation. Here are some of the highlights.

• Participation: Thousands of residents joined the game. The first game in 2021 saw over 10,000 people walking, running and wheeling across the borough. In 2023 this raised to nearly 12,500 people with a wide range of ages and backgrounds taking part. Schools, community groups, and local businesses formed teams to compete.
• Health Benefits: Surveys from previous games indicated improvements in physical activity levels and overall health among participants. Many people continued to stay active even after the game ended.
• Achievements: Participants collectively walked, ran, and cycled tens of thousands of miles. The game not only helped people get active but also encouraged them to explore different parts of Burnley. Miles travelled = Points earned = Trees planted.
• Community Impact: Beat the Street fostered a stronger sense of community. Many participants reported feeling more connected to their neighbours and more engaged in local activities.
• Trees Planted: 2,298 trees were earned through players in the 2023 game, and an additional 1,946 trees earned in 2025. Players returned later that year to help plant them across 15 different sites. You can find more information about the Beat the Street Tree planting sites here.
• Environmental Impact: Not only did participants contribute to environmental improvements through the tree planting scheme, but walking and cycling instead of driving reduces carbon footprints.

If you would like to read the full 2023 end of game report, you can find this here.

Benefits of Playing

• Health and Fitness: Beat the Street encourages physical activity enhancing overall fitness for people of all ages.
• Community Engagement: The game brings people together, fostering a sense of community. Meet new friends, strengthen neighbourhood connections, and enjoy shared experiences.
• Environmental Awareness: Walking and cycling instead of driving reduces your carbon footprint. Beat the Street promotes eco-friendly habits and a greater appreciation for the local environment.
• Fun and Adventure: Beat the Street is a fun way to explore Burnley, discover new areas, and take on new challenges. It’s a family-friendly activity that everyone can enjoy.
• Mental Wellbeing: Regular exercise boosts mood and reduces stress. Exploring the outdoors and achieving game milestones can also enhance mental health and wellbeing.

Keep your eyes peeled and join us in turning Burnley into a giant game, where you can walk, run, cycle, and explore your way to better health and fantastic rewards.