UK Health and Fitness Clubs Market Report 2024

This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the UK health and fitness club market. Know how and why consumers engage with your sector and data-backed opportunities to grow appeal.

UK Health and Fitness Clubs Market – Current Landscape

2023 saw some gym members trade down to budget-friendly gyms and the cost of living crisis is still a concern, despite macro-economic headlines. However, with consumers still prioritising their health and wellbeing and taking steps to proactively manage it, brands still need to demonstrate value for money and employ robust engagement strategies to inhibit potential attrition.

51% of UK consumers who have visited a private health and fitness club or would be interested in joining one in future, agree that gyms can be “intimidating places”. Breaking down barriers and making gyms and health clubs appear aspirational and accessible to all can be a focus area for brands. Making consumers feel comfortable is crucial for attracting and retaining new members.

Against the backdrop of ‘gymtimidation’, brands have a number of ways to create engagement with gym goers and potential goers, by focusing on social and fun upsides that gyms can bring. For instance, designing classes with fun at their core can help to get consumers in the fitness habit, with non-traditional fitness experiences that encourage members to stay active and form healthy habits. Emphasising the social upside of gym going can also add another dynamic for consumers to latch onto.

UK Health and Fitness Clubs – Market Statistics

• Health and fitness club market size: The market value continues to bounce back from the pandemic, hitting new highs in 2023 of £3,585m. This growth can be attributed to increased membership and higher fees from increased prices.
• Health and fitness club market share: Mintel estimates that the budget sector of health and fitness clubs accounts for over half of the total market. Ease of setup and venue choice make budget gyms easier to open, giving some reason behind this observation.
• Usage and membership of health and fitness facilities: UK consumers aged 16-24 are most likely to have visited a private health and fitness club venue in the past 12 months. There is an opportunity to push this lifestyle choice to younger consumers.
• Participation in activities at private health and fitness clubs: Low impact activities such as yoga and pilates are key to attracting new women members, as they are statistically more interested than men in these activities. Swimming is also more popular among women.

UK Health and Fitness Clubs Market Report – What’s Inside?

Key Topics Analysed in the Report

• The impact of economic conditions on the health and fitness clubs market.
• Health and fitness club market size analysis and forecast.
• Health and fitness club market share of major players and innovation.
• Consumer use of public vs private health facilities, and of private clubs by price level.
• The type of exercise undertaken in private health and fitness clubs.
• Importance of exercise to physical as well as mental wellbeing.
• Segmentation analysis identifying five different types of gym visitors.

Report Scope

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:

The budget segment is defined by memberships costing approximately £25 a month or significantly lower.

Typical memberships in mid-market gyms range from £20-40 per month, with contracts somewhat flexible, though geared towards the long term.

The premium segment of the private health and fitness club market is defined by its higher price range starting at approximately £40 per month for individual memberships. They are typified by long-term contracts and a range of well-being services. These facilities typically include swimming pools, spas, beauty treatments, additional sports amenities, and medical treatments.

Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis

This report was written by Joe Birch. Joe is a consumer technology analyst with Mintel. He has over a decade’s experience in the market research industry as a research analyst and report writer. He joined Mintel in 2019 after a number of years as a research manager at a boutique consultancy, servicing B2B, Financial services and public sector clients.

Brands will focus on creating personalised wellness solutions to drive engagement and retention and re-focus health and fitness clubs to be welcoming wellness spaces.

Joe Birch
Senior Technology and Leisure Analyst