If walking up all the hills around Bath is not enough exercise for you or you need some extra motivation to get fit, then heading to the gym is a great way to get a workout in. Bath has lots of options, from cheap and cheerful gyms with minimal commitment to more intense training environments and group sessions designed to inspire you.
Find a gym that fits your lifestyle (and budget) by considering factors like its opening hours, what facilities and equipment it has, and whether it offers inclusive extras like personal training sessions, a swimming pool, or group classes.
Whether you’ve got a goal in mind, or you need a little help to get started on your fitness journey, here are 10 of the best gyms in Bath to get fit at this year. More of an outdoorsy type? Check out our list of Bath’s best golf courses to get your steps in while you enjoy a game!
1. FLY Fitness
Smack bang in the city centre on Bath Street, FLY Fitness focuses on wellness as much as fitness (FLY stands for First Love Yourself). Founded on a belief that exercise helps with physical and mental health, the interior of FLY is highly Instagrammable with neon signs and modern decor.
Set over three floors, the boutique gym has free weights, a cardio room, HIIT studio, and yoga/dance studio. The cardio room has big bright windows so you can watch the world go by while you sweat it out and the HIIT studio is down in the ‘dungeon’ – the showers/changing rooms can also be found there in a converted bank vault!
Each month there are 200 classes to choose from (themed as Fire, Force, and Flow), so there’s something for everyone to try. There’s also small group training options if you need some help navigating the gym.
Hungry after a gym sesh? The Cafe by FLY is in the same building and serves up smoothie bowls, protein shakes, healthy sandwiches and superfood lattes so you can refuel after a workout! If you’re after a healthy dinner, check out our list of vegan restaurants (or have a treat at a vegan bakery).
Address: 3-4 Bath Street, Bath, BA1 1SB
2. Stanza Fitness
If you need a bit of extra encouragement at the gym but don’t have the budget for personal training the small group training is a good option. Stanza Fitness is an independent gym on (appropriately) Trim street that offers monthly gym memberships (for a minimum of three months), one-on-one coaching, or small group training (usually four clients per coach).
Coaches monitor and track your progress after an initial consultation that includes a movement & posture assessment, and needs analysis to set goals together.
Team training includes cardio-based 30-minute sessions and individually programmed group sessions.
Stanza’s focus is on creating an inclusive environment for everyone, and as part of this they offer a 21-day trial and open days on Fridays to welcome new gym-goers.
Address: 7 Trim Street, BA1 1HB
3. Phase1/The Unit
We love independent businesses and Phase1/The Unit gym is a collaboration between Ed Yarker, manager of Phase One, and Jack Till, former PT and owner of The Unit, who have teamed up to create Phase1/The Unit.
Built on community, the gym combines The Unit Weights Gym and the Phase One Cardio and Toning Gym (and steam room), with membership options that range from payment per session to longer term ones.
Here you’ll also find plenty of (perhaps unexpected) classes like ballet, flamenco, and self-defence classes like krav maga and capoeira. There’s also an in-house physio on-hand if needed too.
Address: 7-9 Comfortable Place, Upper Bristol Road, Bath, BA1 3AJ
4. Toniq
Do you like pumping iron to pumping beats? If so, Toniq might be the gym for you. Founded by Bath-based personal trainer Arron Collins-Thomas, Toniq is right in the centre of Bath and offers class-based gym sessions where participants move around stations to get a full body workout that combines cardio and strength training.
Inside the purple lights give the gym a bit of a club feel and the group gym sessions focus on different aspects of fitness from cardio with light weights and high reps (Sweat) to resistance-focused workouts with heavier weights and slower reps (Stronger) and a mixture of strength and endurance (Burn).
Gym classes also cover more flexibility-focused ones such as yoga or qigong, and personal training is available. Toniq also has classes designed for over-60s to help all ages get fit and healthy.
Address: 5 Green Park, Bath, BA1 1BQ
5. Fitness First
Similar to Pure (Spring Wharf) and Anytime Fitness (Henry Street), who both have gyms in Bath too, Fitness First is a big chain that offers budget-friendly membership options. While it’s not open 24 hours like the other two chains, it is in the centre of the city and includes access to a swimming pool, steam room, and sauna.
All new members get a free 30-minute personal training session, and the FFX App helps you optimize your workout if you’re going solo. The timetable is packed with classes from mobility and yoga to spin, bodypump, and glute gains, so it’s easy to find one that works.
If you’re heading out on a date after your workout (and a shower) then this gym is perfectly placed in the basement of the complex where you’ll find the Odeon and plenty of places to eat!
Address: The Basement, 5-10 James Street West, Bath, BA1 2BX
6. Space Gym
Family-run Space is a little further out of the centre in Haysfield Park, but offers an outdoor training zone, a free weights room, cardio machines, and a spin space.
Weightlifters have their own space in ‘The Cube’, the free weights room that is a funky mix of blue neon and mirrors to get you pumped up about getting pumped.
A dedicated spin space is ideal for fans of bike-based workouts and the outdoor area lets you get some fresh air while you get fit.
Address: 7 Hayesfield Park, Bath, BA2 4QE
7. Better Bath Sports & Leisure Centre
Locals will remember this place as the leisure centre but now it’s (literally) Better and is still open to the public. Better Bath Sports & Leisure Centre allows non-members to go swimming in any of the pools, whether it’s the 25m, six-lane swimming pool, the 12m teaching pool for classes, or the play pool with a slide.
More than 65 fitness classes take place in the studio every week (or in a virtual one if you want to join in at home), and there is also a 120-station gym, and a four court sports hall.
Keep the whole family fit in the Leisure Park area, where you’ll find a trampoline park,eight 10-pin bowling alleys and a soft play facility, plus a diner to fuel up the family. With all facilities open to the public, it’s ideal for locals and visitors alike.
Address: North Parade Road, Bath, BA2 4ET
8. YMCA
You might be at the gym to lose pounds, but when it comes to choosing somewhere to work out, some of the more budget-conscious options can help you save pounds too. The YMCA in the Walcot end of Bath has no contracts or joining fees if you want to pay-as-you-go rather
The upstairs studio is one of the largest fitness studios in Bath with more than 20 classes a week that are divided into cardio, strength, and mind/body themes.
The gym is well-equipped with cardio and weights (including multiple treadmills, which is handy when you’re in a hurry) and personal training sessions are available. The pay-as-you-go option makes it ideal for visitors to the city, too.
You can also feel good about proceeds from gym membership going towards the YMCA’s charitable work helping local vulnerable youngsters.
Address: International House, Broad St Place, Bath, BA1 5LH
9. Team Bath Gym & Fitness Centre
Bath Uni is famous for its sports programs and nurturing top athletes but you don’t have to be an elite Olympian in training to work out at the Team Bath Gym & Fitness Centre (although there is a dedicated High-Performance Gym for performance athletes here too).
If you’re serious about fitness then the Sport Science lab can get you into shape, rehabbed from injury, and on top form.
The main gym and fitness centre is a spacious facility that’s open to the public every day, with the option of monthly or annual membership (with a discount for paying yearly).
Gym members all get a free personalised training programme that can be reviewed every six weeks to help you smash your fitness goals, and membership also includes access to virtual fitness classes if you can’t make it to Claverton Down.
There’s also a pay-as-you-go option for gym sessions, tennis and badminton, pool access (look out for Olympians and Paralympians training here!), and indoor and outdoor fitness classes.
Classes are 30-45 minute sessions that are divided into themes of aerobic, body, and calm and include everything from yoga and pilates to the spin-like Target Cycling classes.
Address: University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY
10. Pettemerides Personal Training
Sometimes larger gyms can be a little intimidating, especially if you have a medical condition that limits your movements. Just outside Bath in Batheaston are two small studio gyms run by personal trainer Helen Pettemerides where she offers one to one personal training sessions, and supervised gym options.
Helen specializes in exercise routines for clients with medical conditions, especially people with neurological conditions, diabetes, and back pain. She also provides fitness sessions for older people who want to get fit at any age.
The top studio is flooded with light and has cardio machines, weights, and everything else you need for a personal gym session.
Address: 239 London Road East, Batheaston, Bath, BA1 7RL
Bath has lots of gyms hidden away in basements in the centre or purpose built bigger blocks along Lower Bristol Road. Most offer open days, free trials, or short term membership to give you an idea if it’s the right gym for you.
Amy is an award-winning travel writer born and bred in Bath. She has written for national newspapers and magazines from the Guardian and Mail on Sunday to Conde Nast Traveller and Good Housekeeping. Now she’s helping travellers explore Bath, one story at a time.
