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Gyms in the North West

From Manchester's velodrome and Liverpool's 50 m pool to heated village pools in the Eden valley and the Lake District fells. Gymist helps you find where to train in the North West, and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
2,839
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Popular gyms in North West

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Places in the North West

The region's 35 council areas, each with its own page.

Training in the North West

Two big cities, a national park and a lot of coast.

Just over 7.4 million people live in the North West (7,417,397 at the 2021 Census), up 5.2% since 2011. The median age is 40, the same as England, but the cities run younger: Manchester's is 31 and Liverpool's 35. In Sport England's latest Active Lives survey (Nov 2024–25), 62.9% of adults in the region did at least 150 minutes of activity a week, a little below England's 64.6%. That ranges from 74.3% in Ribble Valley to 54.6% in Blackburn with Darwen.

Many of the region's landmark public venues are in its two cities. Manchester has the Manchester Aquatics Centre, the National Cycling Centre's velodrome and BMX arena, and Belle Vue Sports Village. Liverpool has a 50 m pool at Wavertree. Beyond them sit Leigh Sports Village with its athletics track and 25 m pool, Bolton Arena's indoor tennis centre, Salt Ayre in Lancaster with its climbing centre, and the redeveloped Sands Centre in Carlisle.

Then there's the outdoors: the Lake District, England's largest national park, the Forest of Bowland, the Trans Pennine Trail from Southport and the western end of Hadrian's Wall Path. Wherever you train in the region, it's easier with someone to train with. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in the North West

The region's landmark public venues, from Manchester's velodrome to the Eden valley's outdoor pools.

Manchester and Liverpool's landmark venues

Big public sports centres across the region

Outdoor pools and open water

Find a training buddy in the North West

A lane partner at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, someone to ride the velodrome with, a fell-running partner in the Lakes: find people near you who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a North West training group

A summer swim group at Askham or Shap, a Trans Pennine Trail cycling group from Southport, a fell walking group in the Forest of Bowland: set it up in minutes and we'll help people nearby find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in the North West.

  • Lake District National ParkEngland's largest national park, 2,362 km², with Scafell Pike (978 m); a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.
  • Forest of Bowlanda National Landscape in Lancashire, one of 46 across the UK.
  • Trans Pennine Trail215 miles (346 km) coast to coast, starting at Southport and finishing at Hornsea.
  • Hadrian's Wall Path84 miles (135 km) from Wallsend, ending at Bowness-on-Solway on the Cumbrian coast.

Getting around

Rail, tram, Merseyrail, bus and bike routes to the region's gyms.

Rail

  • the West Coast Main Line calls at Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith and Carlisle

Tram

  • Metrolink has 99 stops on 64 miles (103 km) of route across Greater Manchester

Merseyrail

  • the Northern and Wirral lines serve 69 stations across the Liverpool City Region

Bus

  • all local bus services in Greater Manchester are part of the Bee Network

Cycle

  • the Trans Pennine Trail from Southport
  • Bee Network bike hire in Greater Manchester

Who trains here

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

  • 40Median ageThe same as England, but Manchester's is 31: the cities are full of people at the age when a training partner keeps you going.Census 2021
  • 25.9%Aged 20 to 39Nearly 1.92 million people, close to England's 26.3%.Census 2021 (TS007A, derived)
  • 62.9%Adults active 150+ min a weekBelow England's 64.6%, and ranging from 74.3% in Ribble Valley to 54.6% in Blackburn with Darwen.Sport England Active Lives, Nov 2024–25

North West gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in the North West?

Gymist lists 2,839 gyms, leisure centres, pools, studios and sports venues across the North West's 35 council areas, from Manchester and Liverpool to Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.

Where are the biggest places to train in the North West?

Manchester and Liverpool. Manchester has the Manchester Aquatics Centre, the National Cycling Centre and Belle Vue Sports Village, and Liverpool has the Liverpool Aquatics Centre at Wavertree Sports Park. Outside the cities, there are big public sports sites at Leigh Sports Village, Bolton Arena in Horwich, Salt Ayre Leisure Centre in Lancaster and the Sands Centre in Carlisle.

Where can I swim in a 50 m pool or outdoors in the North West?

The Manchester Aquatics Centre and the Liverpool Aquatics Centre both have 50 m pools; in November 2026 Manchester's main pool is running as a 25 m pool while a fault with its movable boom is repaired. For outdoor swimming, the heated village pools at Askham, Greystoke, Lazonby and Shap open from May to September, and Salford Watersports Centre runs booked open water swims at Salford Quays.

Where can I train outdoors for free in the North West?

The Lake District is England's largest national park, at 2,362 square kilometres, and includes Scafell Pike (978 m). The Forest of Bowland is a National Landscape in Lancashire. The Trans Pennine Trail runs 215 miles (346 km) coast to coast from Southport to Hornsea, and Hadrian's Wall Path ends at Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria.

Which part of the North West is most active?

In Sport England's Active Lives survey for Nov 2024–25, Ribble Valley had the highest share of adults doing 150+ minutes of activity a week (74.3%), followed by Westmorland and Furness (73.5%). The region as a whole was 62.9%.

How do I get around the North West to train?

The West Coast Main Line links Crewe, Warrington, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith and Carlisle. Greater Manchester has Metrolink, with 99 tram stops, and the Bee Network buses. Merseyrail's Northern and Wirral lines cover the Liverpool City Region.

How do I find a gym buddy in the North West?

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

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