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Gyms in Durham

A cathedral city on a loop of the River Wear, with Freeman's Quay's eight-lane pool, Durham University's sport and a long list of strength, fight and yoga studios.

Gyms and venues
68
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Training in Durham

Riverside pools, university sport and strong independents.

Durham's public pool is Freeman's Quay, with an eight-lane 25 m pool and a 140-station gym, and Thrive Leisure also runs Abbey Leisure Centre. Durham University's Graham Sports Centre and Fitness Centre add more, and the chains are here too: Bannatyne, UltraFlex and two PureGyms. Below them sits a strong independent layer: CrossFit DHM, The Legion Strength and Fitness, Krank Boxing & Fitness, 5th Element Jiu Jitsu, Ironworks Martial Arts, and yoga at The Durham Yoga Studio.

The Wear wraps the centre on three sides below wooded banks, and every June it hosts Durham Regatta, England's second-oldest rowing regatta. The university's sports ground at Maiden Castle sits beside an Iron Age fort, and the Lanchester Valley path runs 12 miles to Consett on an old railway. Plenty of routes to share with a training partner.

Getting there

  • Durham station · East Coast Main Line
  • Durham bus station · North Road
  • Park and Ride · Belmont, Howlands, Sniperley

Train outdoors

  • River Wear
  • Lanchester Valley path

Where to train in Durham

Pools and big gyms, strength and fight gyms, then studios.

Find a training buddy in Durham

A lane partner at Freeman's Quay, a rolling partner at 5th Element, a riverbank running buddy.

Find a buddy

Start a Durham training group

A Saturday run along the Wear, a CrossFit open-gym crew, a cycle out on the Lanchester Valley path: set it up and we'll help people find it.

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Durham gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Durham?

Gymist lists 68 gyms, pools, studios and sports venues in and around Durham, from Thrive Leisure's centres and university sport to CrossFit, boxing and yoga.

Where can I swim in Durham?

Freeman's Quay has an eight-lane 25 m pool and a teaching pool, the largest pool in Thrive Leisure's County Durham centres.

Can I get to Durham's gyms without a car?

Durham station is on the East Coast Main Line, the bus station on North Road reopened in January 2024, and Park and Ride runs from Belmont, Howlands and Sniperley.

Nearby areas

All gyms in County Durham →