Virgin Active

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Reviews

1. Mahmoud Medhat ★★★☆☆

   Fulham pools offers both private pracrice lessons for different age groups ranging from 6m-10+years. The sessions are almost 30 mins/week. The pool serves as well walk in sessions for free swim and lanes are dedicated as per experience (slow, medium and high paced swimmers). The venue is well equiped with a paid parking lot and plenty of parking spots. The venu doesnt offer any food/drinks outlet. The venue is split between virgin active (membership required) and fulham pools (free access and paid by activity). The changing rooms facilities needs attention and renovation yet its manageable. The swimming pool is somehow heated during winter sessions. Good choice if living around fulham area.

   1 month ago
2. Yana Pampukha ★☆☆☆☆

   I deeply regret that I didn’t read the reviews before buying a membership at this gym. This low rating is absolutely justified. Over the past six months, there hasn’t been a single day when I didn’t regret purchasing a membership in this gym chain. Virgin Active is definitely the worst gym in its price category. First of all, the gyms are extremely overcrowded. And not because they are so popular, but simply because there is very little equipment. Something is often broken. Overall, the facilities are quite small and uncomfortable. The spa zone is absolutely not up to standard. The pool, sauna, and steam room are usually not hot enough. And this is the case in many clubs. I have been to many different locations, and it is the same everywhere. The clubs that have existed for a long time do not update their equipment at all. And in some locations, for example Angel Islington, all the machines are literally rusty, many are broken, and everything is dirty. Overall, the gym is quite dirty and unpleasant. The service is also absolutely terrible. When it comes to equipment, I was very surprised at the Canary Wharf club, considering that this gym is positioned as a premium-level club among their other locations. They have a very limited selection of machines. This was the first time in my life I saw a gym without a leg press machine, without a leg abduction machine, and without a hip thrust machine. You really have to be very creative to do a basic lower-body or upper-body workout there. Also, if you are a tennis lover like I am, keep in mind that Virgin Active has only two clubs with tennis facilities, and there are only a few courts there. Meanwhile, for example, Better Gym has 10 or 12 locations with tennis facilities. They have outdoor courts, indoor courts, and various options. Virgin Active is simply very bad. And of course, the service is what really hits rock bottom. Every time I think it can’t get any worse, they somehow manage to surprise me. The last time, I had an issue with my membership card. I contacted their customer support, and they didn’t reply to me for a week. After a week, they replied saying that since they hadn’t responded for a week, they hoped my issue had resolved itself. And if not, they recommended that I contact them again. I honestly find this shocking. But today something happened that was truly the cherry on top. I arrived at the Angel Islington gym in order to finish my workout before closing. To my surprise, the staff asked me to leave the gym 15 minutes earlier than the closing time stated in the opening hours. I asked why. They told me that it is a rule that the gym closes 15 minutes earlier than what is stated on the website or any other public sources. When I asked them to show me this rule on the website or anywhere else, a lady who introduced herself as a manager came over and started being rude to me. She very aggressively told me that I had to immediately get off the treadmill and that she did not have to show me anything, because since she is the manager, if she says I must leave the gym, I must quickly gather my things and leave — simply because she said so. I find this completely unacceptable. I pay £150 per month for this membership, and this is how the staff treats me when I ask very reasonable questions, politely and respectfully, simply asking them to show me the rule or policy. Instead, I was met with rudeness. I consider this absolutely unacceptable. I will be demanding early termination of my membership, because when I made the decision and signed the membership contract, I did not know that managers have the authority to arbitrarily set opening hours and kick me out just because they feel like it. You are essentially paying for a PureGym-level experience, but three times more expensive and with a long-term commitment that, unfortunately, you cannot break. Please be careful!!!

   1 month ago
3. Aleksandra Njagulj ★☆☆☆☆

   I’ve been a member of Virgin Active Fulham Pools since 2009, and I’ve finally had enough. The fees keep climbing while the quality, maintenance, and service are in freefall. I’ll be cancelling as soon as my contract ends — after sixteen years of loyalty, this is no longer worth it. The place is falling apart. The vents are thick with dust (one wonders about Legionnaires’ risk), most of the fountains and lockers don’t work, fittings are broken, and the showers are unreliable. The shampoo and conditioner are almost always empty — not that anyone would want to use them, since they look and smell like dishwashing liquid. The gym equipment has been downgraded from proper, adjustable machines to crude contraptions that require you to haul around 20-kg plates just to set them up. It’s obviously cheaper to maintain, but useless for anyone with back issues or a basic sense of ergonomics. Cleanliness has plummeted. The pool is often dirty, with piles of sand and other debris at the bottom, bits of chewing gum, and even a plaster I saw floating around today. And yet, Virgin Active has the audacity to justify its new “one towel per person” rule as an environmental measure. Please. The automated doors are constantly left open, wasting energy by heating or cooling the street outside, and there isn’t a single recycling bin in sight. If you finish a plastic bottle or a shampoo container, there’s nowhere to put it. So let’s not pretend this policy is about sustainability — it’s about saving money. When I asked for a second towel after swimming, the man at reception said he would “put it on my account” — not as a courtesy, but as a penalty, as if I were a misbehaving schoolgirl. That pretty much sums up the attitude here: eager to charge, incapable of caring. Even their membership pause policy is absurd. To freeze your account, you have to request it a month in advance — so apparently you’re expected to schedule your illnesses ahead of time. When I was sick for two weeks, they happily took my money without a word, but the moment I returned, they were ready to slap on a penalty for a towel. Do me a favour and ban me outright, I’ll be delighted to cancel my direct debit. Virgin Active has become a perfect case study in how to alienate long-standing members: high prices, poor maintenance, broken equipment, filthy facilities, fake “eco” policies, and zero customer service.

   almost 3 months ago

1. J B ★★☆☆☆

   I’ve been a member at Virgin Active for about 10 months. The main reason I stayed this long is because it’s close to my home and the facilities themselves are excellent. However, there are some clear downsides. The reception staff can be very inconsistent – some greet you warmly and make you feel welcome, while others don’t even respond to a simple “hello.” I also often see the cleaning staff around the shower booths, which shows they do pay attention to cleanliness. But even then, the attitude can be disappointing. One time I asked which shower booth I could use since cleaning was ongoing, and instead of answering, the staff member just waved me away with their hand – which felt really rude. I don’t expect over-the-top friendliness, but at the very least, some basic courtesy would go a long way in a place like this.

   almost 4 months ago
2. Annie Yu ★☆☆☆☆

   Update 13/09/2025 (Family aware) Virgin Active repeatedly cancels my daughter’s swimming lessons at the last minute — often only when we’re already poolside, ready to start. No email, no notice, no apology. It’s happened more than three times now. Shows zero respect for families’ time and no accountability. Update 19/07/2025 In the family changing room, every cubicle was filled with used towels. One even got a bloody tissue on the baby changing area. Definitely not safe or hygienic especially for young ones. My 2yo also stepped on sharp broken plastic on the floor of the shower room. /// I’m leaving this very negative review after months of frustration and repeated complaints, none of which were acknowledged or followed up by Virgin Active Fulham Pools. My family and I are members, and our daughter attends weekly swimming classes. For the past nine months, we’ve been reporting that the family facilities—specifically the accessibility shower room—are broken. The shower head is detached, and water sprays uncontrollably from the hose, making it impossible to use. We flagged this to the swimming team, reported it to staff during every visit, and submitted complaints through the app. We received no response at all. When we asked for the manager’s contact details, the staff refused to provide them. When we asked for the manager’s name or when they’d be available, we were told they didn’t know and to "just come back." After all this time, we finally managed to speak to a manager—who got someone to fix the issue on the day, but with no apology, no accountability, and no acknowledgment of the delay. I would not recommend this gym due to the poor maintenance of facilities, unresponsive and unhelpful customer service, lack of accountability, and a completely ineffective complaints process.

   almost 5 months ago
3. ayşe bilge gündüz ★☆☆☆☆

   As a member of this gym, I was joined by hoping to utilize the pool, yoga areas etc. however, my overall experience has left me with a 1/5 rating. While the facility does have yoga mats and accessories available, they are unfortunately locked in a room and require supervision to access. I was also advised to bring my own mat, or use fitness mats around the gym. However, these mats do not stick well to the floor and are often in short supply. This begs the question, why am I paying for a gym if I'm not able to use a yoga mat? It's also disappointing to see such an important gym accessory locked away, when other gyms I'm a member of have them readily available for use. Additionally, the cleanliness of the showers during especially in busy hours leaves something to be desired. While I understand that maintaining a clean facility during peak hours can be challenging, I would appreciate more attention to detail in this area. Furthermore, I would like to add that the sauna area is consistently dirty, which is not only unpleasant but also poses potential health risks to members. I urge the gym to prioritize the cleanliness of all areas, including the sauna, to ensure the safety and satisfaction of its members. With these improvements, I am confident that the gym can reach its full potential and provide a positive experience for all who use it.

   almost 2 years ago

1. çaın ülgen ★★★★★

   I had a great experience at this gym with PT Nauris. He was very helpful and tailored a workout session to my needs. The gym itself was very clean and spacious. Highly recommend

   almost 2 years ago
2. Aleix Ruiz Martinez ★★★★★

   Amazing gym, near home and friendly people. I've been welcomed from the first day by all the members of staff, including Nauris, my PT which I already had a few sessions with and I already can say that is one of the best PT I ever had.

   almost 2 years ago
3. Federico Cosi ★★☆☆☆

   I have reported many times that the pool It’s not clean at all . Lots of people are not wearing the swimming cap so all the hair goes in the water . The floor of the pool is all full of dirtiness which you can not see from the outside but only when you swim . It’s clear that the filter don’t work properly. Also the level of sauna and steamer room , it’s not the best . I will cancell my membership very soon because of this .

   almost 2 years ago

1. Kevan Kwok ★★★★★

   I've been to many Virgin Gym's around London and this is one of my favourite. First time visiting but I love the layout and feel of this Virgin. Open plan, airy, well equipped, clean, spacious and very conveniently layed out. It's set next in a park setting, with tennis courts next door, there is a very large swimming pool and clean change rooms. I had a nice swim and watched some TV in the lounge after. I love how the gym floor has everything on one open plan level. It allows you to mix up your workout more easily and I like the feeling of expanse. Plenty of the latest equipment as well. I also love the huge recreation lounge area with cafe attached. Big comfy couches, tables, pool table, perfect for relaxing after a workout, coffee, snack, working off your laptop and there's natural light from the windows. Feels like a lifestyle club not just a gym. Great Virgin Active!

   almost 5 years ago

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