Edinburgh’s gym landscape has changed significantly in the last decade – the big budget chains arrived and undercut the old private clubs on price, while Edinburgh Leisure has quietly run some of the best-value public facilities in Scotland. Whether you want a no-frills 24-hour floor to lift on or a proper club with pools, classes and a café, it’s all here.
PureGym – Omni Centre and Multiple Sites
PureGym operates multiple Edinburgh locations, with the Omni Centre branch at Leith Street probably the most central. No contract, join online, access 24/7 with your fob. Equipment is standard PureGym – decent free weights area, plenty of cardio machines, functional training space. Classes included in membership. It’s not glamorous but it’s reliable, the equipment turnover is good, and the price (around £25-30/month depending on contract) is hard to argue with. Also has branches at Fountainbridge, Sighthill and other suburban locations.
David Lloyd Edinburgh
David Lloyd on the city’s outskirts (Corstorphine area) is the full-service option. Serious gym floor, indoor tennis and squash courts, multiple swimming pools, spa facilities, sauna and steam rooms, extensive class timetable and a café/bar setup. It’s a proper club in the old sense – families, racquet sports enthusiasts and swimmers as much as gym-goers. Membership is considerably more expensive than budget chains (check current rates, but expect £70+ monthly). Parking is plentiful which matters for the out-of-centre location.
Next Generation (now Virgin Active Edinburgh)
The Next Generation / Virgin Active site on Newcraighall Road out near Fort Kinnaird is a large leisure club with gym, pools, tennis courts and classes. Out of the city centre but well served by bus. A good option for south-east Edinburgh residents who don’t want to travel in. Similar premium pricing to David Lloyd.
Edinburgh Leisure
This is the underrated option that too many visitors and newer residents overlook. Edinburgh Leisure is the charitable trust that runs the city’s public leisure centres, and several of them are genuinely excellent. Meadowbank has been rebuilt and reopened as a state-of-the-art facility. Leith Victoria has a pool. Craiglockhart Tennis and Sports Centre has gym and court facilities. Portobello Swim Centre has one of Edinburgh’s best public pools.
Day passes start around £6-8. Monthly gym memberships are significantly cheaper than the private chains – often under £35 for full gym access. Quality varies by site but the best Edinburgh Leisure centres can stand comparison with much pricier private facilities. Worth checking their Club Membership options if you’re in Edinburgh for any length of time.
Other Options
Nuffield Health Edinburgh at Coates Crescent near the West End is a mid-market option – better equipped than budget chains, more central than the big clubs, with pool access and a solid class timetable. Gym Group has arrived in Edinburgh too, competing with PureGym at the budget end. CrossFit Edinburgh and various independent boxes exist for those who want coaching and community over machine banks.
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