David Lloyd vs Nuffield Health: UK Gym Comparison Guide 2025

David Lloyd and Nuffield Health are both health clubs, focusing on fitness, mindfulness, and sportsmanship in the UK. With a major focus on health and fitness, both have their own specialities and goals. Both offer holistic health and fitness opportunities, including swimming, yoga, spa, tennis courts, and a gym. 

We will compare membership flexibility, prices, amenities, and culture at both gyms. You can decide after reading this which one better suits your needs. 

• David Lloyd offers a luxury, all-inclusive experience with extensive family amenities, but it comes at a high and often increasing cost.
• Nuffield Health is more affordable, medically focused, and flexible, ideal for individuals prioritising health services and simplicity.
• David Lloyd excels in spa, tennis, and social events, while Nuffield shines in physiotherapy, screenings, and less crowded gyms.
• Nuffield contracts are easier to cancel or freeze; David Lloyd locks members into longer terms.
• Choose David Lloyd for luxury and family features; Nuffield for value and wellness-focused care.

David Lloyd is considered a top-tier health care and fitness club, both in the UK and internationally. With over 130 clubs, 110 in the UK and the rest in Europe, it is one of the biggest family-oriented clubs for fitness. Its membership plans are flexible for every situation. Some of the most used amenities in David Lloyd are swimming pools, a spa, tennis courts, cafes, and a kids’ club. 

David Lloyd Statistics:

1. Official Price Range: £85 – £1,000+ per month (huge variation)
2. Company Size: 130 clubs, 650,000+ members, £390M+ revenue
3. Membership Types: Standard, Diamond, Platinum, Plus, Couple, Club, Corporate
4. What You Get: 13,000+ weekly classes, 170+ pools, 1000+ courts
5. Customer Satisfaction: 89.4% feedback score, 80%+ app satisfaction
6. Free Benefits: Kids under 2 added free to memberships
7. Premium Positioning: Europe’s leading health & leisure group since 1981
8. Recent Growth: 17% revenue increase in 2021, bounced back post-COVID

These stats help justify why David Lloyd is expensive and what members get for the high prices.

However, Nuffield Health is more medically oriented in healthcare. With more than 10,000 staff members, it has more than 110 spread chains all across the UK. It focuses on community, physiotherapy, wellness, and health. 

Feature	David Lloyd Clubs	Nuffield Health
Monthly Cost	£130–£200+ (+ joining fee ~£150)	£40–£95, minimal or no joining fee
Facilities	Pools, spa, tennis, fitness studios, kids zones	Gym, pool, physio, classes, health screening
Contract Flexibility	Longer terms, limited freezing	Easier cancellation/freezing
Family Programs	Extensive children’s & family-focused offerings	Limited family-specific offerings
Class Booking	Class-heavy social events, fewer restrictions	Easy booking, less crowding
Work Atmosphere	Socially active, resort feel	Health-first, community focus
Staff Experience	Mixed reviews; better perks for PTs	Better pay stability; mixed ratings

The membership prices of David Lloyd are more than those of Nuffield Health. The average membership price ranges from £131.50 to over £165 /month. Premium membership packages can go as high as £250. The joining fee is in addition to the regular pricing. Members report prices are hiked within a year and a half from an average of £175 to £220.

The membership prices for Nuffield Health are more economical than those of David Lloyd. Their average membership plans cost between £40 and £95/month. The joining fee is also close to none as compared to the DL. In both cases, the fee also depends on the location and the provided amenities by the club for the membership. 

David Lloyd is famous for its giant pools, spa spaces, and racquet courts. They have both indoor and outdoor pools, and racquet courts including tennis and squash. The spa facilities include hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas. Cafes and kids’ play zones are also up to the mark, justifying high membership prices. 

Nuffield Health provides some similar services, like a gym, pools, and a class studio. Besides that, they provide physio and health care screening services. Their focus is on wellbeing, corporate wellness, and nutrition advice. 

It is more flexible in terms of Membership, contracts, and ease of use. David Lloyd has long-term, consistent memberships with less flexible payment plans. Users have reported hikes in prices in recent years at David Lloyd. But access levels at DL are more flexible as they provide guest passes, family discounts, and class discounts. 

Social Media Member Voices For Both Clubs:

These real-world voices and reviews of the members give more clearer picture when it comes to the comparison of both clubs. You can have an idea of what people feel who have experienced both club memberships. 

“Having worked at DL, the value for money is terrible as the gym equipment is pretty old… Upsides are you have a pool.”

“Currently at DL because the 25 m pool and earlier opening times are handier for me… least restrictive as far as not having to book slots.” 

“Massively less busy [than DL]… DL is four times as big but five times as busy… DL raised my family price to almost £4,000 a year, which is ridiculous.” 

Both of the fitness clubs have their own focus and specialities. It all depends on your priorities and requirements. If you want a full-scale wellness and fitness package, then David Lloyd is the best choice for you. It offers luxurious family-oriented plans. If higher cost is not an issue for you, and you want to enjoy all the amenities, including tennis, spa, gym, pools, etc, then David Lloyd is the best choice for you. 

On the other hand, if you prioritise affordability and medical fitness over social wellbeing, then Nuffield Health is a great choice. It offers physiotherapy, screening, and wellness coaching with flexible contracts. You can experience calm, welcoming, and less crowded facilities here.

Why Some Members Leave David Lloyd

Many former David Lloyd members switch to other gyms because:

• Prices are too high for the facilities offered
• Class timetables have gotten worse over time
• Better value options are available nearby
• Older sites need updating

Common Complaints For Nuffield Health

• Inconsistent staff policies at reception
• Some gyms need better cleaning/organization
• Equipment maintenance issues at certain locations
• Parking charge problems at some sites

The following comparison shows the statistics of both clubs about their work environment, employee satisfaction, benefits, management, and pay. This comparison is more about the employee perspective than a user/customer perspective. 

Metric	David Lloyd Fitness Clubs	Nuffield Gym Health Club
Overall employee rating	3.2 / 5 (based on ~1,120 reviews)	3.2 / 5 (based on ~899 reviews)
Work-life balance score	3.0 / 5	3.1 / 5
Culture rating	3.1 / 5	3.0 / 5
Compensation & benefits	2.9 / 5	2.9 / 5
Job security & advancement	3.0 / 5	2.9 / 5
Management rating	2.8 / 5	2.7 / 5
CEO approval	42 % approve of CEO Russell Barnes	N/A
Salary fairness sentiment	~37 % feel fairly paid	~36 % feel fairly paid
Swim instructor pay	£19.20 per hour	£18.02 per hour
Personal trainer pay	£18.97 per hour (≈£32 k/yr)	£32,204 per year (salary basis)
Lifeguard pay	£11.85 per hour	£21,469 per year (approx.)
Receptionist pay	£11.92 per hour (~£20.5 k/yr)	£20,509 per year
Food & beverage assistant pay	£11.87 per hour (~£20.6 k/yr)	£20,591 per year

David Lloyd and Nuffield Health both offer multiple fitness and wellbeing options. But it depends on your needs and priorities which one you choose. If you need premium facilities and a family-focused gym membership, David Lloyd is the option to go. For those prioritising affordability, medical support, and flexible terms, Nuffield Health is a solid choice. Your decision comes down to what matters most: luxury and leisure, or value and health-first care.