Best and worst gyms rated

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. 

In 2023, we asked over 1,500 gym-goers about their experiences with different gym brands, from David Lloyd to PureGym, to uncover the best-rated options.

Users rated facilities, classes and value for money among other aspects, with three gym brands standing out above the rest.

We’ve also compared costs, perks and locations to help you choose the best gym for your needs and budget.

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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 three gym brands that we recommend. 

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. 

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Gym membership costs compared

The cost of gym memberships can vary by hundreds of pounds, even for the same chain. It depends on factors including the location, whether you go at peak or off-peak times, and any additional extras you might want, such as access to certain premium facilities.

Some gyms offer a range of discounted options for groups such as students too. 

The most common price bracket for an active gym membership in our survey was between £25 and £50 per month - with 46% of gym-goers saying this is what they have most recently paid. 

22% of memberships were under £25, with the majority of those paying lower amounts being people signed up to The Gym Group, JD Gyms and PureGym. Off-peak memberships with these brands is about as cheap as it gets.

10% of survey respondents told us their gym membership costs more than £100 per month, with some David Lloyd membership options costing £200+. 

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What to consider when choosing a gym

Think about what types of workout 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. 

Check different locations - prices can vary based on the gym location you choose. 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.

Decide when you’ll be going - Most gym brands have different opening hours, 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, scope out how busy it is during those hours, to ensure it's not so oversubscribed that you can't get a look in.

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Our gym brand survey: how we uncovered the best gyms

We surveyed 1,786 people in October 2023 about their gym memberships.

We asked them to rate their gym and membership on a range of factors including customer service, communication from the company, equipment, core & premium facilities, ease of access, 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 score 70% or higher, be rated three stars or above in all categories and 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 give a company a rating, we needed a minimum of 30 responses in our survey.

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