Manchester has a well-developed network of gyms and leisure centres with swimming pools, covering everything from budget-priced public facilities to premium health clubs. Whether you want a serious 50-metre training lane, an Art Deco tiled Victorian pool or a luxury club with outdoor lido access, the city has options at most price points. This guide breaks down the best gyms with pools in Manchester by budget, with practical details on pool size, membership cost and location.
- Manchester Aquatics Centre offers two 50-metre pools and a gym from £15–£45/month — the best-value serious swimming facility in the city.
- David Lloyd has two Manchester sites (North and Trafford City), both with indoor and outdoor pools, from around £82.50/month.
- Budget city-centre options with pools include the Y Club (18m pool, from £29/month) and King Street Gym (pool + sauna from £29.95/month).
- JD Gym Manchester does not have a pool — it focuses on strength, cardio and functional fitness.
Manchester Gyms with Pools: Premium and Mid-Range Options
David Lloyd Manchester
David Lloyd operates two clubs in the Manchester area, both of which include swimming pools as a core facility. The David Lloyd Manchester Trafford City site features a 20-metre indoor heated pool and a 20-metre outdoor pool, along with one of the largest children’s pools in the David Lloyd network — making it particularly well-suited to families. The club also has a gym, spa, tennis and racquets courts, and a range of group fitness classes. The David Lloyd Manchester North site offers a comparable package with indoor and outdoor heated pools, sauna, steam room, racquets facilities and year-round swimming.
David Lloyd is the most expensive option on this list, with peak-time membership at Trafford City from around £82.50 per month. That price reflects a premium offering: all-day access, extensive class timetables, spa facilities, and a social club environment that goes considerably beyond a standard gym membership. Day passes are available for visitors who want to try the facilities before committing.
Nuffield Health, Y Club and Bannatyne
Nuffield Health Manchester Printworks (27 Withy Grove, M4 2BS) sits at the midpoint of the price range, with membership from £54 per month. The club includes a large heated pool, sauna, steam room, over 90 weekly fitness classes and physiotherapy services. Multi-site access to other Nuffield locations is available, which is useful for members who travel or work across the city.
The Y Club on Liverpool Road in Castlefield (M3 4JR) is the largest gym in Manchester city centre and one of the more affordable options with a pool. Membership runs from £29–£42 per month and includes access to an 18-metre pool with excellent natural light, a steam room and sauna, and an extensive weekly class programme. The Y Club has been operating since 1844, which gives it a distinct character compared with newer commercial chains. Bannatyne Manchester adds another premium mid-range option, with a pool set under a striking Art Deco dome — unusual for a modern health club — plus steam room, sauna and jacuzzis.
For the most budget-friendly private gym option in the city centre, King Street Gym combines a pool, sauna and steam room with a gym floor, from around £29.95 per month, with a strong 4.6-star Google rating. It can get busy after 5pm on weekdays but remains one of the most accessible private pool options in central Manchester.
| Gym | Pool | Monthly Price (approx.) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Lloyd Trafford City | 20m indoor + 20m outdoor | From £82.50 | Trafford Park |
| Nuffield Health Printworks | Heated indoor | From £54 | City centre |
| Y Club | 18m indoor | £29–£42 | Castlefield |
| King Street Gym | Indoor pool | From £29.95 | City centre |
| Bannatyne Manchester | Art Deco dome pool | Premium | City centre |
Budget-Friendly Pool Options: Public Leisure Centres
Manchester Aquatics Centre
For serious swimmers, Manchester Aquatics Centre (2 Booth Street East, M13 9SS) is the standout public facility in the city. The centre was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and features a 50-metre pool with a moveable floor, a second 50-metre pool, a 25-metre training pool, a 5.1-metre diving pool with platforms and springboards, and a family leisure pool with flumes and bubble features. Four gym areas cover cardio, strength training, functional training and a women-only space.
Membership is available from £15–£45 per month depending on the tier — a fraction of the cost of private clubs, with arguably better pool facilities than any of them. The centre is operated by Better under a partnership with the University of Manchester. Day passes are available without membership, making it accessible for occasional visitors. If you are already searching for gyms with pools more broadly across the UK, our guide to gyms with swimming pools near me covers how to find options in any area.
Moss Side, Withington Baths and Other Local Options
Manchester’s network of public leisure centres spreads good pool access across most parts of the city. Moss Side Leisure Centre (Moss Lane, M15 5NN) has two six-lane 25-metre pools plus a teaching pool — a solid option for residents of south-west Manchester. Hough End Leisure Centre (Princess Road, M20 1HD) offers a similar configuration with a 6-lane 25-metre main pool and a training pool.
One of Manchester’s most characterful public pools is Withington Baths (30 Burton Rd, M20 3EB) — a 23-metre Edwardian pool built in 1913 and now the last working pool of its era in the city. It has been described as a hidden gem: the building retains period architecture, and the facility includes a gym and sauna alongside the historic pool. For South Manchester residents, Village Gym Cheadle (Cheadle Road, SK8 1HW) offers a recently refurbished 25-metre heated indoor pool with aqua aerobics classes and a full gym, from £39–55 per month — worth considering if you are not tied to the city centre. Stretford Sports Village (Great Stone Road, M32 0ZS) is another convenient option in west Manchester, with a 25-metre main pool and a separate leisure pool.
| Facility | Pool | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Aquatics Centre | Two 50m + diving | M13 9SS | Public (Better) |
| Moss Side Leisure Centre | Two 25m (6 lanes) | M15 5NN | Public |
| Hough End Leisure Centre | 25m + training pool | M20 1HD | Public |
| Withington Baths | 23m Edwardian | M20 3EB | Public (historic) |
| Stretford Sports Village | 25m + leisure pool | M32 0ZS | Public |
| Village Gym Cheadle | 25m heated indoor | SK8 1HW | Private |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gyms in Manchester have swimming pools?
Gyms with pools in Manchester include David Lloyd (Trafford City and North), Nuffield Health Printworks, Y Club, King Street Gym, Bannatyne Manchester and Village Gym Cheadle. Public pools with gym facilities include Manchester Aquatics Centre, Moss Side Leisure Centre, Withington Baths, Hough End and Stretford Sports Village.
How much is David Lloyd Manchester membership?
David Lloyd Manchester Trafford City membership starts from around £82.50/month at peak times. This includes access to indoor and outdoor pools, spa, tennis courts and fitness classes. Off-peak and family memberships are available at different rates.
Is there a public gym with a pool in Manchester city centre?
The Y Club on Liverpool Road in Castlefield is the closest city-centre public-access gym with a pool (18m), from £29/month. Manchester Aquatics Centre near Oxford Road is the best public pool facility, with 50m pools from £15/month.
What is the best cheap gym with a pool in Manchester?
Manchester Aquatics Centre offers the best value, with 50-metre Commonwealth-standard pools and gym access from £15–£45/month. King Street Gym (from £29.95/month) and Y Club (from £29/month) are the cheapest private gym options with pools in the city centre.
Does JD Gym Manchester have a pool?
No. JD Gym Manchester on Whitworth Street does not have a swimming pool. It focuses on strength training, cardio machines, functional fitness and saunas, but there is no pool at this location.
Is Manchester Aquatics Centre open to the public?
Yes. Manchester Aquatics Centre on Booth Street East is a public facility operated by Better. It is open to all and offers swim sessions, lane swimming, gym memberships and day passes. It is also used by University of Manchester students.
What is the Y Club Manchester pool like?
The Y Club has an 18-metre pool with plenty of natural light — described as one of the best-lit pools in the city centre. It also has a steam room and sauna. Membership costs £29–£42/month and the club is one of the oldest fitness centres in Manchester, established in 1844.
Are there outdoor pools in Manchester?
David Lloyd Trafford City and Manchester North both have outdoor heated pools. Dock 9 at Salford Quays offers outdoor open-water swimming. Hathersage Open Air Pool in the Peak District (30 minutes from Manchester) is a 30-metre heated outdoor pool open March to September.
