Virgin Active

I recently joined this establishment and I’m pleased to say it’s been nothing but pure excitement everytime I enter. The gym is so accessible and for a post workout treat you can head down to the cafe. The staff are lovely, I am often served by Favour, super accommodating and easy to talk to. I would recommend to anyone who is looking to enhance their fitness journey.

I took out a membership in May 2025 after transferring from other places to exercise. The place at first seemed good, apart from some immediate ongoing repeat concerns that make the whole experience not very nice to be honest. I have lost count how many times overgrown kids of men act consistently inmature in this place starting with on repeat daily every second word in a sentence in the male changing rooms and the spa/steam room/sauna being swear words and using other obscene language in the vicinity of fathers with their own kids. No one should have to put up with this especially families who just want to have a calm serene time taking care of their wellness and fitness. Then there is the issue of the swimming pool and the spa/sauna/steam room. In the space of 1 year either the swimming pool or the spa/sauna/steam room has been closed on repeat over the same issues due to lack of proper maintenance or balancing the chemicals. The swimming pool is not very deep up to less then hip height for me all the way along and can feel small, cramped and overcrowded when more then 20 people are in it. The Classes are variable with no consistency of high quality instructors. Some instructors are good that I would attend classes with in more managed classes/studios with less numbers. The Studios can at times be over full/crowded and then you lose sight of what you should be doing. There is a high turnover of Class Instructors though with in the last year a number of Instructors I thought were great leaving. The Gym Equipment is of a good standard, however there is the issue of no management of people just sitting on the equipment for hours not exercising updating their social media instead. The Showers and Changing Rooms are in poor repair, old and tired, with dirt everywhere that if I didn’t have flip flops wouldn’t be happy walking through. The lockers are old and tired looking as well

I used to love going to this gym. Been a member for around 7-8 years, but since the refurb it seems the Company have been on a massive recruitment drive for members. Over subscribed, over crowded and impossible to plan any sort of a workout, also, good luck getting parked. The area now designated for stretching has the room for around 6 people and due to overcrowding and classes constantly running, im now having to stretch at home. Unfortunately Virgin seem to try to pull in as much money as possible, with little consideration for the quality of service provided for existing members. On a positive note though - a lot of equipment/spa facilities are generally out of order! If you like thinking on your feet for workouts and wasted journeys, defo sign up!

Shocking for anyone who actually wants to work out - at times it’s impossible. The same equipment has been here for 16 years, I used to come here in college. So I know exactly what it was like and it’s barely changed. Always broken too. Very expensive compared to other gyms locally. Not the cleanest. Waaaaay over subscribed and let a load of idiots join who just sit on their phone with their hoods up. Staff are alright but they have pathetic rules like: you can’t use the equipment near the classes if the classes are on. So say goodbye to rowers and ski erg if a class is on because even if they aren’t using that equipment - I was told by the person taking the class I can’t use it. Prices go up every year. And they justify it by telling you they’ve built a restaurant … that you have to pay for. Honestly… for £90+ a month it’s a waste of money if you actually work out or have any fitness goals… this isn’t the gym for you. Classes are rubbish too nowhere near as intense as you need to see any kind of meaningful change. All brand . No substance.