Gym costs?

[TwinkleToesStrikesAgain]

How much would you expect to pay for a gym without classes and then one with glasses? Do you expect it to have parking or do you factor in 30 minutes trying to find a space and the cost of parking?

I just can't find one that isn't a massive faff. The closest ones are 15 min drive away but quite limited, the best one is 30 mins in no traffic but almost impossible to get a parking space plus I'd need to sell a kidney.

[MsMartini]

Gosh, it really doesn't sound like there is a good option. I'd stick to running too, maybe if you hear of good PT or Pilates instructors locally, get some perhaps in your playing fields, in the summer maybe? It is important to do some strength.

I just don't see how that amount of driving and parking hassle is worth it.

Might be worth checking eg classpass to see if there are any storefront or boutique gyms or whatever they are called, non-traditional specialist, springing up in small lots anyway.

[110APiccadilly]

Oh, and there's parking.

[110APiccadilly]

Local university (but have community memberships for non-students). It costs £30 a month for gym, pool and a good selection of classes (though a couple of classes haven't reappeared since Covid, which is annoying as it includes one I really liked).

[TwinkleToesStrikesAgain]

@OurChristmasMiracle the village shop is 30 mins walk from me - can't imagine having a gym on my doorstep! I miss living in a bigger city sometimes!

[TwinkleToesStrikesAgain]

I think I just live in the wrong place. The great but can't park gym is a David Lloyd one I think. I had a week pass but only managed to get parking one time, the other two I gave up after 15 mins drivinf around.

There's a pure gym in what was the garden department a diy shop - but again the parking is crap and it's a 30 min drive.

I guess I'll stick to running - at least I can do that in the evenings after I've cooked for everyone and still be done before 10.

When I lived in California I went to a women only gym that had absolutely fantastic classes. I miss that too!

[OurChristmasMiracle]

I pay £20 a month with classes and a sauna. Classes are great equipment is good. Gym offers 3 hours free parking in the shopping centre it’s located just outside of and it’s less than 10 mins from house walking or 2 bus stops.

[PenStation]

I pay £30 per month for unlimited gym, pool, sauna and steam room. What I really like is that there is no contract so I can cancel over the summer months when I’m exercising outdoors and start again in September. Do check the terms and conditions if you want to give one a try. Some tie you in.

[PilatesPeach]

It depends where you live and what sort of gym it is or maybe it is a club eg in my town there are various gyms eg Pure gym, the Gym that cost around £20 a month and have a few 30 minute classes included but no pool and people mainly use it to pump iron and use the machines.
There is a Council leisure centre £40 a month all classes included though not a great timetable in my opinion with a big gym but a run down pool and run down changing rooms.
There is a Village gym around £75 a month average size pool, loads of classes, nice gym nice changing rooms.
There is also a David Lloyd club - a premium one I believe it is around £160 a month might be £200 but has a nice spa, lots of classes and they run from early morning through the day and in the evening eg youj will have 4 yogas a day and 4 pilates just in the holistic studio and a nice cafe/bar area and 3 pools.
Depends what you want really.
The quietest is the Council run one. If you just want the gym you go to a cheaper place and if you want classes it is not really the best one.

[Gladioli23]

I pay £70 and there is free parking where I have never not got a space, and there are 2 pools, loads of classes and a massive well equipped gym. It's a lot of money but it's also lovely, and I go approx 4 times a week (sometimes 3, sometimes 5)

I used to go to the council gym, which was quite a lot cheaper (£40) but the classes and the pool were in different places 2 miles apart so you could go to the gym and then a class, or the gym then the pool, but not do a class and then go for a swim. The pool was only open directly after work one day a week, otherwise it didn't open til 6:30pm. Oh and you had to pay for parking at £1 an hour so realistically £2 a time unless I cycled there - which I usually did do because I resented paying for parking but then I ended up just not going if the weather was crap... If I had always driven I think it would have cost me the same as my current more expensive membership!

It doesn't really sound like any of those options are suitable tbh OP. Is it weather you want to escape from? Other than swimming this is one of my primary motivations so the idea of an outdoor boot camp type thing doesn't really interest me.

[Zazdar]

I pay around £140 a month including all classes and a trainer. Rural so no parking issues but it is ten miles away. There are no closer options at all.

[TwinkleToesStrikesAgain]

@AuntieMarys what I'd give for a gym with a steam room. Before kids I lived in a different city and had a £75/month membership of a great gym. I used to go at 8pm and it was practically empty. I loved that place. It didn't have classes but I lived in the steam room. I used to get into my pyjamas when changing out of my swimming cossie after I'd finishes and I slept so well (maybe the before kids bit helped too?)

[AuntieMarys]

Steam room

[AuntieMarys]

I pay £40 a month for gym, pool, classes, sauna, steamroller. Loads of free parking, coffee shop, bar.

[TwinkleToesStrikesAgain]

The local leisure is 10 mins drive (opposite direction to work) and only £35 a month but in the trial week I had I never managed to get a slot in a class (I think you have to ring to book at 00:01 or something. At the weekend there isn't enough parking and the council issues parking tickets with gay abandon. The one on the way to work (20 mins drive) is £60 a month for a small pool, 4 treadmills, 3 bikes, a small weights room and no classes. I was a member when pregnant as I only really used the pool but it's used for child's swimming lessons until 7pm and they've stopped the free towels.. The fab one in the city I work at is probably 30mins drive if no traffic, 45 mins more often, parking is a bloody nightmare but you won't get a ticket but it's > £100 a month and the classes seem to be more during the day than outside 9-5. There's another centra council gym which looks but traffic and the multistory carpark doesn't have spaces when you want them.

There is a boot camp on the cricket grounds where I live but it's not my thing. Yoga is during the weekday in the village hall. I haven't really clicked with online classes owing to the fact that I've got about 1 metre by the side of my bed by about 2.5 metres so enough room for my yoga mat but my desk is also next to my bed (it replaced my bedside table when we moved to WFH). I have started running but I really could do with some strength training I think.

I can't complain - I have a car. If you needed to get a bus to get to the gym, well, that wouldn't happen at all!!!

[MsMartini]

OP, if you like classes but no gym is handy, what about ones in parks? I go to a weekly bootcamp in my local park and there are loads of others there as well (boxing, running, tai chi). And very locally there are also Pilates, yoga etc in community buildings. And you get the buzzy/social aspect of group exercise if that appeals, so could combine with Les Mills on Demand at home, or something like that.

[DaisyWaldron]

I stopped using a gym in lockdown and haven't rejoined. I spent £100 on a second hand foldable rowing machine and do bodyweight strength and flexibility training with a free app. I can get out of bed, make a cup of tea and start exercising before I'm even properly awake. It's saved me so much time and money, and I don't get frustrated waiting for the equipment I want to use.

[garlictwist]

There's no way I'd go to the gym if I had to drive there, especially half an hour! The only gyms I'd consider are those en route to work or near my house.

I was a member of the gym at work (a university) and went every day but cancelled my membership when I started wfh as there's no way I'd be arsed to go

[devildeepbluesea]

I pay £15 pm (with corporate membership discount) for a council run gym with classes, although not that many classes, nor are they that convenient for me time wise. The gym is excellent though and parking is fine.

I’m looking about for somewhere else though. Ideally I’d like somewhere with pool and steam / sauna but there’s only one place in my city that offers that now and it’s (a) the opposite side of town and (b) extortionate.

I’ll probably end up at another council which offers pool and more classes. Paying around £25pm.

[Plantsandpuddlesuits]

We have a family pass for £100 a month. Includes swimming gym all classes sauna steam etc.

[notacooldad]

But I want: spa, sauna, steam, swim, classes, top of the range equipment

We get all that (all the gyms have had a complete refurbishement ) we also get a 2 x1 hour pt sessions a month, badminton courts for a vey small additional fee and use of a running track for £28 a month . I pay £17 due to working for the county council. Paying over a 100 quid seems a huge coast to me!

[WreckTangled]

Oh yes free plentiful parking too

[WreckTangled]

Our council run gym is 15 minutes drive away, has a pool, classes, squash courts and an ok gym. I get a student discount so it's £32 when I'm not training it's just an nhs discount which makes it £40 a month. I think normal price is about £45 a month?

[Tiger401]

I pay £101 a month (DL) but with discount due to having a partner on it too, if it was just me it would be £124.

I think it's overpriced

But I want: spa, sauna, steam, swim, classes, top of the range equipment.

[dementedpixie]

Council run sports centre with access to all of the other council run centres in the local authority- £35/month. Plenty of parking.

[Finlandandsweden]

£70 per month but I pay half. Loads of parking, pool, classes, lovely staff. 20 min drive away. They'll be prising my gym membership card from my cold dead hand