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Gyms in Croydon

London's most populous borough runs from the trams and towers of the town centre to the chalk downs above Coulsdon. Here's where to train in Croydon, and how to find people to train with.

Gyms and venues
158
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Showing 1–24 of 158 gyms

Neighbourhoods in Croydon

From Norbury and Upper Norwood in the north to Coulsdon on the downs.

Training in Croydon

London's most populous borough, with plenty of room to get more active.

Croydon is a big place to train in. About 390,700 people lived here at the 2021 Census, up 7.5% in ten years, and the borough alternates with Barnet as London's most populous. The median age is 37, a little older than London as a whole. Activity has room to grow: in Sport England's Active Lives survey for Nov 2024–25, 59.4% of adults did 150 minutes or more a week, against 64.6% across England.

The public centres are run by Better: 25 m pools at Waddon, Thornton Heath, South Norwood and New Addington, a gym and 3G pitches at Monks Hill in Selsdon, and an eight-lane athletics track at Croydon Sports Arena beside South Norwood Country Park. Around them sit budget chains on the Purley Way and in West Croydon, boxing gyms in the town centre, a CrossFit box in Purley and a long list of tennis, golf and martial arts clubs in the southern suburbs.

The south of the borough is greener than most people expect, with Addington Hills, Lloyd Park and Farthing Downs all within reach. A training partner makes it easier to use them, and Gymist is where you find one.

Where to train in Croydon

Better's council centres first, then the chains, boxing gyms and clubs.

Council leisure centres (Better)

Chain gyms and health clubs

Independent, strength and CrossFit

Boxing and martial arts

Find a training buddy in Croydon

A lane partner at Waddon, someone to hold pads with in the town centre, a running partner for the Lloyd Park hills: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a Croydon training group

Track sessions at Croydon Sports Arena, a Saturday hill group on Addington Hills, a lunchtime lifting crew near East Croydon: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in Croydon.

  • Lloyd Parkabout 46 hectares with an open-air gym, cross-country courses and a free 5k parkrun every Saturday at 9am.
  • Addington Hills53 hectares of woodland and heath rising to 140 m, with a viewing platform over London.
  • South Norwood Country Park47 hectares beside Croydon Sports Arena, with a rubble-hill viewpoint and the end of the Waterlink Way cycle route.
  • Farthing Downs and Happy Valleychalk downland above Coulsdon, on the London Loop walking route.
  • Selsdon Wooda 200-acre nature reserve near Selsdon.

Getting around

Rail, Overground, trams and buses to Croydon's gyms.

National Rail

  • East Croydon (zone 5) for Southern and Thameslink, including trains to Brighton and Gatwick
  • Southern from South Croydon to London Bridge and Victoria

Overground

  • Windrush line to West Croydon and Norwood Junction

Trams

  • London Trams from Wimbledon through Croydon to Beckenham Junction and Elmers End, and from West Croydon to New Addington

Tube

  • No Tube station in the borough; Morden is the nearest

Who trains here

What the census and Sport England say about the people you'll meet here.

  • 390,700ResidentsLondon's most populous borough alongside Barnet, up 7.5% since 2011.Census 2021
  • 37Median ageUp from 35 in 2011. Almost one in five residents is aged 50 to 64.Census 2021
  • 59.4%Adults active 150+ min a weekBelow England's 64.6%, so there are plenty of people looking for a reason to start.Sport England Active Lives, Nov 2024–25

Croydon gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Croydon?

Gymist lists 158 gyms, leisure centres, pools, studios and sports venues in Croydon, from Better's council leisure centres to chain gyms, boxing and martial arts gyms, CrossFit and tennis and golf clubs from Norbury to Coulsdon.

Who runs the leisure centres in Croydon?

Better runs Croydon's public leisure centres: Waddon, Thornton Heath, South Norwood and New Addington, which each have a 25 m pool and a gym, plus Monks Hill Sport Centre in Selsdon, Croydon Sports Arena in South Norwood and Ashburton Hall and Park.

Is there an athletics track in Croydon?

Yes. Croydon Sports Arena on Albert Road, South Norwood, has an eight-lane outdoor track with a throwing cage for javelin, discus and hammer, run by Better.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Croydon?

Lloyd Park has an open-air gym, cross-country courses and a free 5k parkrun every Saturday at 9am. Addington Hills, South Norwood Country Park and Farthing Downs near Coulsdon are all good for hill runs and long walks.

How do I get around Croydon to train?

East Croydon is a major rail hub in fare zone 5, with Southern and Thameslink trains. The Windrush line of the Overground runs to West Croydon and Norwood Junction, and London Trams link Croydon with Wimbledon, Beckenham, Elmers End and New Addington. There is no Tube station in the borough.

How do I find a gym buddy in Croydon?

Join Gymist free, add the gyms you use 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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