Exercise is a crucial part of life! Whether you’re a gym junkie or you love a hot girl walk, going to the gym can be a great way to exercise while at uni. As a student, you’re bound to have a packed schedule and a limited budget, and you might even be unsure of which gyms are near you. This is where we come in! We’ve compiled a list of some of the top gyms in Birmingham, all of which offer student memberships or discounts. This makes exercising not only convenient but affordable.
1. UB Sports & Fitness
For students at the University of Birmingham, we’re lucky to have a state-of-the-art gym right on our doorstep. Located just behind the Student Guild, the gym has everything from a swimming pool to a climbing wall.
The 50m pool is great for everyone, as there’s everything from swimming lessons for newbies to lanes for members. With a membership, you not only get access to the gym facilities, but you also get access to the swimming pool, the steam room and the sauna! They’re a great way to relax after a long study sesh.
The gym has lots of equipment, including a cardio floor, a weight-training floor, and even Olympic lifting platforms. It is perfect if you like to train on your own, though they also have a variety of classes on offer for those who like to be part of a community. If you’re a UoB student, they regularly put out emails with taster classes on offer, so be sure to check your inbox!
As well as a huge outdoor space for everything from netball to tennis, the Uni even has a student-only gym located nearby in Selly Oak. At the swimming pool-turned-modern gym, you can find over 100 stations! Moreover, UoB students can find another brand new location right on campus! The Vale now has its very own station.
Memberships range from £18 to £135, depending on which location and whether you want peak or off-peak hours. Either way, it’s super convenient for UoB students, and also affordable compared to other gyms! For non-UoB students, their community prices are still pretty great, at £71 a month.
2. PureGym
PureGym is one of the top gym chains in the UK, and it’s easy to see why! With great facilities and affordable prices, they’re a great place to work up a sweat. They have top-quality machines and weekly fitness classes, so there’s always something to do. What’s so great about PureGym is that they are open 24/7, which is ideal for everyone, whether you’re an early riser or a night owl.
PureGym has several locations across the city, so you’re sure to find one near you. This means that you don’t have to travel far to fit exercise into your daily routine. They have free WiFi, free parking, and over 200 pieces of kit! For UoB students, you can find their Edgbaston location nearby. Students more local to the city centre can find multiple locations, such as their Broad Street gym near the Bullring.
View this post on Instagram
I personally love PureGym because they’re dedicated to providing cheap but good-quality equipment for students. As a student, you can get up to 30% off your first 6 months! Moreover, there is no joining fee, and without a contract, you’re free to cancel anytime. Their regular membership is as low as £6.99 a month, so they’re an affordable option even without the student discount.
3. The Gym Group
The Gym Group is another great local spot! Their Selly Oak location is just a 5-minute walk from the UoB campus. The gym boasts a variety of free classes for members, and high-quality Personal Trainers to aid you in your exercise journey. This gym is also open 24/7, so you can tailor your workout routine to suit you. Their facilities include everything from climbmills to a battle rope.
What’s so great about them, and many other gyms on this list, is their member perks. They have free Wi-Fi, showers, free parking and even Sports Water on tap! Students can also access their saver membership options, which include 20% off 12-month savers. These range from 6 months to 12, and range from £159 to £319, including no joining fee. You get access to 2 gym locations, discounts, and all the gym equipment, whilst saving up to £65. In addition to this, they have regular offers on their website, such as their 50% off your 1st month. So, be sure to keep up to date with their website!
The Gym Group also has several other locations in Birmingham, such as their Digbeth and Broad Street gyms. Whether you’re on campus or going home for the summer, you can always find one close by.
4. Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness does what it says on the tin. They provide top-quality facilities, supportive professionals, and 24-hour gym access for every kind of gym-goer. Members even have access to a variety of benefits! This includes their Anytime Workout app with a variety of exercises and tutorials, as well as deals on related businesses, such as 10% off Nike and 80% off MyProtein protein powder.
Students in Brum have access to several different gyms, such as those in Fort Dunlop, Paradise Circus, and Edgbaston. If you’re just starting, Anytime Fitness even offers a free 1-day pass, where you can try out the facilities and see what you like.
If you’re considering joining one of their gyms, the best way to find out about their student discounts is to contact your local gym. However, you can find some deals online. For example, you can often find discounts of 10-15% on student websites like Student Beans and UNiDAYS. These websites are amazing for students, as they usually advertise lots of other gym discounts as well! Their regular memberships are a little more expensive than others on this list, at £42.99 a month.
5. Aston University Gym
Similar to UoB, Aston University also has its very own gym for students. With a membership, you can gain access to over 100 pieces of equipment, a swimming pool, and lots of fun classes. The gym is perfect for Aston students as it is located on campus and has everything you could need.
Aston Uni gym offers an Academic Year Membership for students, designed to fit your schedule. You get full access to their facilities, and as it lasts from September to June, you’re not being charged if you go back home during the summer! Their standard monthly memberships are £18.50, and remaining memberships are £37. You can also get their cost-effective annual option, which is £199. In addition to this, they have discounted memberships for off-peak hours and all-inclusive memberships with access to their swimming pool and sauna/steam room.
View this post on Instagram
Another great thing about Aston Uni gym is that they provide discounted memberships for students who attend affiliated universities. These are exclusive deals and give you access to all of the facilities! Their standard monthly membership is £20.99, compared to their community membership, which is £25.99. This offer is open to BCU students, so it’s a great option if you’re staying nearby.
6. Sparkhill Pool And Fitness Centre
Sparkhill Pool & Fitness Centre is another great option for students in Birmingham. With a swimming pool, gym and a variety of classes, there’s bound to be something for you! Furthermore, the gym has recently had a huge revamp, with new facilities and improved spaces for members. They have a larger free weight area, an interactive Life Fitness console, and even a new BOX12 Hub for boxing workouts!
Having a membership gives you lots of benefits! For example, the Centre offers free one-to-one support for members. They aim to help you feel more confident using their facilities and to set your personal goals. For students, they offer a 16-18 premium membership from £28 per month, or a 19-25 membership for £31 per month. You get access to all of the facilities, as well as advanced booking for classes.
Sparkill is definitely one of the most worthwhile options on this list! Plus, Birmingham also has several other Pool and Fitness Centres for you to visit. They have similar amenities to Sparkhill, and students have access to a discounted fee. They’re all part of the Places for People social enterprise, helping with wellbeing and inclusivity in local communities across the UK. You can find more information here about Sparkill.
7. Ultimate Fitness
If you’re looking for somewhere that prioritises students, then Ultimate Fitness is the place to go. Ultimate Fitness was established by Simon Fan, a former British Bodybuilding Champion. So, they know the game! This means that all of their equipment is top-quality, and prioritises the needs of members. Moreover, the gym is located in the city centre, so it is convenient for all Brum students.
As long as you have a valid student ID, you can access their student monthly membership. The membership is just £40, and gives you access to all of their amazing facilities! This includes perks such as the first rooftop gym in the Midlands, as well as access to their personal trainers and expert advice.
8. Birmingham Newman’s Sports & Fitness Centre
Students at Birmingham Newman University can find a variety of high-quality facilities right on campus. Their Fitness suite offers lots of equipment to support your exercise journey and to make fitness accessible and enjoyable! This includes their Cardiovascular stations, resistance machines, and a Group Cycle Studio.
What’s great about their membership is that there is no joining fee. They also offer free inductions, which are great for beginners! Student Memberships range from £15 per month to £110 for a year. For non-Birmingham Newman Uni students, their community prices are still affordable at £160 a year.
However, unlike other options on this list, Newman’s Fitness Centre is not open 24/7. This means that if you like to exercise outside regular hours, you might prefer a commercial gym.
9. University College Birmingham Gym
Another university gym, UCB’s facilities provide students with a range of top-notch equipment right on campus. University College Birmingham has two gyms, at Moss House and The Maltings, as well as a gym especially for students at Summer Row. Their gym is open from 7 am to 7 pm, which makes it perfect for a pre-lecture workout or a post-study session unwind.
A student membership is just £108 a year, or you can get a 3-Month membership for £40. It’s one of the cheapest options on this list! With a membership, you get access to their state-of-the-art equipment, in addition to a variety of fitness classes. As a student, you can also join their gym canvas page, which has info on everything you need to know as a new member. There are personal trainers, training programmes and even Tanita scales for you to keep on top of your progress.
Unfortunately, UCB does not currently offer memberships to other students. Although there are plenty of other options here to choose from!
10. Birmingham City University Gym
BCU’s Doug Ellis Sports Centre is a gym dedicated to providing great sports facilities for students, staff and the public. There are 3 workout studios, a gym, a sports hall and outdoor pitches for you to enjoy. BCU has a variety of activities for members, such as badminton, netball and table tennis! There are also over 80 pieces of fitness equipment to choose from, and as a BCU student, you can get discounted access to booking their sports pitches.
If you’re looking for a discounted gym membership, then BCU is definitely the place to go! Their student membership costs as little as £10 a month. What’s more, they also provide discounts for other students! If you go to another Birmingham Uni, a membership is £12.50 compared to their community memberships priced at £15. If you would like to try out the facilities before purchasing a membership, they offer non-member day passes for £5, such as their gym induction or pilates class.
View this post on Instagram
In addition to this, BCU students can access their BCU ‘Active.’ These are fitness classes that don’t come with membership costs, and allow you to try out a new hobby, make friends or just stay healthy! For those who might be curious but don’t know where to start, I’d recommend trying a class out.
11. JD Gyms
JD Gyms is the self-proclaimed ‘best 24-hour gym‘ in Birmingham. With high-quality equipment, fitness classes and exclusive amenities for members, we have to agree with them! JD Gyms has specialised cardio and strength areas, with a variety of lifting platforms and machines. The gym also boasts luxury changing rooms, saunas and even a women-only area. You can find it located near the city centre on Allesley Street, and it has lots of free parking.
With Student Beans, students can get a discount on their first month. Their standard membership is £29.99 a month. Compared to other gyms in the area, their membership is more affordable for students.
12. Village Gym
‘Stay fit, meet new people, and balance study with social life — all in one place.’ Village Health & Wellness Club is one of the best places to work up a sweat. They have everything from a Technogym Kit to personal trainers to a free 12-week online Fitness Plan. Whilst you’re here for the gym equipment, who doesn’t love a cheeky freebie? With a membership, you not only get access to their premium kit, but you also get discounts at their Pub & Grill, on Fitness Tech and a variety of fitness-related brands. Plus, they have an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room and toasty whirlpool for members to relax after a workout.
Village Gym aim to make fitness welcoming for everyone. So, you could check out a class with your mates, try out an exclusive workshop, or join their run club. There’s so much to be part of!
Though we don’t have our own centre here in Brum, you can find a Village Gym close by. There are locations nearby in Solihull, Dudley and Walsall. Their student memberships are currently £46 per month. Also, you can currently skip the joining fee with their website discount, which makes buying a membership even easier! Be sure to check their website and social media regularly to see what they have on offer.
View this post on Instagram
With so many affordable and convenient places to work out, there’s no better time to start exercising than now! Check out one of the gyms listed here and make sure to utilise student discounts whilst they’re available. It is a great way to save some cash whilst you’re studying, and still make the most of your city.
If the cost of living is important to you when choosing your university, you could take a look at some other cities with affordable gyms for students. Check out our guides on Nottingham or Liverpool! You can also check out the BUCS UNIversal gym. If you have a university gym membership, it lets you visit more gyms across the country without the extra cost.
Or, if you’re already a student in Birmingham, why not check out some other fun things to do whilst saving money? We have tons of info on affordable activities, budgeting and more!
Hi! I’m Emmie, and I’m currently studying English Literature and Classical Literature & Civilisations at the University of Birmingham. This means I’m a huge fan of anything historical and literary, so you can usually find me diving into research rabbit holes for a new blog post or engrossed in a good book. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy activities like karaoke, travelling, or spending the day in a museum!
