If you want a gym that comes with a swimming pool, you are not short of options in the UK — but the price gap between the cheapest and most expensive is enormous. A lane swim at a council leisure centre can cost less than a cinema ticket, while a premium health club membership with spa pools and outdoor lanes can top £250 a month. A Which? survey of 6,498 gym members in September 2025 identified 14 major UK chains that include swimming pools as standard. This guide names every one, shows what each chain charges in 2026, and explains the quickest way to find one close to your postcode.
- 14 major UK gym chains include swimming pools — from David Lloyd to Better
- Average UK gym membership costs £48.45 a month; pool gyms typically start from £40
- Better operates 140+ indoor pools and 9 outdoor lidos — the UK’s largest community network
- Hussle day passes from £7.20 let you try a pool gym before committing
- Half of major chains raised prices by 5%+ year-on-year — short contracts reduce your risk
UK Gym Chains That Have Swimming Pools
Not every gym has a pool. Budget chains such as PureGym and The Gym Group offer no swimming facilities at all — their lower prices reflect that trade-off. The 14 chains confirmed to offer pools by the Which? September 2025 survey range from luxury health clubs to council-run leisure centres, so there is a realistic option at almost every price point.
David Lloyd and Virgin Active: Premium Chains with Indoor and Outdoor Pools
David Lloyd Clubs is the benchmark for premium pool gyms in the UK. The chain operates 139 clubs across the UK and Europe, and every single one includes at least one indoor pool. Most clubs also have an outdoor pool and a splash pool for children, and swimming is included in all membership tiers rather than being sold as an add-on. According to David Lloyd’s own pool guide, members can book lane swimming, aqua aerobics and family swim sessions across the network.
Virgin Active runs more than 40 UK locations and similarly positions pools — along with spas and tennis courts — as core amenities rather than optional extras. Both chains target families and those who want a complete leisure experience rather than just a weights room.
Third Space, the luxury London-focused chain, takes the premium tier further still. Its Canary Wharf club is described as Europe’s largest luxury health club. Memberships reach £252 a month at the top end, but the facilities — including 25-metre pools and spa areas — reflect that outlay.
Nuffield Health, Bannatyne and Other Mid-Range Chains
Nuffield Health runs 110+ fitness and wellbeing centres across the UK, making it one of the most geographically widespread mid-range options. Pools sit alongside physiotherapy services and health screening — a combination that makes Nuffield particularly popular with people returning from injury or managing a long-term condition.
Bannatyne Health Clubs operate 60+ clubs with pools and spa facilities. The chain covers England and Scotland and its pricing is competitive for a mid-tier product. Everyone Active, Fitness First, Total Fitness, Village Gyms, Places Leisure and Fusion Lifestyle all appear on the Which? confirmed-pool list, meaning members get swimming access as part of their standard membership rather than paying a surcharge.
Budget Option: Better, Freedom Leisure and Council Leisure Centres
Better, operated by the charitable social enterprise GLL, is the UK’s largest community leisure operator. It runs 140 indoor swimming pools and 9 outdoor lidos across England, Cardiff and Belfast — including Manchester Aquatics Centre and several open water sites. A Better Swim UK membership also gives 30% discounts on other activities and advanced booking privileges.
Freedom Leisure covers 90+ locations, many of which include pools and racket sports. Local authority leisure centres — operated under contracts by companies like GLL, Places Leisure and Everyone Active — often offer the most affordable fixed monthly rates, particularly outside London, and are usually open to non-members on a pay-as-you-go basis for a single-session fee.
How Much Does a Gym with a Pool Cost in the UK?
Pool gyms are almost always more expensive than gym-only memberships, but the range is wide enough that cost alone should not be a barrier. The key driver is location: London members pay roughly twice what members in Northern Ireland pay for the same type of facility.
Average UK Gym Membership Prices in 2026
According to Resamania’s 2026 analysis, the average cost of a gym membership in the UK is £48.45 a month for a peak, non-contracted membership at a privately owned club. Breaking this down by type:
- Budget gyms and fitness clubs: £25.78/month
- Independent single-site gyms: £43.12/month
- Multi-site health and fitness clubs (which includes most pool chains): £53.51/month
By region, London is the most expensive at an average of £76.26 a month, while Northern Ireland is the most affordable at £35.79 a month. These figures span all gym types; pool-only gyms at the premium end sit significantly above these averages.
Price Comparison Table: Major Gym Chains with Pools
The table below shows sample monthly prices for major UK chains with swimming pools, based on January 2026 data. Note that David Lloyd and Nuffield prices vary substantially between London and regional clubs.
| Chain | Pool type | Monthly cost (sample) | Joining fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Lloyd Clubs | Indoor + outdoor (most clubs) | ~£94.50 (avg) | Varies |
| Nuffield Health (London City) | Indoor | £137 | £39 |
| Nuffield Health (Bolton) | Indoor | £62 | £39 |
| Bannatyne (Weybridge) | Indoor + spa | £89.99 | £30 |
| Bannatyne (Lowestoft) | Indoor | £43.99 | £25 |
| Better (GLL) | 140 indoor + 9 lidos | Budget tier (varies by centre) | Varies |
| Virgin Active | Indoor + spa | Premium tier | Varies |
| Third Space | 25m indoor pools | Up to £252 | Varies |
Important: PureGym and The Gym Group — the two largest budget chains by membership numbers — do not include swimming pools. Their low prices reflect this. If you see them appearing in local search results for “gym near me,” check the amenities list before signing up.
The Which? analysis also found that half of the 18 major chains surveyed raised their prices by 5% or more year-on-year. Locking into a long contract at a pool gym carries a real risk of a mid-term price rise.
Day Passes and Pay-as-You-Go: Swimming Without a Membership
If you want to test a pool gym before committing to a monthly contract — which is sensible given that 48% of UK gym members paused or cancelled their membership within two years according to Which? — pay-as-you-go options are widely available.
Hussle aggregates day passes for hundreds of UK gyms, including those with pools. London pool-gym day passes on the platform range from £7.20 to £27.00 for a single visit. A Hussle Monthly+ pass, which allows unlimited visits across a network of gyms, runs from £52.50 to £190.80 depending on the gym tier you select.
Better leisure centres also accept pay-as-you-go swimmers at most sites, and council leisure centres typically publish single-swim prices on their websites without requiring any sign-up.
How to Find a Gym with a Pool Near You in 3 Steps
Finding a pool gym near your postcode takes less than five minutes using the right search tools. The three-step approach below covers both budget and premium options and helps you compare before you visit.
Step 1 — Use Hussle to Filter Gyms with Pools by Postcode
Go to Hussle’s UK gym finder and enter your postcode or allow location access. Once results load, filter by “swimming pool” in the amenities menu. Hussle’s London search alone returns 94 gyms with pools within 20 miles of a central London postcode — coverage across other major UK cities is comparable.
Hussle is particularly useful as a first step because it displays day-pass prices alongside membership costs, letting you trial a pool session before making any commitment. If you’re unsure whether you’ll use a pool regularly, a £7–£15 day pass is a low-risk way to find out.
Step 2 — Try Better’s Centre Locator for Council Pool Access
Better operates the UK’s widest community pool network. Use Better’s Centre Locator and enter your postcode to see the nearest of its 140 indoor pools and 9 lidos. A standard Better monthly membership covers gym, swim and fitness classes at all centres in the network — typically making it the most affordable all-inclusive option, especially outside London.
Manchester Aquatics Centre is among the flagship venues in the Better network. Accessible facilities, including Poolpod lifts and adapted changing rooms, are available at many sites.
Step 3 — What to Check Before You Sign Up
Once you’ve shortlisted two or three options, visit in person during the time of day you’d normally use the pool. Specifically check:
- Pool length: a standard competition pool is 25 metres; many club pools are shorter, which affects lane swimming
- Lane swim session times: some pools restrict lane swimming to specific hours, making the pool unavailable during peak gym usage
- Changing facilities: look for Poolpod lifts and accessible changing rooms if needed
- Contract terms: given that half of major chains raised prices by more than 5% in a year, a rolling monthly contract limits your exposure to mid-term increases
- Extras you’re actually paying for: spa, sauna, steam room and tennis courts add value — but only if you’ll use them
Most premium chains — David Lloyd, Nuffield Health, Virgin Active and Bannatyne — offer a free trial day or a discounted first month. Take advantage of these before signing any contract.
The most surprising finding from the Which? 2025 survey is not the price spread but the churn: nearly half of all UK gym members leave within two years. For a gym that includes a swimming pool — where the membership often costs twice as much as a budget gym — that risk is worth taking seriously. Try a Hussle day pass at your shortlisted club first, compare the pool size and session availability, and then choose the shortest contract on offer before upgrading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PureGym have a swimming pool?
No. PureGym does not include swimming pools at any of its UK locations. Its low monthly prices reflect this. If you need a pool, look at Nuffield Health, Better, Bannatyne or David Lloyd instead.
What is Hussle and how does it work?
Hussle is a UK gym aggregator that lets you buy day passes or monthly passes for hundreds of gyms and leisure centres, including those with pools. You can filter by amenity and postcode, then pay per visit or buy a monthly+ pass from £52.50.
Can you swim at David Lloyd without a full membership?
David Lloyd clubs are primarily membership-based, but some clubs offer day visitor access or short-term guest passes. Prices and availability vary by location — check your nearest club’s website for current day pass options.
Is Better gym good for swimming?
Better operates 140 indoor pools and 9 outdoor lidos across England, Cardiff and Belfast — the UK’s largest community pool network. A swim membership includes access to all sites and is typically one of the most affordable fixed-price options available.
Which gym chain is cheapest with a swimming pool?
Better and council leisure centres are generally the most affordable gyms with pools in the UK. Budget gyms average £25.78/month, while pool-inclusive community centres often fall within that range depending on your area.
