With several gyms sprawling across its vibrant cityscape, it is easy to feel spoilt for choice when trying to find the perfect place to workout in Newcastle on a student budget. If you’re struggling to find just what’s right for you, this article is the perfect place to start.
The search for the ideal gym can be quite overwhelming at times, especially when moving to a new city. Many come to the conclusion that seemingly extortionate monthly fees are better saved for more important things like food shopping and nights out.
I have compiled this list of what are in my opinion, the best student gyms in the city. Included are their strengths, weaknesses and insight from current students that already use the facilities. So, in no particular order, let’s find the perfect gym to suit your needs!
NRG Gym Newcastle
Photo by Sam Millward
The first and most impressive on this list is NRG Newcastle, which opened its doors to the public early August of 2024. The 35,000 square foot venue expanded on the Everlast gym formerly in its place and created the ultimate modern workout space.
The large space caters to all of your fitness needs, from spin studios and dedicated boxing zones to male and female saunas, NRG provides a seemingly endless amount of equipment so that no matter what time of day you go, there will always be free machinery and weights.
Open 24/7, it is one of the more flexible gyms on this list. Whether you’re trying to squeeze in a workout in the morning before lectures or after pulling an all nighter in the library, NRG’s doors will always be open for you.
Speaking to 2nd year Newcastle student Sam Millward, who is currently training for a student fight night, he told us it was “By far the best facilities for the price you pay…though it does come at the cost of accessibility.”
Based in Newcastle Shopping Park, Byker, the gym is around a 40 minute walk from the city centre and either Universities main campus. Though accessible through either Byker or Chillingham Road Metro, the frequent trips back and forth significantly increase the cost of working out here.
Add this to the overall membership cost of £19.95 for the first month, with subsequent months costing £24.95, NRG is in the higher price range. There is also a 30 day cancellation period, so if you are returning home during major holidays, be sure to give the gym plenty of notice so you aren’t charged for months you aren’t in the city.
Although NRG is undoubtedly the best gym on this list, it’s harder to reach location and slightly higher price point make it much harder to justify on a student budget. Unless you have a car or are willing to spend the excess on metro tickets, I’d advise any students living in and around the city centre to avoid the hassle that com
With that being said, it is very hard to argue against the facilities they offer. If you’re willing to travel and spend that extra bit, you’re rewarded with a premium gym experience.
Newcastle University
Sports Centre
Photo by Myles Tupman
Moving from the worst gym in terms of locality to arguably the best, we have Newcastle Universities very own Sports Centre. Nestled within the popular first year accommodations of Park View and Marris House, the Sports Centre is set into the heart of Newcastle Universities main campus.
Recent changes and renovations, including a brand new functional studio for free weights and stretching has opened the main floor up. With additional cables and machines added, the Sports Centre is in a lot better shape this year to handle the peak times of 4pm-7pm.
Though their opening times aren’t as generous as that of NRG or PureGym (see more here for specific opening and closing times) it’s prime location makes it ideal for any Newcastle University student who is looking to squeeze a workout into their busy academic schedules.
Priced at £20 per month, or £165 for the full acedemic year the Sports Centre is one of the cheapest gyms in the city. Looking at this gym through the lens of cost and convenience it is second to none.
It is nigh on impossible find a gym in the city that provides what the university gym does for a cheaper price. With that being said, it isn’t all positives.
The student friendly price point, as well as ideal location mean that it is the most popular amongst Newcastle students. With it also being a public facility, at peak times the gym can become overcrowded making it a struggle to get on benches or machines without long wait times.
If you are living on campus or wanting to fit in workouts between lectures, the convenience alone is the key selling point for the Sports Centre. With lower costs than most on this list, it’s much more student budget friendly.
I would highly recommend the Sports Centre to any first years who are still trying to get to grips with the city.
PureGym Eldon Garden
Photo by Ben Evans
Sticking to the city centre theme, PureGym Eldon Garden provides a perfect balance between the first two gyms seen on this list.
Open 24/7 and located conveniently outside of Eldon Square shopping centre, PureGym takes positives from the first two facilities on this list and mixes them together. Being across from Eldon Square it’s city centre location is ideal for students living in and around the main campus.
It also has extremely flexible payment packages, with three memberships at varying prices that provide for different needs. The cheapest starts at £15.99 and gives you access to the gym at off-peak hours. This is ideal for anyone looking to workout late at night or early hours of the morning.
The middle payment package costs £20.99, and gives you 24 hour access to the single gym at Eldon Garden. The final and most expensive package comes in at £26.99 and allows you to use any of the 65 PureGym facilities across the country. In addition you can freeze your membership at any time and bring a friend for free up to 4 times a month.
Though seemingly the standout option so far, the prime location and all day accessibility are sacrificed by a general lack of equipment and space in the main facility.
The company PureGym are a staple in the UK gym industry, so the big name pulls in a lot of foot traffic from the general public. Combine this with the location and the result is a gym that is too small to provide what it promises.
The space, although big feels cramped at peak times with everyone fighting for a free bench or machine. Despite the competitive pricing with other gyms on this list I would argue that the lack of space on the gym floor makes it less worth it for the price you pay
However, if you have a local PureGym near your home outside of Newcastle the premium membership may be worth it due to the convenience of still having a gym to go to when at home.
Jesmond Pool and Gym
Photo by Jesmond Pool& Gym
The final and most unique gym on this list is the Jesmond Pool and Gym located just outside West Jesmond Metro station.
Though not in the city centre location of the previous two gyms, Jesmond is the beating heart of university life for many second and third year students who call the suburb their home. The pool and gym is a four minute walk from West Jesmond Metro and is surrounded by student flats and houses.
Ideal for those in and around the area it offers something no other gym on this list does, a 25 metre swimming pool open from 7am-10pm every day except Sunday.
As well as the pool, the centre also offers a gym which though not big offers everything you would need for a complete workout.
Click the image below for a digital walkthrough of the entire complex, provided by Virtual Tours North East:
The extra facilities provided come with an extra cost however. A dual membership for both the pool and gym comes in at £28 per month, with a sole gym membership costing £25.
Moving onto the gym itself. It is ample in size and never overly busy like PureGym or the Sports Centre. Though slightly dated in appearance the equipment is up to date and fulfils every need you can think of.
Jesmond Pool and Gym provides something no other gym does with the access to the swimming pool. However, if you aren’t currently living in or near Jesmond, or don’t feel like you would use the pool facilities, I wouldn’t recommend the higher membership price. If its just a gym that you’re after you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere.
And with that we come to the end of our list of the top student gyms in Newcastle. With each having varying pros and cons, I hope that this list has given you a better idea of which gym would work best for you. If you think there’s any gyms we missed off this list, or have anything you want to ask please leave a comment down below or drop us a message on our Instagram!
