Cheap gyms deals discussion

spork_2

Does anyone here use Virgin Active in Moorgate or Barbican (which of the two is better? See below); Nuffield Health City in Cannon Street, or Fitness First in Baker Street, Pure Gym in Oval, Gym Group in Waterloo or Fitness4Less in Southwark in London?

I've not visited yet, but can't decide between paying out or sticking to a budget gym! I guess I want a prelim of what they're like before I run around all over London. What are the weights section like (decent number/quality/availability of equipment eg. squat racks and benches, barbells etc), how clean are they and how secure are they (lockers)?

Fitness4Less seems really busy in the evenings and I popped into the Gym Group's Waterloo branch during the first week of opening and the weights are seems even smaller than F4L and was packed. They typically had an abundance of cardio machines *roll eyes*.

I really want to do weight lifting but also body pump and perhaps spin, ashtanga yoga or pilates classes if possible. The VA gyms in Moorgate has an okay timetable for body pump, the Barbican less so, but Nuffield City Cannons Gym is perfect and nearer to work = attending morning, lunch and evening classes.. I was quoted £89/month for annual membership and £99/month for quarterly membership, which seems outrageously steep. If they had tokens for ten classes at a time or something that one could pay for, I would definitely opt for that. Anyone know where else I can do Body Pump on its own with PAYG for classes or at a nice, clean gym with a decent weights section?

There's Barbican VA is £62 for me as a 18-25 year old and £42 with Pruhealth... Both seem steep! Is anyone still going to a VA gym in London with the Pru?

If you're a guy (as this gym does not cater for women) and you're into weight lifting, Muscle Works in Bethnal Green (one station away from Liverpool St) is an absolute mecca! It's like Gold's Gym in Venice Beach... It's great if you don't need a sauna/spa/tiny pointless swimming pool/running track. There's also Pumping Iron Fitness Gym and Genesis gym in North London, Skylines gym in Catford and one near Wembley. Several of them are owned by or have IFBB winners training there.

In the US, massive warehouse gyms like Gold's and Equinox are about $30 per month, yet our gyms have inadequate weight sections, are of variable standards, often cramped and even without natural lighting or windows, yet exceed that amount!!

jenniewb

I think there's a Virgin Active voucher for a day trial on the website somewhere, maybe you could try either and see how it works out?

I've not tried the FF in Baker Street but did try the FF Black-Label on Tottenham Court Road for 2 weeks about two years ago and I ended up with 4 separate skin conditions, 3 of which were contagious through contact, two of them rare, one stress related (possibly due to sleepless nights whilst my entire body kept me itching and I was trying hard not to scratch and spread things!)
I'm a clean person, I wash daily but the gym was not so clean. I'm pretty sure this is where I caught the conditions as everything down to the incubation period matched up with the dates I was there. I hope things have cleared up inside the FF gyms but just to mention to keep an eye out for good gym hygiene.

And yes, I agree with you, our gyms are massively over priced! My local council gym is £50 a month and yet only offers showers which spray (yes spray don't run like normal showers) for 10 second shots, sometimes warm but mostly ice cold, (no temperature dial) and the hair dryer when working is a 800W travel drier (just the one) which often is broken, the gym allows children over the age of 14 in who often like to pose or play games rather then use the gym properly and no, there is no steam room, no free locker, the TVs don't always work, the sauna is not included in the price and the pool is used for school children mon-fri 9-3pm (all but one lane if you don't mind the splashing and screaming).

It makes other gyms seem pretty amazing in comparison, free towels, free sauna/steamroom, clean changing room, warm showers and I've even seen straighteners in some gyms and know of some that offer free wifi and computer access.

Make a list of what your looking for, see which gym matches more then the others and don't forget to weigh in travel costs and any extras you may need. Many gyms rise fees in January so always ask them when rates do go up and by how much each year as with most memberships your tied in for the whole 12 months regardless of price rises.

spork_2

I had read all the pages in this thread including the infections bit - did put me completely off! Fitness First/LA Fitness contracts are a major turn off, but I figured the Baker St branch would be better as it's in a decent area and flagship centre. It sounds like one has to be a lawyer to get out of their contracts without paying a penny more than one ought to!

That's why Fitness4Less/Pure Gym/The Gym Group appeal to me, but their classes aren't of the Les Mills variety albeit they do have a larger weights section than FF/LA Fitness in central London. I gwill try out day passes, but I suppose it's the expense of £60+ that makes me wince, so if the cheapo gyms were amazing, I could just dive in or get suggestions for a PAYG class to attend.

purt

Does anyone know if Virgin Active offer any discounted membership rates in January, for example? Am thinking of joining one of their London clubs, but would be prepared to hold off until January if I thought I'd get a better deal.

TallGirl

Scary to read what you guys pay in London. here is my pennies worth. i live near Portsmouth.

I was with my local leisure centre but the traffic to get ere was so bad I moved to a nearer Fitness First. The main thing I noticed as different was free drinks and tea and coffee plus at some stage free Daily Mail. It had no pool which my Local Authority ones did but I never used it. Classes were the same Les Mills even the same instructors. I paid £32 at the local leisure centre and £34 at Fitness First for all classes etc.

Then Fitness First decided to close but luckily twenty4seven took over and I joined them paying £20 a month no contract. Totally the same I not better then Fitness First as they have dropped the crèche and the squash court so much more room now. Still the same amount of classes and even the same instructors. Also open 24/7.

No free drinks or paper towels but I don't care. Got a beauty and hair salon inside as well as the usual physio and massage.

jackjones86

My gym's £35/month. Joined couple of years ago because there was no 12 month minimum and no induction fee. But the water fountain keeps on breaking so I wrote a letter of complaint. Result... 2 months free. Now what else can I complain about....

Helen224488

Hi,

I really wanna join this gym. We have been quoted £99 per month for a couple membership on a 12 month contract & £112 per month on a 6 month contract. The offer at moment is 1/2 price for 1 month & £15 admin fee, no joining fee. Towel hire is a further £5 per month per person but we are not bothered about this.

The problem is we only want a 6 month contract & we don't wanna pay more than £100 per month. We used to be members of Nuffield Bristol which was £126 per month for a couple but we cancelled due to the fact they closed their pool & sauna/steam room for 9 weeks & offered us no discounts. They let us leave without penalty 4 months into a 12 month contract.

Our friend who just cancelled Bannatynes off peak membership was only paying £37 per month but we were quoted £46 on a 12 month contract & £52 on a 12 month contract.

It seems they charge what they like but when I mentioned our friend they said it is 1 price for everyone & they must of joined on a special offer. I am thinking if we wait until just before Christmas say 23rd or 24th they may have a better offer say join now get Jan for free or they might be more open for discounts as they want to hit their sales targets.

Are you a member of Bannatynes Bristol? What membership do you have? What price do you pay?

blinko

Does anyone know any good deals in London for gyms? with xmas and new year around the corner I am reluctant to take out something as i know loadsa deals may be on the horizon.....your thoughts?

chuckley

purt wrote: »

Does anyone know if Virgin Active offer any discounted membership rates in January, for example? Am thinking of joining one of their London clubs, but would be prepared to hold off until January if I thought I'd get a better deal.

not anymore. they do the 1-2 months free on a 12 month contract. they stopped doing big deals back in 2008 when the crash happened. now you have to haggle if you can with the individual clubs.

mollythedog

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