UK FITNESS MARKET
TOTAL MARKET
The UK fitness industry has demonstrated strong growth across all key metrics in the 12 months to 31 March 2025, underlining its resilience and future potential as it continues to evolve and adapt. The total number of gyms has risen again and is almost back to 2019’s pre-pandemic high. Member numbers, market value and penetration – which already achieved all-time highs in our 2024 report – rose even higher this year to set new records. Notably, membership has risen above 11 million for the first time, while in another first, total market value has smashed past the £6bn milestone. Within this total market snapshot, we see the private sector continuing to perform strongly across the board, with growth in gym count, member numbers, market value and penetration this year. While less pronounced, the public sector has also seen an uptick since our last report. While the number of public gyms has declined slightly over the last 12 months, there has been positive movement across other key metrics, with market value and membership reaching all-time highs. Public sector penetration has also returned to its previous peak, last recorded in 2016.
NO DATA 2020 & 2021 DUE TO COVID-19
2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
Gyms
7,202
7,239 7,063 6,998 7,009
2.8 %
Members
11.3 m 5.4 %
10.4 m 9.9 m 10.3 m 10.7 m
Market value
£6.5 bn 9.3 %
£5.1 bn £4.8 bn £5.4 bn £5.9 bn
Penetration rate
16.6%
15.6% 14.6% 15.1% 15.9%
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In the 12 months to 31 March 2025, the total number of gyms in the UK has risen above 7,200, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 2.8%.
Perhaps most significantly, the UK fitness industry’s total market value has climbed to £6.5bn, breaking the £6bn milestone for the first time. This represents robust annual growth of 9.3%. Private sector value experienced a 9.4% uplift, compared to an 8.8% uptick in the public sector. This has been mirrored by a substantial rise in gym membership, which has reached 11.3 million during the same period – an increase of 5.4% year-on-year and the first time membership has exceeded the 11 million mark. Membership in the private sector rose by 5.8%, outpacing the 4.5% increase seen in the public sector.
£
%
The UK fitness industry’s penetration rate has risen to 16.6%, establishing a new benchmark for the sector.
PureGym and GLL continue to hold their positions as the leading operators in the private and public sectors, respectively, by number of gyms. Only four operators have added net 10 or more sites in the past year: PureGym (+43), Places Leisure (+11), The Gym Group (+10) and Serco Leisure (+10).
43
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2025
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