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Gyms in York

A walled city of two universities, with an Edwardian 50-yard pool at Yearsley and open Strays to run on. Here's where to train in York and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
258
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Showing 1–24 of 258 gyms

Neighbourhoods in York

From the stadium side of Huntington to the riverside streets of Clementhorpe.

Training in York

A student city with an old pool and a lot of flat, open ground.

York is home to around 202,800 people (Census 2021), up 2.4% since 2011, with a median age of 39. Students shape it: 10.0% of residents are aged 20 to 24 and another 6.6% are 16 to 19, and the city has two universities, the University of York in Heslington and York St John.

Better runs four public sites: York Leisure Centre beside the LNER Community Stadium, with a 25 m six-lane pool and Clip 'n Climb, Energise in Acomb, Burnholme Sports Centre in Tang Hall and Yearsley Swimming Pool, a 50-yard Edwardian pool and the biggest in the city. The university's York Sport runs York Sport Village and the campus sports centre and track. Around them sit CrossFit boxes in Clifton and Foss Islands, MMA and jiu-jitsu gyms, two bouldering walls and the wild-swimming lakes at Pool Bridge Farm.

Whether you're new to the city or have trained here for years, it's easier to keep going with the right company. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in York

Better's public centres first, then the university's sport sites, the strength gyms, fight gyms and climbing walls.

Public leisure centres (Better)

University and club sports centres

Strength gyms, CrossFit and chains

Combat and martial arts

Climbing and open water

Find a training buddy in York

A lane partner at Yearsley, someone to share the WOD in Clifton, a bouldering partner at the Red Goat: find people nearby who train when you do.

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Start a York training group

A Saturday crew for parkrun on the Knavesmire, a weekend ride down the Solar System path, a winter dipping group at Pool Bridge Farm: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

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Train outdoors

Free places to train in York.

  • KnavesmireYork parkrun's home since January 2012, a free 5k every Saturday morning; with Hob Moor it makes up Micklegate Stray.
  • Rowntree Park25 acres by the Ouse, opened in 1921, with tennis courts, a basketball court and a skateboarding area.
  • Solar System cycle path10.3 km on the old railway line from the Ouse near Fulford through Naburn to Riccall, part of the White Rose cycle route.
  • Monk Straymore than 130 acres of open grass on the edge of Heworth.
  • Hull Road Parkabout 25 acres in Tang Hall, with tennis and basketball courts and woodland.
  • Strensall Commonover 5 km² of lowland heath east of Strensall, looked after by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Getting around

Rail, bus and bike routes to York's gyms.

Rail

  • York station: 10.464 million entries and exits in 2024/25, across 11 platforms on the East Coast Main Line
  • five train operators call at York, including LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern

Bus

  • First York runs most of the city's local bus services
  • six Park and Ride services, from Askham Bar, Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar and Rawcliffe Bar
  • Yearsley Swimming Pool is on routes 1, 5 and 5a

Cycle

  • the Solar System cycle path runs 10.3 km south from the Ouse near Fulford to Riccall
  • the old Foss Islands branch line is now a footpath and cycle path

Who trains here

What the census says about the people you'll meet in the pool, on the mats and on the Strays.

  • 10.0%Aged 20 to 24With another 6.6% aged 16 to 19, a big share of York is students and young adults building a routine.Census 2021
  • 39Median ageUp from 38 in 2011, as the city's student intake sits alongside an ageing population.Census 2021
  • 18.5%Aged 50 to 64Up from 17.4% in 2011. Plenty of people at the age when a regular swim or class partner makes the difference.Census 2021

York gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in York?

Gymist lists 258 gyms, leisure centres, pools, climbing walls, studios and sports venues across the City of York, from the Better centres and York Sport Village to strength gyms, fight gyms and village sports clubs.

Which leisure centres are in York, and who runs them?

Better runs four public sites in York: York Leisure Centre on Kathryn Avenue at Monks Cross, Energise Leisure Centre on Cornlands Road in Acomb, Burnholme Sports Centre on Mossdale Avenue and Yearsley Swimming Pool on Haley's Terrace. The University of York's York Sport runs York Sport Village and York Sport Centre, both with pay-and-play bookings.

Where can I swim in York?

Yearsley Swimming Pool has a 50-yard Edwardian pool, the biggest in York. York Leisure Centre has a 25 m six-lane pool and Energise in Acomb has a 25 m pool and a teaching pool. For open water, Pool Bridge Farm at Crockey Hill has four wild-swimming lakes and wood-fired saunas; in winter all its lakes are adults only.

Where can I train outdoors for free in York?

York parkrun has been held on the Knavesmire since January 2012, a free 5k every Saturday morning. Rowntree Park has tennis courts, a basketball court and a skateboarding area, and Hull Road Park has tennis and basketball courts. The Solar System cycle path runs 10.3 km from the Ouse near Fulford to Riccall, and Monk Stray and Hob Moor give you open grass to run on.

How do I get to gyms in York without a car?

York station is on the East Coast Main Line and recorded 10.464 million entries and exits in 2024/25. First York runs most local buses, including the six Park and Ride services from Askham Bar, Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar and Rawcliffe Bar. Yearsley Swimming Pool is on bus routes 1, 5 and 5a and has storage for 20 bikes.

How do I find a gym buddy in York?

Join Gymist free, add your gym 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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