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Gyms in Mid and East Antrim

Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus, with council pools in all three towns, Slemish on the skyline and the Gobbins cliff path on Islandmagee. Here's where to train and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
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Towns in Mid and East Antrim

From Ballymena to the Belfast Lough shore.

Training in Mid and East Antrim

Three towns, three council pools, and hills and coast between them.

Mid and East Antrim had 139,000 residents at Census 2021, up 2.7% since 2011. It is one of Northern Ireland's oldest council areas: 19.7% of residents are 65 or over, a share beaten only by Ards and North Down, and 17.4% are children aged 0 to 14. 45% of adults took part in sport in the past year in 2024/25, against 51% across Northern Ireland.

The council runs a leisure centre in each of the three big towns: Seven Towers in the heart of Ballymena, Larne Leisure Centre, and the Amphitheatre Wellness Centre in Carrickfergus, with a pool, spa pool, sauna, gym and an indoor arena. Around them sit PureGym and JD Gyms in Ballymena, CrossFit boxes in Ballymena and Larne, and jiu-jitsu academies and boxing clubs in Carrickfergus.

Whether you swim in Larne or climb Slemish, training is easier with the right company. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Mid and East Antrim

Council leisure centres first, then the chains, CrossFit and independents, and the combat clubs.

Council leisure centres

Chains, CrossFit and independents

Combat and martial arts

Find a training buddy in Mid and East Antrim

A lane partner at Seven Towers, someone to share the WOD at Revival CrossFit, a rolling partner at Tides in Carrickfergus: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a Mid and East Antrim training group

A Saturday climb up Slemish, a lunchtime run in the People's Park, an early swim at the Amphitheatre: set it up in minutes and we'll help people nearby find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Hills, coast and parks in Mid and East Antrim.

  • Slemish437 m, with 150 m of prominence, rising a few miles east of Ballymena.
  • The Gobbinsa cliff path on the east coast of Islandmagee, reopened in 2017 and reached by guided tour from the visitor centre.
  • People's Park, Ballymenathe town's park, established in 1870.

Getting around

Rail routes to the borough's gyms.

Rail

  • Larne line: half-hourly on weekdays from Belfast Grand Central, alternating between Larne Harbour and Whitehead, hourly after 8pm
  • stations at Greenisland, Clipperstown, Carrickfergus, Downshire and Whitehead; Larne Harbour shares a building with the ferry terminal
  • Ballymena station on the Belfast to Derry~Londonderry line

Who trains here

What the census and the household survey say about the people you'll meet in the pool and on the hill.

  • 19.7%Aged 65 or overSecond only to Ards and North Down (22.1%). Plenty of people here for whom a regular swim or class partner keeps them going.NISRA Census 2021
  • 45%Adults who played sport in the past yearBelow the Northern Ireland figure of 51%.Continuous Household Survey 2024/25
  • 2.36People per householdBelow the Northern Ireland average of 2.44, so many people here train without a ready-made partner at home.NISRA Census 2021

Mid and East Antrim gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Mid and East Antrim?

Gymist lists 164 gyms, leisure centres, studios and sports venues across Mid and East Antrim, from the council's leisure centres and chain gyms to CrossFit boxes, jiu-jitsu academies, boxing clubs and golf clubs.

Which leisure centres are in Mid and East Antrim?

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council runs Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena, Larne Leisure Centre and the Amphitheatre Wellness Centre on Prince William Way in Carrickfergus.

Where can I swim in Mid and East Antrim?

All three council centres have pools. Seven Towers in Ballymena has pools and a health suite, Larne Leisure Centre's main pool is open while its learner pool is closed for maintenance, and the Amphitheatre in Carrickfergus has a swimming pool and a spa pool, steam room and sauna.

Where can I train outdoors in Mid and East Antrim?

Slemish, a few miles east of Ballymena, rises to 437 m. The Gobbins cliff path on the east coast of Islandmagee is reached by guided tour from its visitor centre, and Ballymena's People's Park has been open since 1870.

How do I get to gyms in Mid and East Antrim without a car?

Trains on the Larne line run half-hourly on weekdays from Belfast Grand Central, calling at Greenisland, Carrickfergus and Whitehead, with alternate trains going on to Larne Harbour. Ballymena is on the Belfast to Derry~Londonderry line.

How do I find a gym buddy in Mid and East Antrim?

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

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