Quick Answer
Yes, David Lloyd is expensive compared with a budget gym. A Platinum membership in 2026 typically runs £130 to £200 a month plus a £75 to £250 joining fee, against £20 to £30 a month at PureGym or The Gym Group.
It is not expensive compared with the things it bundles in. The closest like for like comparison is Nuffield Health or Virgin Active, where Platinum equivalent pricing is broadly similar and Virgin's premium tier can sit higher than David Lloyd's at Super Tier London sites.
Whether it is worth the price depends on use. At roughly 12 visits a month at a Tier 1 club you are paying about £12 to £15 per visit, which is competitive for a club with two pools, a Spa Retreat, racquets, and Blaze.
What David Lloyd actually costs in 2026
| Package | Typical 2026 monthly | Joining fee |
|---|---|---|
| Club (off peak) | £75 to £130 | £75 to £150 |
| Plus | £95 to £170 | £75 to £200 |
| Platinum | £130 to £200 | £100 to £250 |
| Super Tier Platinum (Edinburgh Newhaven Harbour) | £180 to £220 | £200 to £250 |
Prices vary by club tier, promotion, and contract length. These are sample bands rather than quotes.
How that compares with competitors
| Gym | Typical monthly | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| PureGym / The Gym Group | £20 to £30 | Gym only, mostly 24/7, no pool |
| Nuffield Health | £70 to £140 | Gym, pool, classes, basic spa |
| Virgin Active | £90 to £220 | Gym, pool, spa, racquets at some clubs |
| David Lloyd Platinum | £130 to £200 | Gym, two pools, Spa Retreat, racquets, classes, DL Kids |
| Harbour Club London | £250 to £350+ | Ultra premium racquets and spa |
What is bundled in the monthly fee
This is where the real value sits. A Platinum membership typically includes:
- Unlimited use of the gym floor.
- Indoor and outdoor heated pools.
- Spa Retreat and Spa Garden (where the club has them).
- All group exercise classes including Blaze, cycle, reformer at some clubs.
- Most racquet court bookings (tennis and padel), often without per session fees.
- DL Kids zone, holiday camps (often discounted) and crèche.
- Reciprocal access to other David Lloyd clubs in your tier or below.
Done one by one at pay as you go rates, those facilities would cost noticeably more than the monthly Platinum fee at most clubs.
The honest cost per visit test
Take your real planned weekly visits and run the maths:
- 3 visits a week (12 a month) at £150 Platinum = £12.50 per visit.
- 2 visits a week (8 a month) at £150 Platinum = £18.75 per visit.
- 1 visit a week (4 a month) at £150 Platinum = £37.50 per visit.
Below about 8 visits a month, David Lloyd is genuinely expensive. Above 12 visits a month, especially if you use racquets, the spa, and classes, the per visit cost is in line with a single spa pass.
When David Lloyd is not worth it
- You only want to lift weights and you live near a 24/7 PureGym.
- You will use the club fewer than 2 times a week.
- You will not use racquets, pool, classes, or spa.
- You travel for work most weekdays and only need a hotel gym.
How to bring the cost down
- Sign in January, September, or the last week of any month.
- Take a Standard 12 month contract instead of Flexible.
- Ask for the joining fee to be waived.
- Use NHS Staff Benefits, Lexus partnership, or employer schemes if you qualify.
- Pick a Tier 3 or below club if you do not need a flagship.
FAQ
Is David Lloyd more expensive than Virgin Active?
Roughly similar at premium tier, with Virgin's top end Collection clubs sometimes more expensive than equivalent David Lloyd sites.
Is David Lloyd worth it?
Yes if you use the racquets, pool, classes, or spa weekly. No if you only need a gym.
What is the cheapest David Lloyd package?
Club off peak at a Tier 6 or Tier 7 club, typically £75 to £90 a month.
Can I negotiate the price?
Yes, especially the joining fee. Monthly rates are usually fixed by the brand.
Is David Lloyd expensive compared with hidden alternative costs
The expensive question changes shape when you price the alternative stack honestly. A spa day every two weeks at an independent spa, a weekly reformer Pilates class, a weekend tennis court hire, plus a daily gym session at a budget chain adds up. Priced as separate subscriptions and pay as you go visits, the alternative often costs more per month than David Lloyd Platinum, with the friction of booking and travelling between providers thrown in.
That is the test most members run after the first three months. If the David Lloyd monthly rate replaces a stack of independent providers that cost more in money plus time combined, it stops feeling expensive.
When it stops feeling expensive
- You use the racquets courts at least once a week.
- You use the Spa Retreat at least twice a month.
- You use the pool weekly across all four seasons.
- You replace a paid reformer Pilates studio subscription with included classes.
- You replace separate kids' swim lessons or holiday camps with DL Kids.
If even three of those bullets apply to your week, the answer to "is David Lloyd expensive" usually flips from yes to good value. If none apply, the answer stays no, the membership is not the right product for your routine.
Final word
David Lloyd is expensive only if you compare it with a budget gym. Compared with what it actually bundles in (two pools, Spa Retreat, racquets, classes, DL Kids), it is fairly priced against the premium market. The deciding question is not the sticker, it is your real weekly use. At 12 visits a month it is a reasonable per visit cost. At 4 visits a month it is not.
