Leisure Centres - Yes/No?

Hi there!

DH and I are thinking of joining our local leisure centre instead of paying ££ at the nearest Cannons.  Anyone use their local centres? Would it be worth the money?

BTW I live in the Windsor area, so anyone with experience with Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead facilities would be very helpful. 

Thanks!

I belong to a private gym, but if I had a leisure center closer to me, I would use it for sure. I used to belong to the YMCA in the states and loved it. Everything you need with no attitude and low fees.
If you haven't, I suggest you go there for a visit and try it.

I don't live anywhere near you, but I have on occasion used my local leisure centre. Ours is a pay-as-you-go place, so it's easy to go and give it a try. If you don't like it, you haven't invested anything. I'd go and check it out if I were you!

Depending on your local lc, the facilities could be just as good as a private gym. I live in a small village so the lc is tiny but the gym has equipment on par with a private gym - just not so many machines. The prices are bound to be cheaper. I pay £25/month for full access to the gym. Equivalent at some of the private gyms around Reading is upwards of £50/month. We have a pay as you go as well. Why not see if your local lc has pay as you go and then give it a whirl?

I joined our leisure centre a few years ago...well it was the one in the town we were living in at the time. Anyway - when I joined them I could also use the ones in the 2 neighboring villages as well.  Each one has it's own forte'.  They are all pay as you go as well - so I was only out the £20 to join.  I think it's worth it - as if you don't go - you don't pay - unlike a gym membership.

I have not been to ours yet, but I plan too as soon as I can.  They have a swimming class called Dunk your bump that sounds so cool!  I also hope to bring BBP there as well for swimming.

We are members of our leisure center and think it's been fine.  They just redid it so it's gotten a bit nicer.  It has everything you'd find at a regular gym except maybe a sauna (wish we had that).  We can also use other ones around us including one that is a water center with pools.  I think it's a good price (65 pounds for both of us) although not incredibly cheap...I could have joined Fitness First through my office at a slightly higher price but no pools.  Also ours is a lot bigger than the local Fitness First. 

We do not do the pay as you go because we generally go alot (well DH goes all the time, I have only started going more regularly).  The pay as you go is very nice if you don't go very often.  Also we are not locked into any contract - we can cancel the whole thing any time we want.  I think that is a big positive!

mine is pretty good.  costs nothing to be a member of.  use on an as needed basis. 

joined my local leisure centre.  nice b/c i could go to one near work or one that's on my way home from work.  both very modern and adequete.  not a great selection of yoga/pilates classes etc.  i padi £20 to join and the £5 each session.  i should go tonight but pizza and a movie are calling me....

Thanks for your replies all. Might go a few times to be sure before I give up Cannons. Had a wee walk round the place last weekend and it seems nice so will give it a try. Also, there is a volleyball game coming up April 1, I'd like to try.