Best and worst gyms rated

Whether it's lifting weights or running on treadmills, our unique survey insights reveal which national gym chains offer the best service and facilities, and which are considered the best value for money too. 

We asked over 2,500 gym-goers about their experiences with different gym brands in 2024 to uncover the best-rated options.

From David Lloyd to PureGym, users told us what they thought of the gym facilities, classes and value for money among other aspects. Five brands impressed enough for us to recommend them.

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Four gym chains met our criteria to be 'Great Value' picks, so you can find the best and cheapest gym near you.

Best gyms

We asked gym goers for their thoughts on the gym equipment provided, facilities, and the range of classes on offer at their gym, as well as factors such as customer service and whether users felt they were getting value for money.

Which? members can log in now to find out how customers rate the different companies, plus the gym brands that we recommend - and the best value gyms around.

If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the chains reviewed. Join Which? today to see the full results. 

Anytime Fitness

• Average price £39.95 per month
• Key features Open 24/7, Member discounts
• Sign-up offers Student discount options, Promo codes for different locations

US-based fitness franchise Anytime Fitness first set up locations in the UK in 2012, and has grown rapidly on this side of the pond ever since, with nearly 200 locations across the country.  

Anytime Fitness offers 24/7 access to its branches, and a large variety of sign-up offers to new customers - from money off the initial joining fee, to 50% off your first month and access to premium equipment such as massage guns and body scans. These offers vary from location to location though, so be sure to be on the look out for promo codes under each payment option if you're looking to join online.  

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Anytime Fitness.

Bannatyne Health Club & Spa

• Average price £55.99 per month
• Key features Swimming pools, spa baths and saunas at some locations.
• Sign-up offers -Off-peak membership at some locations

Bannatyne Health Clubs has been active for more than 25 years and has nearly 70 locations across the country.

It promotes itself as a luxurious club, offering state-of-the-art kit with swimming pools, saunas and spa treatments. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Bannatyne Health Clubs.

Better

• Average price £38 per month 
• Key features Free access to most locations and some online classes (standard membership), Wide range of activities
• Sign up offers Student discount, Senior discount, Flexible/Off-peak memberships and more

Better Health memberships benefit from a wide variety of health and fitness activities, from gyms and swimming pools to tennis courts and class studios. As the standard monthly membership comes with access to over 200 locations, this gives members the opportunity to enjoy a range of potential options to get and stay fit. 

Better provides a vast range of membership options. These include options for students, seniors, carers, as well as the possibility of using just your local centre, centres in your area, or centres across the country.

Based on the 'centre' membership, which purely allows for access to the individual Better Health Centre in question, Better's membership is right around the market average in our survey, at £38 per month on average.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Better gyms.

David Lloyd

• Average price £131.50 per month
• Key features Swimming pools, studios
• Sign up offers Off-peak 'club' memberships available at some locations, Half-price joining fee on selected memberships

David Lloyd is one of the most well-known premium gyms in the country, with top-spec gym floor equipment and luxury swimming pools available across more than 100 UK clubs.

However, these facilities come at a cost, and a big one at that. The average standard monthly membership was the most expensive out of the brands we compared, at £131.50 per month with a 12-month commitment, which often doesn’t get you access to racquet courts, the spa or Blaze studio classes (David Lloyd’s boutique-style high-intensity interval training). Several locations only had the full 'diamond' package available online, for which you'll be paying a mammoth £259 per month, before any hefty joining fees.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of David Lloyd.

Energie Fitness

• Average price £26.99 per month
• Key features Flexible membership freezing, Member onboarding session
• Sign up offers Promo codes for different locations, 

Budget gym Energie Fitness is operated by The Energie Group, which despite only being founded in 2003 has opened nearly 100 fitness clubs across the world, with more than 50 in the UK.

If you go to an Energie Fitness gym, you're likely to encounter the 'Yard', its signature training area with functional equipment and access to 'M,yZone' heart-rate monitors to track performance during high-intensity workouts. It's also where members take part in the club's 'great' "Blast" classes.

Considering around a third of Energie Fitness' clubs are based in London, its average monthly price of £26.99 for 'classic' tier memberships is very affordable.

Energie Fitness provides a range of sign up offers to new customers when you select a location. Depending on the individual gym you've picked, this will vary but it's worth looking out for when joining. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Energie Fitness.

Everlast Gyms

• Average price £30 per month
• Key features Swimming pool at some locations
• Sign up offers Student discount, NHS discount, corporate memberships, January free month

A newcomer to the gyms market, major sports brand Everlast launched Everlast Gyms in 2021 with the aim of combining boutique group training studios with a traditional gym floor at affordable prices. 

It promotes its 'group training', where instructors lead classes for both strength and cardio training at all fitness levels. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Everlast Gyms.

Everyone Active

• Average price £34.99 per month 
• Key features -  Swimming pool, sports & activities at some locations
• Sign up offers - Discount for student, junior, senior, NHS employees and other concession memberships

Founded in 1987, Everyone Active is the largest longest-established leisure contractor in the UK with management of over 230 leisure and culture centres across the country.

Its large range of leisure centres hold host to not only traditional gyms, but 30m swimming pools and a variety of sports as well such as climbing walls and 3G football pitches.

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Fitness First

• Average price £65 per month
• Key features - Steam & sauna rooms at some locations, Swimming pool at some locations
• Sign up offers - Student discount, First month half price + no joining fee

Fitness First is a modern gym chain with state of the art workout equipment and a wide array of group classes, including the trendy "HYROX" training which combines interval running with dynamic exercises.

Fitness First splits its diverse range of classes into five styles: strength, cardio, fight, cycle and mind & body

If you’re outside of London it may not be your most convenient option, as there are fewer gyms beyond its borders. Out of 28 UK branches, over half are located in the capital. 

Membership prices can vary quite dramatically though. When we checked, a 12-month membership at Solihull was £42 per month, while it was £115 at the Baker Street and London Bridge Cottons branches. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Fitness First.

Freedom Leisure

• Average Price - Approximately £26.75 - £59.95 per month*
  
• Key features - Racket sports and swimming pools available at some locations 
• Sign up offers - Discount for student, junior, senior and concession memberships

Freedom Leisure is a not-for-profit organisation that operates over 120 leisure, cultural and entertainment venues across the UK, promoting healthy lifestyles in the communities they reside in.

Along with its gym facilities, it offers swimming pools and racket sport courts in a selection of its locations. 

Freedom Leisure provides plenty of discounted memberships online, with options for students, juniors, seniors and other concessions to get money off their monthly bill. 

* Price range based on available and visible standard membership prices online. We didn't collect enough data to provide an average price. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Freedom Leisure.

The Gym Group

• Average price £22.99 per month
• Key features Most locations open 24/7, Free classes, No long term contract
• Sign up offers Student discount, Off-peak memberships

Despite only being founded in 2007, budget chain The Gym Group has grown to be one of the major players in the low-cost gym market, with nearly 250 locations nationwide.

Its memberships allow for 24/7 access with a rolling monthly contract.

The Gym Group's average price of £22.99 for 'standard' memberships was the cheapest in our survey, showcasing great affordability.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of The Gym Group.

JD Gyms

• Average price £24.99 per month
• Key features Free classes, Saunas in some locations, No long-term contract, Some 24/7 access locations
• Sign up offers No joining fee in some locations

Budget chain JD Gyms is a subsidiary of JD Sports, offering modern gym spaces and lots of group classes to its members.  

Members sign up to a flexible monthly rolling contract, meaning they aren't- locked into paying long-term. 

There are over 90 locations in the UK, but it’s not one for Londoners, as there aren’t any central branches.

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Lifestyle Fitness

• Average price £24.99 per month
• Key features Sauna and steam room at some locations, 'earn while you burn' programme, sports facilities at some locations
• Sign up offers 25% off your first month in January with code NY2025

Lifestyle Fitness has been a small, family-run gym business for over 40 years, with the aim of providing the latest gym equipment for a reasonable price.   

Only two brands were found to have a cheaper membership price on average than Lifestyle's £24.99 per month, with joining fees ranging from free to £20. However, this may partly be due to the fact that out of Lifestyle Fitness' sparse 22 locations, none are under a London postcode.  

Despite its low monthly cost, it offers a dedicated spin class studios as well as an 'earn while you burn' scheme where members can enrol and get money back pn their weight-loss journey.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Lifestyle Fitness.

Nuffield Health

• Average price £73 per month
• Key Features Swimming pool, Spa and sauna, Free parking, Free classes
• Sign-up Offers Student discount, Off-peak discount, Joint membership discount, Up to 50% discount for vitality members, NHS discount

Registered charity Nuffield Health promotes maintaining health and advancing healthcare, and having over 100 fitness and wellbeing centres is a big part of that.

Prices can get steep, with some London gyms charging £119 per month for a standard 12-month membership. However, Nuffield allow for plenty of ways to make this more affordable, with 20% student discount as well as deductions for NHS workers, Vitality members and more.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Nuffield Health.

Places Leisure

• Average price £34 per month
• Key features Swimming pools at some locations, Squash courts at some locations.  
• Sign-up offers Discounted memberships for under-25s, under-18s and concessions at some locations

Part of the Places for People group, Places Leisure has gyms, pools, sports halls and squash courts among other activities spread across its 90 UK leisure centres. 

It says its purpose is to 'create active places and healthy people for communities to thrive'.

Places Leisure has several payment options and potential concessions depending on the location, with cheaper memberships available for young adults, teens and older members. Also in some areas where both are available you can choose a gym-only or swim-only membership if you feel you won't get the most out of a premium membership.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Places Leisure.

PureGym

• Average price £23.99
• Key features Most locations open 24/7, Free classes, No long-term contract
• Sign-up Offers Off-peak memberships, Up to 50% discount on premium for Vitality members

With nearly 400 locations across the country, PureGym is the most used gym brand in the UK. Its appeal is clear to see: standard memberships are just £23.99 on average but when new locations are opening or during sales seasons, off-peak memberships have been available for as little as half of that.

Its app and social channels are home to 100s of free workouts, recipes and wellbeing tips, with its services not being limited to gyms themselves.

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of PureGym.

Total Fitness

• Average price £54 per month 
• Key features Swimming pool, lots of free classes, Squash courts at some locations , Ladies-only gyms, 
• Sign-up offers Student discount, Seniors discount, Couples and families discount

Total Fitness is packed with extras, which members enjoyed - it gets four stars out of five for its additional facilities. Whether it’s the pools, bookable squash courts or, if you’re lucky enough to be near one of the chains that have it, a 200m indoor running track. It also has unique ladies-only gyms in Whitefield and Wilmslow, which promote women’s health and fitness in a more private space.

It has several membership tiers which offer money off a standard membership depending on age, with gymgoers aged up to 22 or over 65 receiving a discount. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Total Fitness.

Village Gyms

• Average price £59 per month
• Key features Swimming pool, Sauna/steam rooms, Member rewards and discounts on partnered brands
• Sign-up offers Student discount

Village Gyms are located alongside its parent company Village Hotels, and offers premium equipment and heated swimming pools in its 33 UK locations.

Members can access discounts to other Village brands such as Village Hotels and Village Pub & Grill. 

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Village Gyms.

Virgin Active

• Average Price £109.99 per month
• Key features Swimming pool. Spa and sauna, Free classes, Studios, Lounge
• Sign-up offers Up to 50% discount for vitality members

London-centric Virgin Active has branches kitted out with plenty of features from swimming pools to relaxing lounges.

Its premium facilities are matched by its prices, as the average standard monthly membership with Virgin Active costs £109.99

Log in or join Which? today to find out what users think of Virgin Active.

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Gym membership costs compared

'The average price across the companies we compared was £38 per month in 2024 for a standard membership that allowed for gym use across all opening hours.'

- Jack Murphy, Gyms pricing expert

The cost of gym memberships can vary by hundreds of pounds, even for the same chain. It depends on the location, whether you go at peak or off-peak times, and extras such as premium facilities, classes and more.

Over a third of people in our 2024 gyms survey told us they paid less than £30 a month. Most of those paying lower amounts were signed up to The Gym Group, JD Gyms and PureGym. Off-peak memberships with these brands tends to be as cheap as it gets.

8% of survey respondents told us their gym membership costs more than £100 per month, with some David Lloyd and Virgin Active membership options costing as much as £250+. 

Prices are mostly based on a 12-month contract. Monthly rolling contracts are also regularly available, but these are usually more expensive.

Some gyms offer discounts for groups such as students, seniors and occasionally NHS workers too. 36% of those we surveyed had some form of discounted gym membership, so it's worth checking with brands you're interested in to see if you're eligible.

Of course, there's no point going for a cheap gym that doesn't have the facilities you need. Check out out Great Value recommended gyms, above, for the brands that keep customers happy without compromising on cost.

If you're looking to build a home gym, see our expert advice on the best treadmills and best walking pads.

What to consider when choosing a gym

What type of workouts do you want to do? 

If you’re planning on just using weights and machines in a traditional gym environment, a budget gym may be the best way to go. However, if you're looking for an experience with more facilities such as a swimming pool, external sports and saunas, you'll probably have to pay a premium for it.

Check different locations

Prices can vary wildly based on the location you choose - even within the same chain. While a convenient location is handy for building a sustainable gym routine, it’s worth checking prices for gyms near you and those slightly further afield, especially if you live in a more pricey area, to see if you can save by taking a slight detour. 

Think about when you’ll be going

Opening hours vary between gym brands, so be aware if you’re someone that prefers working out at less conventional hours. If that happens to be you, think about getting an off-peak membership when available to save money. These differ from gym to gym, but usually permit access for weekends, late nights and work hours.

If you prefer to work out at peak times, check how busy it is during those hours, to ensure it's not so oversubscribed that you can't get to use the equipment and facilities you want.

Don't get locked in unless you're committed

It's easy to get caught up in fitness goals and aspirations, and the first big step of that journey is usually buying a gym membership. However, it's best to not rush into a long-term contract, especially if you're less experienced in the gym, as you may find the setup or facilities the gym you've chosen has aren't suitable for what you're after. It's recommended to try free day passes of gyms where available to get to grips with new surroundings. 

Discover the best running and gym headphones

How we uncovered the best gyms

To uncover the best and worst gym chains, our MRS-qualified in-house researchers put together an in-depth survey covering the key aspects of choosing and using a gym that are important to users.

We then surveyed 2,652 adults who had a recent or current gym membership in an online survey run in November 2024. Respondents were a mix of members of the Which? Connect survey panel (made up of Which? members) and members of the public, to ensure we had a good spread of all the key gym brands.

We asked respondents to rate their gym membership on a range of factors including customer service, communication from the company, equipment, core and premium facilities, cleanliness, range and quality of classes, and value for money.

The overall customer score for each gym brand is based on customer satisfaction and likelihood to recommend the company to others.

To be a Which? Recommended Provider, a gym chain needed to:

• Have an overall customer score of 70% or higher
• Be rated three stars or above in all categories
• Have confirmation in its T&Cs that gym members would be able to freeze their membership if unable to use it through injury or illness (with necessary proof).

To be a Great Value gym, chains needed to:

• Have an overall customer score of 65% or higher
• Be rated three stars or higher in customer service, gym equipment, changing facilities and cleanliness
• Be significantly cheaper than the market average. 

We run pricing analysis to work out which brands represent the very best value for customers and work out which brands we can name as Great Value, so you can easily find the best and cheapest gyms near you.

To give a company a rating, we needed a minimum of 30 responses in our survey, so that it's statistically robust.

What annoys people about their gyms?

One of the most common gripes from gym-goers in our survey, when asked about their biggest issues with their gyms, was the cost of their membership or recent price increases. 

One respondent told us they considered the high fees they were paying for their premium gym membership to be 'not really representing value for money'. 

It’s worth thinking about how much you use your gym, and what you use it for the most when deciding whether to renew. If you’re paying higher prices for a gym with flashy extras but you only go to lift weights, consider swapping for a budget gym.

Another gripe some experienced, particularly in cheaper gym chains, was not being able to access certain areas or equipment. 

For some, this was due to faulty machines not being repaired quickly enough. For others, there was frustration in finding classes overbooked or in some cases frequently cancelled. But more commonly there was an issue with gyms being too busy and regularly feeling crowded. 

The best ways around this are either avoiding peak times when going for your workouts, or looking for a slightly more out of the way - or bigger - gym. 

How to beat 'Gymtimidation'

More than one in five people in our survey told us they found going to the gym intimidating. This is mainly down to a fear of being judged by others when working out, being intimidated by other gym regulars around you or being worried you’re performing a workout incorrectly.

Jack Murphy, Which? gyms expert, says:

'It can be tough getting out of your comfort zone and starting a new routine, but here are some ways to help tackle gym nerves:

• Go with a friend - It’s always comforting having a familiar face around a new environment, and it’s especially helpful if you know someone who’s a regular gym-goer and can show you the ropes.
• Avoid peak hours - Aim to beat the crowds by going in more off-peak times to have more space to yourself.
• Have a plan - Having to make decisions on what to do next on the spot can be stressful if you’re new to gym training. Going in armed with a plan of exercises and how to perform them ahead of time will help you feel confident in what you’re doing. If it’s your first time at a location, take a tour of the gym to familiarise yourself with the set-up.
• Prioritise comfort - Don't feel like you have to wear the latest flashy gym gear. Opt for something you feel comfortable in.'

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