Cheap Gyms Free passes & membership from £10/mth

Gym memberships can make you sweat for the wrong reasons. Never think “it's only £40 a month”. If it's a year's contract, remember that's actually a £480 bill.

This is a full list of the latest free trials, pay-as-you-go deals and no-frills gyms from £10 ish/month. Plus see what to watch out for with contracts, and what to do when membership goes wrong.

Don't commit unless you'll use it

Gyms are packed in January, but a few months later, half the people disappear. Resolutions have gone, but they're locked into a contract, possibly paying £100s a year for nowt.

Gyms aren't cheap. Add membership administration fees to the monthly charge and the annual cost is usually north of £500.

Never think a gym costs £50/month. If you're locked in for a year's contract, always multiply it by 12 and think of it as a yearly cost. Remember...

£50/month might not sound too bad, but over 12 months, that's £600.

Don't be a 'gym turkey'

Like leftover Christmas turkey, many gym goers fade fast. If you're throwing away cash on unused membership each month and are out of contract, cancel.

Plus those surging with good first-time fitness intention should remember there's a decent chance their enthusiasm may wane. By signing a year's contract, the only pounds you'll lose are from your wallet.

Martin asked people on Twitter to own up to the longest they paid for membership without going. We've been swamped with gym fails such as...

"Paid for the gym for 3 years at £69/month - nearly £2,500. Think I went twice or for the odd swim in the 3 years." That's £1,240 a workout!

"Paid £270 for a year's membership, went for one swim. Most expensive swim ever."

"I used to pay £102/month for a family gym membership for 1 year, and I only went about five times."

"I bought a year's membership at LA Fitness and NEVER attended. What a waste!"

I got myself tied into a 3 year gym contract at £12/month. I've only been twice and that was about 2 years ago.

Try out these options first.

• Free passes
  Before you join the gym, grab a free trial to test whether the new fitness regime's for you.
• Pay-as-you-go
  It's possible to pay as you go - consider paying a little more for a few months until you're sure you'll continue. Plus no-frills and council gyms often let you pay per visit too.
• Short-term memberships
  If you're a newbie, it's better to use short-term membership at first, even if you pay slightly more per use/month until you're sure you'll stick. Also, no-frills and council gyms will often let you pay for a month at a time.
• Work out without a gym
  You don't need to join a gym to get buff. If you're on a budget, read these quick tips on working out without a gym.

Pay-as-you-go

Paying as you go can work out more expensive. Yet if you're new to gyms, or may not need a full year's membership, it can be worth paying a little more for a few months until you're sure you'll continue.

First check if you've a no-frills or council gym near you, which often offer decent pay-as-you-go options.

Alternatively, PayasUgym.com sells pay-as-you-go passes for 1,000 gyms across the UK. As an example, LivingWell in Rotherhithe, south London is £8.95 per visit. But it would cost £12 per visit direct with the club.

Just plug in your postcode to browse nearby gyms, which each have a star rating from other users. Then register and load your account to buy passes. It sends an email and text message – just flash either at reception.

Do call the gym to check it’s not cheaper direct. If you use PayasUgym.com, please tell us your experiences.

Short contracts on posh gyms

Longer trials are a good halfway house between paying as you go and signing up for a year's contract. They're usually more expensive than annual memberships, but you're free to go elsewhere once the trial's up – or to stop paying if you no longer go.

Most major gyms include shorter or even no-contract options. Here are some of the best (also see no-frills gyms, which offer no contract one-month membership options).

No-frills gyms

If you can forget saunas, jacuzzis and fit gym instructors, there's been an explosion in no-frills gyms. Prices are £10-£20/month, you can usually cancel any time and MoneySavers' feedback is hugely positive.

More are opening every month, so if you can't find one near you, check again later. The other boon is that there's often no minimum contract length. Here are the main cheap-as-chips chains.

Cut the cost of year-long contracts

Swanky gyms want you to think contract prices are fixed. They're not. The gym sector is fiercely competitive, so there are tons of ways to slim down the price. If you're signing a contract, make sure you read What to watch out for in contracts below.

• Haggle
  
  Most gyms employ a commission-driven sales team to sign you up, making them a prime candidate for haggling.
  
  Don't settle for the standard package. With a bit of chutzpah you should be able to slice a wedge off the cost, especially towards the end of the month, when sales staff need to meet targets.

  Once you've got the price down as far as you think it'll go, ask for some free guest passes on top. MoneySavers say Fitness First is the most haggleable gym. Virgin Active can also be flexible. LA Fitness usually won't lower the price but will throw in freebies such as towels and padlocks.
  
  If you go for a gym tour and they won't agree to a deal that day, go home without signing up. The phone often rings a few days later with a new offer. For top phrases to grease the wheels, read the full High Street Haggling guide.

• LA Fitness: 66% off cost of membership with Tesco

  You can join LA Fitness for a third of the normal price if you collect Tesco Clubcard points. When you convert Clubcard vouchers into Tesco Rewards, they are worth up for three or four times as much as when you spend them in-store.

  LA Fitness is a member of the scheme, and you can use Clubcard vouchers as part or full payment towards an annual membership and joining fee.

  Each £5 in Clubcard vouchers is worth £15 in LA Fitness vouchers. All new LA Fitness members pay a joining fee, so don't forget to factor this in - ask at your local club. There's more on maximising Tesco Clubcard points in the Boost Tesco Points guide.

• Cheap corporate membership

  Check if your employer offers subsidised gym membership or has a relationship with a gym, which can be at silly prices. If not, speak to your HR department and suggest they set up a deal.

• Get a mate to refer you
  
  Some clubs have 'refer-a-friend' offers featuring gifts such as towels, padlocks or even iPods. So if you've already decided to join, see if you know someone who belongs already before signing on the dotted line.
  

• Special opening rates

  New gyms often offer cheap 'founder' memberships to drum up custom. To find new gyms, scour industry publications such as Club Solutions and Health Club Management, as well as gyms' own sites.

• Go off-peak

  Most gyms provide cheaper membership during 'off-peak' hours. If it's possible, for you to visit the gym during the daytime, work lunchtimes or at weekends, you could slash the cost.
  

What to watch out for in contracts

If you're signing up for a year, remember sales staff often work on commission. So if their slick patter says "if you're ill you can freeze membership, or take a holiday", ask to see it in the contract.

If they say, "It's not there, but it's fine", make notes there which have legal weight and, if possible, get them to sign to show the promise.

Here's a list of what to check. For further examples, read this useful publication by the Office of Fair Trading.

• How long are you committed for?
  
  This is the biggie. Be wary of contracts longer than 12 months. Also check that they don't renew it automatically.
• How much notice do you need to give to cancel?
  
  Even when you're out of contract, gyms often require 30 days' notice to cancel. Make sure you understand these conditions.
• What happens if your circumstances change?
  
  Ask what happens if you are ill or injured, move house, get pregnant or change jobs. Think about the proof you'll need, such as a doctor's letter. Can you freeze your membership or transfer it to someone else?
• What if your favourite service stops?
  
  If you're only joining because the gym offers a creche, Zumba dance classes or certain equipment, ask if you're allowed to cancel if this is withdrawn.
• Does the contract renew automatically?
  
  Most contracts for gym membership automatically continue once the initial membership period expires. Make a note of the date by which you should inform them if you don't want this to happen.
• What do other members think?
  
  If you're taking a free trial, ask folk in the changing room if they're happy with the gym's contract or service (wait till they're decent first!)

Your gym cancellation rights

Your right to cancel gym membership is currently a big issue, with the regulator - the OFT - taking an interest, and is moving along at a fair pace. As of 8 Mar 2013, the situation slight differs depending on who your gym is...

Fitness First, David Lloyds or Bannatynes

The OFT forcefully persuaded these three major gym firms to clean up their act, by allowing some members to cancel early, or in some cases freeze their contracts.

Under the new rights, if there's a change in your circumstances (eg, an injury or job loss) which makes gym attendance difficult or unaffordable, you may be able to cancel mid-contract, with more flexibility than before.

As well as this, the three clubs, with almost a million members between them, have agreed to:

• Not say it's a fixed contract length if it isn't. If membership automatically continues on a rolling basis after the initial period expires, the gym should be clear about this.
• Be more transparent about key membership features - such as cancellation rights, and for these to be provided upfront as part of the sales process.

Other gyms are expected to follow suit, as the OFT continues its investigation. We'll update this guide when we know more.

If your gym ISN'T one of the three above, and your circumstances change, try challenging your gym to see if you can cancel. Mention that you're aware other gyms are now allowing some members to cancel early, and see what it can do.

These changes are aimed at people who genuinely can't go to the gym any more, not just if you got bored with it, so still be careful before signing up to a contract.

Member of ANY other gyms - they still must act fairly

If the above doesn't apply to you, one of the OFTs guidelines on unfair terms may. Check through the list below to see if you have grounds to get your contract cancelled:

You're on a contract that's OVER 12 months

The club makes big changes to services

The gym hikes prices

The gym automatically renews your membership

Unclear wording on membership terms

How to complain

If your gym's breaching the contract or it contains unfair terms, you've every right to fight back. If you manage to cancel by following the steps below, please tell us what happened.

1. Step 1: Complain in person

   When starting a complaint, it's best to not go militant unless you have to. The first easy step is to go to reception and explain that you want to cancel.

2. Step 2: Complain in writing

   If the gym won't play ball, write a complaint letter and send it to the head office. Send all letters by recorded delivery, so you can prove they received it, and always save a copy.

   Your letter should mention any unfair contract terms you think your contract may have. If you meet silence or the response is rubbish, write again and be persistent. For information or advice, try calling the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0845 404 05 06.

3. Step 3: Complain to UKactive

   Gyms that are members of the UKactive trade group agree to stick to the OFT’s guidelines on unfair contracts.

   If your gym's a member and you have not had any luck complaining directly, try contacting UKactive. As a trade association, it can offer further advice and in some cases may contact the gym on your behalf. This is worth a try, as it's free.

4. Step 4: If all else fails: take 'em to court

   Hopefully you will settle it. But if you strongly believe in your case, have tried all the steps above and it still won't cancel your contract, taking it to the small claims court is a last resort, although it isn't for everyone. If you're a court novice, try to seek help from an informed friend or advice centre.

   Yet before you get legal, you're expected to try to resolve things directly, and ideally send a ‘letter before action’ to say you are going to take them to court. If you don't try, the judge is likely to look unfavourably on your case, so always use the steps above first. For more on small claims rules, see the How to Complain guide.

Did this system work for you? If you managed to cancel your contract, please tell us about it in the Gym Cancelling discussion.