Quick Answer
Most David Lloyd group exercise classes are free for Platinum, Gold, and Flexi members. That covers more than 90 percent of the timetable: spin, yoga, Pilates mat, body conditioning, HIIT, aqua, and the full Les Mills range.
A short list of premium formats either carry a small surcharge or sit inside a higher tier. The main examples are reformer Pilates, certain Blaze sessions at some clubs, specialist small group training, and personal training. Children's classes and swim lessons are also charged separately, not included in the parent's membership.
What is included in the membership
- Les Mills classes. BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyBalance, Sh'Bam, Grit, RPM.
- Yoga and Pilates mat. Multiple weekly sessions at most clubs.
- Spin and indoor cycling. Free with member booking.
- Aqua aerobics and aqua HIIT. Free in the indoor pool.
- Body conditioning, HIIT, circuits. Free.
- Boxing and box fit. Free at clubs that offer them.
- Senior fitness and wellness sessions. Free.
What is not free
- Reformer Pilates. Often a small group format with a per session charge of around £15 to £25 unless your tier includes it.
- Blaze in some clubs. Included at most sites, but a small number still gate it behind a paid add on or restrict the number of free sessions a month.
- Specialist small group training. Strength bootcamps, hybrid run and lift classes, and other branded programmes can sit outside the main timetable.
- Personal training. Booked and paid per session, typically £55 to £85.
- DL Kids classes and swim lessons. Booked separately and charged per term.
- Workshops. Occasional weekend masterclasses are pay per attend.
Booking and the late cancel fee
- Booking window. Most members can book 8 days ahead through the app.
- Waitlist. If the class is full, the app puts you on the waitlist and texts you if a spot opens.
- Late cancel fee. If you cancel within 4 hours or fail to attend, most clubs charge a £5 fee to your account. This is to keep the waitlist moving and is waived if you cancel earlier.
- No show ban. Three no shows in a month can trigger a short booking restriction at some clubs.
How to get the most from the included classes
- Block the most popular classes in your calendar a week ahead so you can book at the exact opening time.
- Build a 2 by 2 weekly rhythm: 2 strength based classes (BodyPump, Grit) and 2 mobility based (yoga, Pilates mat).
- Use aqua classes for recovery if you have joint pain. They are free and underused.
- If a reformer Pilates surcharge feels steep, take one paid reformer a month and use the free mat classes for the rest of your Pilates volume.
FAQ
Are all classes free at David Lloyd?
Most are. Reformer Pilates, certain Blaze sessions, specialist small group training, and personal training are paid.
Do Off Peak members pay for classes?
No, but they can only book classes inside their off peak window.
How early can I book a class?
Eight days ahead through the David Lloyd app at most clubs.
Can guests join classes?
Yes, most general classes, subject to studio capacity and an extra fee at clubs that charge guests separately.
More context
The free classes model is what makes David Lloyd defensible against budget chains that bundle a smaller class library. A typical Platinum member who actually shows up to two classes a week is consuming £30 to £50 of equivalent boutique class spend, every week, which by itself covers half the monthly fee.
The premium add ons (reformer Pilates, certain Blaze sessions) exist because the kit is expensive, the room size is limited, and demand outstrips the capacity. Charging per session is the only way to keep waitlists short and quality high. Several clubs have experimented with included reformer slots inside a higher tier; the experiment has not yet rolled out across the network, so for most members reformer is paid in 2026.
One quiet tip: turn off the marketing notifications but leave the booking notifications on. The waitlist text 90 minutes before a class is one of the most effective ways to grab a popular slot that would otherwise need a 7 am booking sprint at the open of the 8 day window.
One last note for new members: do not assume the most expensive looking class is the best. Many of the highest rated classes on the David Lloyd timetable are free included formats with a strong long term instructor, not the surcharged premium formats. Spending two or three weeks sampling the free timetable widely will usually find you two or three regular slots that beat a paid reformer Pilates booking for both enjoyment and training effect. Then you can layer the premium formats on top of a solid free base, instead of starting from the assumption that the paid options are automatically better value.
Related reading
Final word
Yes, David Lloyd classes are free for members, with a small list of premium formats charged on top. If your routine sits in the main Les Mills, yoga, Pilates mat, and HIIT range, the class library is part of what makes the membership defensible.
