Gym membership: how to get the best deals
Consider what you need from a gym before signing up to make sure you get the best value for money.
The cost will depend on what services are provided, such as a swimming pool or classes, and also things such as the quality of the facilities – for example, the changing rooms.
Plenty of budget gym chains have popped up across the UK, often with much lower membership prices. The Gym Group was this week offering memberships starting from about £13.99 a month, although in some locations there were introductory deals from £9.99 a month. Meanwhile, PureGym was offering a wide range of prices – for example, in some locations such as Glasgow, Bury and East Kilbride, you could pay about £10 a month for off-peak access.
Many offer monthly rolling contracts, meaning you are not locked into an agreement and can cancel whenever you like.
The service will often be basic – there may be no swimming pool, for example – and you will usually have to bring your own towels, shower gel and padlock.
Local gyms can sometimes offer better value for money than big health centre chains, too.
If you know you are only interested in one specific element – for example, fitness machines, swimming or classes – you might be able to get a membership for just that one thing.
Steven Scales, the director of membership and sector development at the industry body ukactive, says: “It is worth considering, aside from the health benefits, what you want to achieve by attending a facility or exercise in general – whether that’s working out alone with your earphones in or social connection through a group exercise class with the motivation of a peer group and an instructor.”
Gym membership contracts are notorious for being difficult to get out of, so make sure you
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