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Gyms in the East Midlands

Nearly 4.9 million people across 35 council areas, from Kinder Scout and the Peak District to Sherwood Forest, Rutland Water and the Lincolnshire Wolds. Gymist helps you find where to train in the East Midlands and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
3,692
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Local authorities in the East Midlands

Thirty-five council areas, from the High Peak to the Lincolnshire coast, each with its own page.

Training in the East Midlands

Four 50 m pools, a velodrome, white water and Britain's first national park.

The East Midlands is home to 4,880,054 people (Census 2021), up 7.7% since 2011, faster than England's 6.6%. In 2024–25, 67.2% of adults here did 150 minutes or more of activity a week, just below 68.0% for England. Within the region that ranges from 78.5% in the Derbyshire Dales to 55.9% in Boston.

The region has four 50 m pools open to the public: Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham, Moorways Sports Village in Derby, Corby East Midlands International Pool and Loughborough University's pool, open to community members aged 16 and over. Derby Arena has a 250 m indoor cycling track, and the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont has a white water course and a regatta lake. Leicester's council runs seven leisure centres as Active Leicester, with more than 30 free outdoor gyms around the city.

Then there's the Peak District, Britain's first national park, plus Sherwood Forest, Bradgate Park, Rutland Water and the Lincolnshire Wolds. With 538,525 people aged 16 to 24 and 620,300 aged 25 to 34, there are plenty of people here who'd train more with the right company. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in the East Midlands

The region's landmark public venues, outdoor swims and climbing walls.

50 m pools and national venues

Lidos and open water

Climbing walls

Find a training buddy in the East Midlands

A lane partner at Moorways, someone to belay you at The Tower in Leicester, a hill partner for Kinder Scout: find people near you who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start an East Midlands training group

A Saturday ride along the Monsal Trail, a summer swim group at Hood Park Lido, a Sunday run in Bradgate Park: set it up in minutes and we'll help people nearby find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train across the East Midlands.

  • Peak District National ParkBritain's first national park, designated in 1951, rising to 636 m at Kinder Scout, with the Pennine Way starting at Edale.
  • The Monsal Trailabout 8.5 miles from Wye Dale, near Buxton, to Coombs Viaduct by Bakewell, through six tunnels, for walking, running and cycling.
  • Sherwood Foresta National Nature Reserve of 1,050 acres, with an RSPB visitor centre.
  • Bradgate Park850 acres of deer park in Charnwood Forest, north-west of Leicester, topped by the Old John folly.
  • Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape560 square kilometres of rolling hills, rising to Wolds Top at 168 m, the highest point in Lincolnshire.
  • Leicester's outdoor gymsmore than 30 free outdoor gyms across the city, run by Active Leicester.

Getting around

Rail, tram and cycle routes across the region.

Rail

  • East Midlands Railway intercity trains from London St Pancras along the Midland Main Line to Nottingham and Sheffield
  • EMR Connect between Corby and London St Pancras
  • Grantham, Newark North Gate and Retford on the East Coast Main Line

Tram

  • two NET tram lines in Nottingham: Hucknall to Toton Lane, and Phoenix Park to Clifton South

Cycle

  • the Monsal Trail is National Cycle Route 680
  • a walking and cycling track runs right round Rutland Water

Who trains here

What the census and the activity survey say about the people you'll meet at the rack, in the pool and on the hills.

  • 33Median age in LeicesterSeven years younger than England (40), and 51 in the Derbyshire Dales.Census 2021
  • 1,158,825Residents aged 16 to 34538,525 aged 16 to 24 and 620,300 aged 25 to 34. A lot of people at the stage of life where a training partner makes the difference.Census 2021
  • 67.2%Adults active 150+ minutes a weekJust below England's 68.0%, from 78.5% in the Derbyshire Dales to 55.9% in Boston.Sport England Active Lives via OHID Fingertips, 2024–25

East Midlands gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in the East Midlands?

Gymist lists 3,692 gyms, leisure centres, pools, studios and sports venues across the East Midlands' 35 local authorities, from council leisure centres and 50 m pools to climbing walls, lidos, open water and independent gyms.

Which are the biggest places to train in the East Midlands?

Nottingham has Harvey Hadden Sports Village, with an eight-lane 50 m pool, and the University of Nottingham's David Ross Sports Village, which sells public memberships. Derby has Moorways Sports Village and Derby Arena. Leicester City Council runs seven leisure centres as Active Leicester, and Loughborough University sells community memberships to anyone aged 16 or over. Leicester's median age is 33, the joint second-lowest in the region (Census 2021).

Where is there a 50 m pool in the East Midlands?

Moorways Sports Village in Derby has a ten-lane 50 m pool with a movable floor and two booms, plus a leisure pool with flumes. Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham has an eight-lane 50 m pool. Corby East Midlands International Pool has an eight-lane 50 m pool with a 5 m diving platform, and Loughborough University has an eight-lane 50 m pool.

Where can I swim outdoors in the East Midlands?

Hathersage Swimming Pool in the Peak District is an outdoor pool with a winter timetable from November to March. Hood Park Lido in Ashby-de-la-Zouch is a heated 30 m by 10 m outdoor pool open through the summer season. Bourne Outdoor Swimming Pool, run by volunteers since 1990, is closed for the year and reopens in May 2027. WholeHealth near Nottingham runs open water swimming and a lakeside wood-fired sauna.

Where can I train outdoors for free in the East Midlands?

The Peak District, designated in 1951 as Britain's first national park, rises to 636 m at Kinder Scout, the region's highest point, and the Pennine Way starts at Edale. The Monsal Trail runs about 8.5 miles from Wye Dale, near Buxton, towards Bakewell for walking and cycling. Bradgate Park in Charnwood has 850 acres of deer park, Sherwood Forest's National Nature Reserve covers 1,050 acres, and Leicester has more than 30 free outdoor gyms.

How do I get around the East Midlands to train?

East Midlands Railway runs intercity trains from London St Pancras along the Midland Main Line to Nottingham and Sheffield, regional services across the region, and EMR Connect trains between Corby and London. Grantham, Newark North Gate and Retford are on the East Coast Main Line. In Nottingham, two NET tram lines cross the city centre.

How do I find a gym buddy in the East Midlands?

Join Gymist free, add the gyms you use and when you train, and browse members in your town or council area. If there isn't a group for your kind of training nearby, you can start one.

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