How a Great Value gym membership could save you £1,200 a year

Swapping a premium gym membership for one at a budget chain can potentially save gym goers more than a thousand pounds a year, without necessarily sacrificing satisfaction.

More than half of respondents in our November 2024 survey told us their gym membership had increased in price over the past two years, so if you're dealing with rising costs, it could be a good time to switch.

We compared prices for 17 of the biggest gym brands in the UK in December 2024, based on the cheapest-available standard membership that allowed for gym use across all opening hours, and found the average cost of a monthly membership was £38.

The cheapest chain charged just £23 a month, while the most expensive cost nearly six times as much – a heart-pounding £132 a month. 

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What makes a Great Value gym?

Price isn't everything – you'll also want a gym that meets your needs. That's why we've assessed brands to uncover those that offer the best value, awarding Great Value recommendations to four brands that offer a good gym experience for a low price.

For gyms to be eligible, their average monthly cost had to be at least 25% cheaper than the market average. The gym brands also needed a minimum customer score from our user survey of 65% and to be rated at least three out of five across essential categories (customer service, value for money, gym equipment, changing facilities, cleanliness/hygiene and communication). 

You might not get next-level facilities and extras at these gyms, but they have plenty to offer for an everyday workout. 

To see which gyms met our Great Value criteria, check out our full guide to the best rated gyms.

Are premium gyms worth it?

Premium gyms tend to offer more luxuries, which is worth thinking about if your ideal gym session involves more than just dumbbells and stair climbers.

At the top end of the market, you can expect to see gyms and health clubs kitted out with swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, and dedicated class studios. Other perks may include extra sports and activities for fitness fans who want a more rounded experience and don't just want to focus on weights and cardio.

The more expensive gym brands in our survey impressed with these features, scoring more highly for premium/additional facilities than rivals. The majority also received good ratings for their gym equipment.

However, this didn't necessarily translate to top customer satisfaction ratings overall. It seems like paying top whack for flashy extras doesn't always pay off.

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How to pay less for the gym

As the health and fitness club market becomes increasingly saturated, we have seen an increase in incentives for customers to join certain brands. 

No matter what price bracket you're looking at when signing up to a gym, there are ways to save money before locking into a membership. Here's what to do:

• Look for a discounted offer. More than half of the people we surveyed said they signed up to a gym with an introductory offer. Shop around for deals with no joining fee or a discounted first month.
• Check for concessions. Discounts are often available for students, seniors, couples, NHS workers, Vitality members and more. Getting a concession discount can cut a significant chunk off your monthly gym bill.
• Compare prices. If you're close to multiple gym locations, check the membership fees at each. Prices can differ considerably – even for the same brand - depending on the location.
• Commit to a year. Many gyms will offer a cheaper membership if you sign up for a 12-month contract rather than a monthly rolling bill. However, only do this if you're confident you'll workout regularly – being locked into a gym contract that's not being used far outweighs any savings.
• Try haggling. Contact the gym directly over the phone to try to haggle for a cheaper membership. Failing that, see if you can get some extra perks on top of the standard membership.

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Our gym pricing research

Our pricing data is based on all available and open locations for each gym brand, with prices gathered from retailer's websites in late 2024.

For comparison, we focused on the cheapest 'standard' membership (for example, excluding off-peak only) at each location. 

Where 12-month contracts were available, we've based numbers on that, the rest are monthly or 'flexible' subscriptions.

Additional joining fees are not included in our list of membership prices.

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