Virgin Active

Really nice club with a good range of equipment and a lovely pool. Never ludicrously busy, in my 7 months with the club there has been 1 occasion where I’ve had to wait to use an elliptical machine, which seems pretty reasonable! There are a good range of classes and instructors, though most classes start before 7/7.30, so if you work in town and commute back to Croydon, the timetabling may not suit. Great for a workout before heading to the office the club is nice and quiet first thing in the morning.

I have been a member of this club for a couple of years and have enjoyed my time there. The facilities are pretty good: the gym is large, with a separate section for women, and the equipment is laid out well. They are gradually replacing some of the older items with newer TechnoGym equipment and have recently introduced PowerPlates, so it feels like the company is making an effort to ensure everything is up-​to-​date and in good order. My only slight complaint is that is sometimes takes them a while to fix equipment when it breaks down, although it is usually done fairly swiftly. However, I don’t recall having to wait for a machine, as there is plenty of equipment.
The club operates a very full and varied timetable of classes that are included in the price. Although with the standards — yoga, spinning, aerobics — there are new treadmill-​based classes and Nike dance workouts. I tend to use the gym rather than go to classes, but when I have attended classes I have found them very good.
There is a very nice pool (approx 20 metres long), with pool-​side sauna, jacuzzi and steam rooms. The pool is rarely very crowded, so you don’t generally have plenty of space there too. The changing rooms are large with plenty of locker space, hairdryers and beauty products, so you’re rarely tripping over others when you’re getting changed.
Although it is not the cheapest of health clubs, it definitely offers decent value for money in terms of facilities and classes, cleanliness, friendliness and ‘extras’ like free internet access. The standard membership also allows you to use other clubs across the country (with the exception of a few in London) without paying any extra. I would certainly recommend it.