January is a month of new beginnings, fresh starts and ambitious resolutions. It makes sense then that sign-ups for gym memberships skyrocket as people embark on health kicks and New Year’s resolutions are put into action.
Inevitably though, as the weeks pass our resolve weakens and those gym memberships soon start gathering dust on the sideboard. Stepping into February, you might be tempted to give up on those well-intentioned goals and resolutions, but living in a city with some of the world’s finest fitness facilities should provide you with that much-needed motivation to continue.
There’s some obvious big names - Nuffield Health, The Gym Group and PureGym - but Manchester is also home to dozens of specialist and boutique gyms. Below you’ll find a range of Manchester's very best.
Read more: The super-luxurious gym where footballers and celebrities work out named best in the UK
Blok
Arriving in Manchester back in 2018 and taking up a corner of the old railways warehouse near Piccadilly train station, Blok is arguably one of the swishest looking gyms on our list, but it also offers a range of classes. Spread across three studios, gym-goers can choose from yoga, Pilates and barre for core work, body-strength training to build muscle, strength and endurance or boxing and cardio for something a bit more high tempo.
Individual classes will set you back £7, while memberships start from £68 per month and give you access to classes, on-demand, online workouts and discounts.
Ducie Street Warehouse, M1 2TP
V1BE
This workout is all about results, with your heart rate displayed on a huge screen for everyone else in the class to see. Billing itself as “Manchester’s best workout”, those wanting to take on the challenge can head to either the Mosley Street or Ancoats studio and choose from four class types: Ign1te, a range body weighted exercises and treadmill sprints; Str1ke, a combination of boxing grills, strength training and short bursts of speed; Adrenal1ne, using strength exercises and bodyweight moves; and Bott1e to get your glutes, legs and core on fire.
A gym and six classes membership costs £39, while the gym and all classes will set you back £59 and give you unlimited class access.
V1BE, 75 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HR / 11 Blossom Street, Manchester, M4 5BX
Bannatyne Health Club and Spa
Featuring a swimming pool, steam room, saunas and Jacuzzis, the facilities at this Quay Street gym are a major draw. It’s one of the few in the city to boast a pool, but there’s many other reasons to visit, not least its varied class schedule including high octane Les Mills classes and functional training with state-of-the-art equipment. Post-workout or swim, enjoy an Elemis and Bannatyne spa treatment at the gyms in-house spa where members receive a 20% discount on all treatments.
Currently, full access memberships start from £29 a month and give you access to both Manchester clubs. Day passes are available for £25.
Sunlight House, Quay St, Manchester M3 3JZ
Barry's
When the lights go down in the ‘Red Room’ and the high-tempo tunes blast through the stereo, Barry’s on Lower Byrom Street can feel more like a nightclub than a gym. But rest assured, this fitness offering, founded in LA in the 1980s and loved by celebrities including the Beckhams and Kardashians, is the real deal. This high energy workout, combining treadmill sprints and inclines with weights and conditioning exercises, can reportedly burn up to 1000 calories per session, and is a guaranteed endorphin rush. Kit yourself out with all the gear at Barry’s shop and hit the fuel bar for a post-workout protein shake to complete the experience.
Individual classes are priced at £20, while beginners can book three classes for £42.
3 Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4AP
F45 Training
With more than 1,000 studios around the world, this global class-based gym was first created in Australia and mixes circuit training and HIIT-style workouts. 45 is the total amount of time for ‘sweat-dripping, heartburning fun’ - hence the name - and these functional workouts are designed to unify muscle groups of the body and help gym-goers feel and perform better.
A two week trial costs £49, drop-ins cost £22 and 10 classes will set you back £175.
77 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2BU
Hero Training Clubs
If you like to mix it up, Hero and its four different fitness studios will be right up your alley. Whether you want an all-out cardio session in the Spin studio, boxing routines in the Athletic room, to build strength in the Stronger studio, or simply take a bit of time out in the Rejuvenate space - there’s something for everyone. The gym also boasts some of Manchester’s best gym facilities including a plentiful amount of squat racks plus a wellness hub offering health assessments, physiotherapy, sport massages and a range of counselling options.
There's a range of membership options, spanning £60 bundles for the month, a 30 Days for £30 offer and a 12-month unlimited option for £109.
Angel Gardens, 6 Miller St, Manchester M4 4GL
JD GYMS
This rapidly expanding gym chain is one of the more affordable options in the city, with memberships starting from £21.99 per month including classes and off-peak and peak options. Their Manchester branch has hundreds of top-of-the-range cardio and strength equipment, 300 classes a month, a sauna - and of course, a great city-centre location just over from Oxford Road Station.
JD Gyms, Bridgewater House, Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6LT
One XPS Fitness
Located in the iconic One Express building in Ancoats, state-of-the-art exercise facility boasts some of the most high-end gym equipment in the country to cater to all fitness requirements. Created by personal trainer Mike Lathwood, there's also a separate upscale fitness studio where classes include Spin, HIIT, and Mind and Body workouts. It's individual showers and changing rooms have also been designed to a highs-spec, so expect a country club feel in the heart of the city.
You can become a member for £35 with no joining dee and all classes included.
2 George Leigh Street, M4 5DL
ABS
If it's going to take you a little bit more than state-of-the-art gym equipment and fancy changing rooms to motivate you, ABS - Absolute Body Fitness - a personal training gym above Albert's Schloss and Rudy's Pizzeria, might just be for you. The award-winning workout space, tailors programmes - including 6 week or 16 week transformations - for each of its clients so you can be sure you're working on what's best for you, your goals and lifestyle.
ABS, 29 Peter St, M2 5QJ
The Life Centre North
For some, the gym is about reps and personal bests, for others it’s a chance to reconnect and take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Life Centre on Deansgate is big on the latter, offering 30 studio-based yoga classes per week. Boasting Manchester’s largest and most diverse studio programme - taught by the city’s best teachers - you can choose from a cleansing hot, rocket or ashtanga or a meditative yin session. You can also deepen your practice with one of The Life Centre’s courses, workshops and retreats across a variety of topics.
If you’re new to yoga you can enjoy your first class for £1 and 21 days of unlimited studio classes for £35.
The Life Centre, 293A Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW
TRIB3
This 'next-level' boutique studio fuses HIIT workouts with fully tracked heart-rate monitors and studio displays, to produce what it calls an "epic sensory journey" topped off with a custom shake bar. Big on the group workout element, You can choose from full body workouts - split into three zones of treadmill, resistance and intensity, or specific classes for upper body, core and lower body.
There are a number of membership options including a 12-month option for £59.
TRIB3, 6 John Dalton St, Manchester M2 6JP / Unit 3A, The Pavilion Circle Square, Manchester M1 7FA
Nuffield Health, Manchester Printworks
Much like Bannatyne Health Club and Spa, a huge draw of this city centre gym is it's pool, complete with a sauna and steam room. Equally though, it offers a huge variety of classes, multi-club access, 360 health assessments, personal training and on-site experts including physiotherapists all under one roof.
An Anytime, 12 month contract is priced at £51 per month while a Off-Peak membership is £43 a month.
Manchester Printworks Fitness & Wellbeing Gym, 27 Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS
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