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Gyms in Broadland

Norwich's northern and eastern edge and the countryside beyond it, from the health clubs of Hellesdon and Thorpe St Andrew to the rail trails out of Aylsham. Here's where to train in Broadland and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
69
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Showing 1–24 of 69 gyms

Places in Broadland

From Norwich's edge at Hellesdon and Sprowston to the market town of Aylsham.

Training in Broadland

Health clubs on the city edge, and long rail trails into the countryside.

Broadland is home to around 131,700 people (Census 2021), up 5.7% since 2011, with a median age of 48, against 41 for the East of England. It covers 552.4 km², from the Norwich suburbs of Hellesdon, Sprowston and Thorpe St Andrew out to Aylsham, Reepham, Acle and the eastern Broads. In Sport England's Active Lives survey for Nov 2024–25, 61.7% of adults did at least 150 minutes of activity a week, against 64.6% for England.

The biggest places to train sit on the Norwich edge: David Lloyd Norwich on Drayton High Road, with a 25 m indoor pool and a 20 m heated outdoor pool, and Bannatyne at Northside Business Park in Thorpe St Andrew. Norwich City's Community Sports Foundation runs The Nest at Horsford, and the St Faiths Centre has a pool, tennis courts and a sports hall. Sprowston's Salhouse Road has CrossFit, boxing and HYROX gyms.

Outside the suburbs, Marriott's Way and the Bure Valley path give you long, traffic-free miles. It's easier to use them with the right company. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Broadland

The health clubs and sports hubs first, then the strength gyms and the pools.

Health clubs and sports hubs

CrossFit, strength and boxing

Pools

Find a training buddy in Broadland

A tennis partner at David Lloyd, someone to share the WOD at CrossFit Spitfire, a cycling partner for Marriott's Way: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a Broadland training group

A Sunday ride from Taverham up Marriott's Way, a run along the Bure Valley path from Aylsham, a HYROX crew in Sprowston: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in Broadland.

  • Marriott's Waya 39.5 km rail trail from Norwich through Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham and Reepham to Aylsham, for walking, running, cycling and horse riding.
  • Bure Valley footpatha path beside the narrow-gauge Bure Valley Railway, opened in 1991, running 9 miles from Aylsham to Wroxham.
  • Blickling estate4,777 acres in a loop of the River Bure north of Aylsham, with the National Trust since 1940.
  • The Broadsthe eastern parts of the district lie within the Broads, 303 km² of rivers, broads and marsh with a status similar to a national park.
  • River Yare at Thorpe St Andrewtwo miles east of Norwich, where the Yare Boat Club rows from Thorpe Island.

Getting around

Rail lines and trails across Broadland.

Rail

  • the Wherry Lines run hourly from Norwich via Brundall Gardens, Brundall, Lingwood and Acle to Great Yarmouth
  • an hourly Norwich to Lowestoft service also calls at Brundall
  • the Bittern Line calls at Salhouse on its hourly run to Sheringham, though some trains pass it

Heritage rail

  • the Bure Valley Railway, 15 in narrow gauge, runs 9 miles between Aylsham and Wroxham

Walk and cycle

  • Marriott's Way links Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham and Reepham with Aylsham and Norwich
  • a footpath follows the Bure Valley Railway from Aylsham to Wroxham

Who trains here

What the census and Sport England say about the people you'll train alongside.

  • 48Median ageUp from 45 in 2011, and above 41 for the East of England.Census 2021
  • 13.2%Aged 65 to 74Up from 11.6% in 2011. Plenty of people at the age when a regular swim or class partner keeps you going.Census 2021
  • 61.7%Adults active 150+ min a weekAgainst 64.6% across England; 22.9% of adults do less than 30 minutes a week.Sport England Active Lives, Nov 2024–25

Broadland gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Broadland?

Gymist lists 69 gyms, health clubs, pools, studios and sports venues across Broadland, from David Lloyd and Bannatyne to CrossFit boxes, martial arts clubs and village football grounds.

Where are the main places to train in Broadland, and who runs them?

David Lloyd Norwich on Drayton High Road has a 25 m indoor pool, a 20 m heated outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, padel and a gym. Bannatyne at Northside Business Park, Thorpe St Andrew, has a 20 m pool, two tennis courts, two squash courts and padel. The Nest at Horsford is the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation's hub, with two floodlit 3G pitches and a gym. The St Faiths Centre in Horsham St Faith is a community centre with a pool, tennis courts and a sports hall.

Where can I swim in Broadland?

David Lloyd Norwich has a 25 m indoor pool and a 20 m heated outdoor pool, and Bannatyne in Thorpe St Andrew a 20 m pool, both for members. The St Faiths Centre has a pool. Plumstead Pool at Great Plumstead (10 m by 5 m) and Rackheath Pool are hired privately, for up to eight people.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Broadland?

Marriott's Way, a former railway, runs 39.5 km from Norwich through Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham and Reepham to Aylsham, open to walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders. A footpath runs beside the Bure Valley Railway for 9 miles from Aylsham to Wroxham. North of Aylsham, the National Trust's Blickling estate covers 4,777 acres in a loop of the River Bure.

How do I get around Broadland without a car?

The Wherry Lines run hourly from Norwich through Brundall Gardens, Brundall, Lingwood and Acle to Great Yarmouth, and hourly through Brundall to Lowestoft. The Bittern Line calls at Salhouse on its hourly run to Sheringham, though some trains pass it.

How do I find a gym buddy in Broadland?

Join Gymist free, add your gym and when you train, and browse members nearby. If there isn't a group for your kind of training yet, start one.

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