Quick Answer
David Lloyd Harlow is already open. The new Essex club opened to members from 6am on Thursday December 18, 2025, after a founder member preview and ribbon cutting the weekend before with the leader of Harlow Council and local MP Chris Vince.
So if you were waiting for an opening date, the answer is: it happened. Harlow has been trading for around six months as of June 2026 and has already created roughly 150 local jobs.
The club sits in the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town development area and includes pools, racquets, a Spa Retreat, gym, studios, and a full DL Kids programme.
The opening timeline
David Lloyd Harlow's build and launch ran on a textbook schedule:
- August 30, 2025: Brand confirms a December 2025 opening to Your Harlow.
- Mid December 2025: Founder member preview event with VIPs.
- December 15, 2025: Official ribbon cutting with Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of Harlow Council) and Chris Vince MP.
- December 18, 2025, 6am: Doors open to the founder membership for full day to day trading.
- February 2026: Brand reports approximately 150 local jobs created through community recruitment partnerships.
What is inside
Harlow is a 2025 generation premium build, which means it ships with the full current David Lloyd template. Members get:
- Indoor 25 metre pool and a heated outdoor pool used year round.
- Spa Retreat and Spa Garden.
- Gym floor with cardio, free weights, and a dedicated functional zone.
- Group exercise studios (cycle and mind body) plus Blaze.
- Indoor and outdoor tennis, plus padel courts.
- DL Kids zone, holiday camps, and crèche.
- Clubroom dining and coffee bar.
Where it is
The club sits inside the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town regeneration area, with easy access from the M11 corridor and central Harlow. It is a short drive from Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Epping, and most of west Essex.
Pricing and founder rates
Founder pricing closed at Harlow in December 2025. General membership rates in 2026 sit in line with similar mid tier Home Counties clubs:
- Club off peak: roughly £85 to £100 a month.
- Plus: roughly £105 to £125 a month.
- Platinum: roughly £125 to £145 a month.
Joining fees are usually £75 to £150 depending on promotion. Check the latest at davidlloyd.co.uk or by calling the club, because Harlow tends to run end of month offers as the club fills up.
How to join now
- Visit davidlloyd.co.uk and search Harlow.
- Book a tour, which is free and runs daily.
- Bring photo ID and a debit card. Membership sign up is on the day.
- Ask the consultant about any current end of month joining fee waivers.
FAQ
Is David Lloyd Harlow open?
Yes. It opened on December 18, 2025 and has been trading since.
Does it have padel?
Yes, indoor and outdoor courts including padel.
Does it have a Spa Retreat?
Yes, both Spa Retreat and Spa Garden are in operation.
Is founder pricing still available?
No. Founder pricing closed at launch in December 2025. General membership rates apply now.
What Harlow looks like six months after opening
Now that David Lloyd Harlow has been trading since December 18, 2025, the early member feedback gives a useful read on what to expect. Member reviews highlight the Spa Retreat, the padel courts, and the family swim programme as the most used facilities. The morning gym window (06:00 to 09:00) is the busiest, and weekend swim slots fill quickly. Off peak weekday afternoons remain comfortably quiet.
The club has also become a regional employer of note: by February 2026 the brand publicly reported around 150 jobs created through community recruitment partnerships with Harlow Council and local employment networks. That makes Harlow one of the larger leisure employers in the town.
Best moves if you are joining now
- Tour midweek for the calmest reading of the club at typical hours.
- Confirm padel court rules; they tend to book up two weeks ahead at peak.
- Ask the consultant about the latest end of month joining fee waiver.
- If you have children, prioritise swim lesson sign up; popular slots fill ahead of term.
- Plan to use the Spa Retreat on Sunday evenings, the quietest spa window.
Six months in, Harlow already feels like an established Tier 2 to Tier 3 style premium club rather than a new opening, which is exactly what the brand aims for in the post launch window.
Travel planning matters too. Harlow's catchment stretches from Hertford to Epping and across to Bishop's Stortford, which means the busiest road in and out of the club is the A414. Plan your typical visit time around the peak commuter window if you live to the west.
Final word
David Lloyd Harlow is open, has been since December 18, 2025, and has already become one of the largest new leisure employers in the town. If you are waiting for it to open, you have missed nothing except the founder window. Book a tour, see the Spa Retreat, and join under the current general membership pricing.
