Your physical and mental health is incredibly important to maintain, but throughout university this can be more difficult. Gyms are a great place to exercise and meet likeminded people, through fitness classes or the gym floor. Although gym memberships can be expensive, as a student you will have access to discounts at certain establishments. Below are some of the best gym memberships in Edinburgh for students.
Lift Gyms
This gym is all about being a welcoming environment, which is really great for students who are new to the city or haven’t been in a gym before. They describe it as a ‘home away from home’, which is a really comforting thought. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a gruelling workout though. With the best equipment around, plus lots of great group classes, nutrition advice, training plans and more, Lift Gyms are easily among the best in Edinburgh for students.
Lift Gyms were also voted the best gym in Edinburgh by the Edinburgh Evening News in 2023, thanks to it being so inclusive.
Non-Student Membership
There’s a variety of memberships available, starting at £50 per month for full gym access and 4 classes a week. For £65 a month, you can get the gym pro membership which includes A LOT more, like training plans, coaching, Hyrox classes, priority seminar booking and more. If you want even more, you can get personalised routines, 12 semi-private sessions, nutrition support and advice and more for £197 a month for the semi-private training membership.
Student Membership
Students get discounted rates at Lift Gyms. Starting at £35 a month for the basic membership, up to £50 for the gym pro. There is no student discount for the higher-priced semi-private training membership. Make sure you get the exclusive Unifresher discount though for a free day pass.
Pleasance Gym and Sports Complex
Pleasance Gym and Sports Complex, located on Pleasance in Edinburgh, is home to many University of Edinburgh sports societies.
For university students in Edinburgh, this is a great gym membership option to consider. All memberships include access to Pleasance gym classes such as Barre, Spin Cycling and Boxing. As well as this, they also offer lane swimming at St Leonard’s Land swimming pool, which is a five-minute walk away from Pleasance. If you fancy bouldering as a workout, Pleasance also offers climbing memberships for an additional price.
Non-Student Membership
For non-students, a full membership, including gym and swim access during peak times, will cost £78.00 per 90 days. Alternatively, you can pay £132.00 per 90 days to include a climbing membership as well.
Student Membership
For any Edinburgh students, full membership is £115.00, lasting until August 31st. This grants you access to the Pleasance Gym, lane swimming and all gym classes. Access to the climbing wall during this time will cost an additional £55.00.
PureGym
For those located in New Town, PureGym is a closer gym choice for you to utilise. There are five PureGyms across Edinburgh, all open 24 hours a day. With a free weights area, cycle studio and fitness studio, PureGym has many different workout options.
PureGym offers three main memberships that you can choose from, with varying prices and accessibility. For students, you can access a 30% discount through Unidays for any of these membership options, making it a great gym membership for students living in Edinburgh.
Off-peak Membership
This membership option costs £9.99 per month with an additional joining fee. Included in this membership is access to gym classes which can be booked eight days in advance. Although this is the cheapest membership option, you can only access the gym during off-peak times.
Core Membership
At £12.99 per month plus a joining fee, core membership grants you 24/7 gym access as well as access to multiple PureGyms from only £2.00.
Plus Membership
With Plus Membership, you will pay £18.99 per month plus an additional joining fee. Within this membership program, you can enjoy 24/7 gym access to multiple gyms. If you enjoy working out with others, guests can join you up to four times per month. Also, classes can be booked 14 days in advance, ensuring that you get a place in your chosen class!
The Gym Group Edinburgh
Located in Waverley Gate Building, the Gym Group is a more expensive membership option however offers additional services. These include unlimited gym training, access to two gyms, body composition tracking and access to workout plans through the app FIIT. Although it’s a little pricier, it’s still one of the best gym memberships in Edinburgh for students.
If you prefer gym classes to freelance gym sessions, The Gym Group offers a variety of classes, from cardio sessions to mind and body classes. The gym is open 24 hours a day, so whether you are an early bird or a night owl, you can get your workout in!
Student Membership
There is no joining fee for students at The Gym Group, with a 6-month membership costing £129.00. This includes gym access 24/7, free classes and body composition tracking.
Non-student Membership
For non-students, you will be expected to pay £22.99 for your first month, and £28.98 per month afterwards. This membership includes the use of workout plans on the FIIT app, free classes, 24/7 gym access and the opportunity to bring a friend up to four times per month!
If you’re looking for a further fitness boost, read our tips on how to survive dry January at uni!
Last Updated on September 9, 2024
Published on January 4, 2023
