2025
9
UK Health and Fitness Clubs Market Report 2025
2025-10-01T20:01:42+00:00
REP5F64FF07_D05C_4B78_AC96_AC998C7CB47C
2195
187301
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Report
en_GB
The percentage of consumers visiting a private health or fitness club has risen from 22% in 2024 to 28% in…
UK
Leisure and Entertainment
simple

UK Health and Fitness Clubs Market Report 2025

"The sector continues to grow, driven by localised expansion. An increasing focus on community, luxury and all-round wellness can drive appeal."

Joe Birch - Senior Technology and Leisure Analyst

Joe Birch - Senior Technology and Leisure Analyst

UK Health and Fitness Clubs – Trends and Insights

  • The percentage of consumers visiting private health or fitness clubs has increased since 2024, signaling that the organic growth potential identified in 2024 is now being realised.
  • More gym users are utilising flexible fitness booking services, highlighting a growing demand for ultra-personalised and convenient fitness solutions that cater to individual workout and wellness goals.
  • Health and fitness clubs are evolving from functional workout spaces to integral lifestyle choices. Features like high-quality changing rooms and shower facilities are essential, and positioning gyms as spaces for personal time, especially for those in cramped or family living situations, can be a compelling selling point.
  • Nearly 30% of consumers who canceled their gym memberships cited affordability as the primary reason. To address this, brands must balance pricing sensitivity with efforts to engage and retain members by emphasising the value and benefits of club membership during every visit.
  • Beyond pricing adjustments, health and fitness clubs must prioritise member engagement and retention by consistently showcasing the value of their offerings, fostering interaction, and creating a sense of community to maintain loyalty.

Key Issues Covered in the Report

  • The value of the private health and fitness clubs sector and a forecast through to 2030, including growth opportunities across key industry segments
  • The economic, social and technological factors affecting the growth of the health and fitness market, along with insights into why consumers cancel memberships
  • Trended use of private health and fitness facilities and predictions of future growth in the sector
  • Insights into consumer visitation patterns at health and fitness clubs, including preferred visit methods (eg membership, free pass) and peak activity times
  • Key value drivers for consumers when choosing a private health and fitness club
Report AttributesDetails
Published DateSeptember 2025
Data Range2019 – 2030
Measurement MetricsRevenue in £
Country FocusUnited Kingdom (UK)
Consumer Data2,000 internet users aged 16+, June 2025
Number of Pages52
Market SegmentationPrivate Health and Fitness Clubs, Budget Health and Fitness Clubs, Premium Health and Fitness Clubs, Small Independent Health Clubs, Holistic Wellness Centres, Luxury Health and Fitness Clubs
Leading CompaniesPureGym, The Gym Group, Anytime Fitness, David Lloyd, Virgin Active, Fitness First

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for UK health and fitness clubs
    • Opportunities
    • Upsell the aspirational lifestyle choice of premium fitness venues
    • Premium brands can extend into ‘lite’ propositions, to appeal to budget conscious consumer
    • Leverage the use of AI to drive personalisation and engagement
    • Focus on the rewarding upside of exercise to foster engagement
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Market drivers
    • Despite improvement in consumer finances, consumers are still cautious
    • Graph 1: index of financial sentiment in the next year, 2016-25
    • Physical, mental and financial health are deeply interconnected
    • Graph 2: self-reported physical and mental health (NET), by financial situation, 2024
    • Tailored wellbeing will drive health and fitness clubs propositions
    • Graph 3: health priorities of British consumers, 2025
    • Highlight low impact exercise options alongside strength and conditioning
    • Graph 4: exercise participation, by type of activity, 2022-25
    • The convergence of tech and health will continue to drive personalised insights for health club members
    • Graph 5: trust and privacy in health data, 2025
    • Market size and forecast
    • Revenues set to reach record highs in 2025, with sustained growth through 2030
    • Graph 6: market forecast for health and fitness clubs, 2019-30
    • Larger footprints in underserved areas and diversification of health offerings will drive health and fitness club revenues
    • Market segmentation
    • Budget segment continues to see further growth
    • Graph 7: estimated number of sites held by budget gym operators, by year, 2020-25
    • Average spend nears £100 for Virgin Active members
    • Graph 8: average spend per transaction by users of key private health clubs, 2025
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Usage and membership of health and fitness clubs
    • Jump in those visiting private gyms in past 12 months
    • Graph 9: use of private health and fitness facilities in the last 12 months, 2024-25
    • Gyms should actively market to the pub goer
    • Organic growth can extend within existing gym visiting demographics
    • Budget offerings maintain share, but more premium spaces gain traction
    • Graph 10: types of private health and fitness club(s) visited in the last 12 months, 2024-25
    • Gym types can appeak to consumers who want different experiences for their exercise needs
    • Budget the key type of fitness club for younger people
    • Opportunities for premium brands to diversify into smaller lite spaces
    • Gym goers are increasingly looking for flexible options
    • Graph 11: ways of accessing a private health and fitness club, 2024-25
    • Gen Z are driving flexible access services
    • Timing of gym and health club visiting
    • Weekend mornings the most popular time for gym visiting
    • Tap into off peak with special discounts and dynamic, flexible pricing
    • Graph 12: time and day of private health and fitness club visitation, NET, 2025
    • FlexiGym Now service could leverage dynamic pricing and tap into spontaneity
    • Factors most important in choosing a health and fitness club
    • Promote the effortless start to the day with your facilities
    • Graph 13: factors most important for consumers in a health and fitness club, 2025
    • Differences in younger males and females priorities with their ‘must-have’ gym features
    • Lean into community to push engagement
    • Graph 14: factors most important for consumers in a health and fitness club, 2025
    • Promote gyms as a rewarding rather than functional experience
    • Swimming pools hold appeal for older consumers
    • Cancellation of gym memberships
    • Focus on the emotional pull of premium offers to drive trading up
    • Graph 15: reasons for cancelling gym memberships, 2025
    • Women face greater cost pressures – help support their lifestyle with tailored interventions
    • Gen Z are price sensitive
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Competitive strategies
    • Budget operators focus on key strategic sites to make gym going more convenient
    • AI-enhanced gym equipment aims to enhance member experience
    • David Lloyd plans ‘Enhanced Club’ with a focus on luxury health and wellness
    • Boutique operator Third Space eyes footprint in high-end central spaces
    • Virgin Active renovates to innovate and pushes social upside of gym going
    • Group fitness sessions a must-have for over four in 10
    • Brands court the apprehensive and the competitive gym goer
    • Advertising and marketing activity
    • Gym Group leads advertising spend in 2024
    • Graph 16: total ATL, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on top five private health and fitness clubs, 2024
    • All hours access appeals to health and fitness club visitors
    • Gym Group highlights premium equipment for budget price
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
    • Snoop SpendMapper methodology
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Abbreviations
    • Abbreviations and terms

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