THE MARKET WE’VE BUILT
10-Year Market Context
INDEXED MARKET GROWTH 10 YEAR
MARKET VALUE
MEMBERS
GYMS
The long-term trajectory of the UK tness market shows sustained growth, with value and membership consistently outpacing the expansion of physical sites. Over the past decade, market value has accelerated at a signi cantly faster rate than both gym numbers and participation, rising by over 60% relative to 2016 levels and indicating a shift toward higher revenue per location rather than simple estate growth. This divergence has become more pronounced in the post-pandemic period. While gym numbers have recovered steadily, growth in membership and especially market value has been signi cantly stronger, re ecting improved pricing, increased utilisation
and broader engagement with tness services. The result is a structurally different market to that seen pre-2020. Operators are now generating more value from each site, supported by higher member density and greater willingness to pay across key segments. Optimising yield has become central to performance, with pricing and utilisation increasingly driving growth rather than simple expansion. This trend suggests that future growth is less dependent on rapid expansion of new locations and more reliant on optimising existing estates, with greater emphasis on retention, product diversi cation and operational ef ciency.
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STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2026
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