British gyms are making an impact.
The latest: ukactive’s annual market report revealed record growth for gyms in 2024.
- Memberships hit 11.5M, with one in six people aged 16+ joining a gym.
- Membership revenue reached £5.19B, up ~13% from ’22.
- Market revenue during the period rose ~8.5% to £5.7B.
One of the highest-performing fitness sectors in Europe, the UK racked up ~600M gym visits.
Gym generation. Health-minded Gen Zers are stoking growth. Motivators like mental well-being and community make memberships a must-have, with group workouts and social spaces aligning with this wellness-minded generation.
Opposites attract. Bolstering the boom, budget brands like The Gym Group, PureGym, and JD Gyms are scaling to capitalize on demand for HVLP offerings closer to home.
Adding value through enhanced performance and recovery offerings, premium players like Third Space and David Lloyd also posted gains. Investing, Urban Gym Group is planning a new London flagship for freshly acquired Gymbox.
Sprinting ahead. Beyond the gym floor, ukactive also highlighted the surge in competitive fitness, with WIT Fitness serving up challenges through rotating gym residencies and HYROX’s partnerships with F45 and The Gym Group showcasing the segment’s potential.
Takeaway: While barriers like cost and accessibility remain, a shift toward preventative health, mind-body modalities, and enhanced social spaces is helping win over more members in more places.
