Industry Guide

Gym and fitness website design UK

A complete guide to creating an effective website for your gym, fitness studio, or health club. Learn essential features, membership system integration, class booking, lead generation strategies, and what to budget for a gym website in the UK.

Essential features Cost guide

60%

of class bookings happen outside business hours

73%

of gym-goers research online before joining

15-30%

conversion boost from virtual tours

2 hrs

window to follow up gym leads before they go cold

Why It Matters

Your gym website is your 24/7 sales team

The fitness industry is fiercely competitive. With budget chains, boutique studios, and home workout apps all fighting for attention, your website needs to work harder than ever. It's not just a brochure - it's your most powerful tool for attracting new members, retaining existing ones, and building your community.

Potential members are researching online before they ever set foot in your gym. They're comparing prices, reading reviews, checking class schedules, and judging whether your facility looks right for them. A slow, outdated, or confusing website tells them your gym might be the same.

Whether you run a traditional gym, a CrossFit box, a yoga studio, or a personal training business, your website needs to do several things exceptionally well: show what makes you different, make joining easy, and keep members engaged. Get these right, and your website becomes a genuine asset driving growth.

What makes a great gym website?

A great gym website does four things: it showcases your facility and community compellingly, displays pricing clearly and honestly, makes booking classes and signing up effortless, and works flawlessly on mobile devices. Everything else is secondary. Focus on these fundamentals before adding bells and whistles.

Must-Have Elements

Essential features for gym websites

These are the features your gym website needs, ordered by importance. Start with the critical items and add more as your budget allows.

Membership pricing

Critical

Clear pricing tiers with transparent terms. No hidden fees, obvious joining process.

Class timetable

Critical

Interactive schedule with filtering by class type, instructor, and time. Mobile-friendly.

Online booking

Critical

24/7 class and PT session booking. Integrated with your membership system.

Mobile responsiveness

Critical

Perfect display on all devices. Members often book classes on their phones.

Location and hours

Critical

Address, parking info, opening hours, and embedded map. Easy to find you.

Facility photos

High

High-quality images of equipment, studios, changing rooms. Show what members get.

Personal trainer profiles

High

Individual pages with qualifications, specialisations, photos, and booking options.

Free trial capture

High

Prominent day pass or trial sign-up form. This is your main conversion tool.

Testimonials

High

Member success stories, transformation photos, Google reviews. Social proof sells.

Virtual tour

Medium

360-degree or video walkthrough. Reduces anxiety for first-time gym-goers.

Member portal link

Medium

Easy access to log in, manage membership, view bookings, and update details.

Blog or resources

Optional

Fitness tips, nutrition advice, workout guides. Good for SEO and engagement.

Your Free Trial Form is Everything

For most gyms, the primary goal of your website is capturing trial sign-ups. Make your free trial or day pass offer prominent on every page - in the header, as a sticky button, and as a clear call-to-action after key content. Every second a visitor spends looking for how to try your gym is a lost opportunity.

Software Integration

Membership management systems for gyms

Your membership system is the backbone of your gym. Here's an honest comparison of the leading platforms that integrate with your website.

Glofox

From £100/month

Strengths

Excellent branded member app, strong UK support, good for boutique fitness and gyms

Limitations

Can be expensive for smaller operations, some features require higher tiers

Best For

Boutique gyms, fitness studios, CrossFit boxes

TeamUp

From £59/month

Strengths

Great value, easy to use, strong class management, good customer service

Limitations

Less feature-rich than some competitors, limited custom reporting

Best For

Yoga studios, Pilates, small group fitness, personal trainers

Mindbody

From £129/month

Strengths

Industry standard, large marketplace for exposure, comprehensive features

Limitations

Expensive, complex setup, some find interface dated

Best For

Established studios wanting marketplace exposure, spas, salons

ClubRight

From £79/month

Strengths

UK-based support, built for UK gyms, includes direct debit collection

Limitations

Smaller company, fewer integrations than larger platforms

Best For

Traditional gyms, health clubs, leisure centres

Gymcatch

From £39/month

Strengths

Affordable, simple setup, good for basic needs, UK company

Limitations

Fewer advanced features, limited for larger operations

Best For

Personal trainers, small studios, those starting out

Integration is Key

Your website and membership system need to work together seamlessly. Most platforms offer embeddable widgets for timetables, booking buttons, and sign-up forms. Some offer full API access for custom integration. Before choosing a system, check what website integration options are available and how much control you'll have over styling to match your brand.

Scheduling Made Simple

Class timetables and booking

Your class schedule is one of the most visited pages on your gym website. Here's how to make it work brilliantly.

What members expect

View the full week's schedule at a glance
Filter by class type (yoga, HIIT, spin, etc.)
See instructor names and photos
Check available spaces in real-time
Book directly from the timetable with one click
Add classes to their phone calendar
Join waitlists for full classes
Cancel or change bookings easily

Implementation options

Embedded widgets (Recommended)

Most membership systems (Glofox, TeamUp, Mindbody) provide embeddable timetable widgets. Easy to implement, always up-to-date, consistent with your booking system.

Custom design with API

For complete control over look and feel, use the platform's API to build a custom timetable. More expensive but allows perfect brand consistency.

Link to member portal

Simplest option - link directly to your membership system's booking page. Less seamless but functional and free.

Mobile Booking is Non-Negotiable

Over 70% of class bookings happen on mobile devices. Your timetable must be readable on small screens without horizontal scrolling, and the booking process must be seamless. If members have to pinch and zoom to see classes or tap three times to book, you're losing bookings.

Growing Your Membership

Lead generation strategies for gyms

Your website should be constantly generating enquiries and trial sign-ups. Here are the proven strategies that work.

Free trial or day pass

Very High effectiveness

Offer a no-obligation visit. Capture name, email, phone, and fitness goals. Follow up within 2 hours.

Tips: Make the form short (5 fields max). Offer instant confirmation. Send a welcome email with what to expect.

Free consultation booking

High effectiveness

Offer a free session with a PT or fitness assessment. Higher commitment but more qualified leads.

Tips: Use calendar booking (Calendly or membership system). Confirm via SMS. Have a clear consultation process.

Downloadable fitness guide

Medium effectiveness

Workout plans, nutrition guides, or goal-specific content in exchange for email address.

Tips: Create genuinely useful content. Follow up with nurture sequence. Don't spam - provide value.

Exit-intent popup

Medium effectiveness

Special offer shown when visitor is about to leave. 'Wait! Get 50% off your first month.'

Tips: Use sparingly. Make offers genuine. Don't show to returning visitors repeatedly.

Referral programme

High effectiveness

Encourage members to refer friends. Reward both referrer and new member.

Tips: Make sharing easy with unique referral links. Track in your membership system. Promote in-gym too.

Newsletter with offers

Medium effectiveness

Regular email with fitness tips, gym news, and exclusive member offers.

Tips: Don't just sell. Provide value. Mix content: 80% helpful, 20% promotional.

The golden rule: Follow up fast. Gym leads have a half-life of about 2 hours. The longer you wait, the more likely they've signed up elsewhere or lost interest. Automated email confirmations plus a same-day phone call is the winning formula.

Budget Planning

Gym website costs in the UK

What to expect when budgeting for a gym website. Prices vary based on features, integrations, and complexity.

Basic Gym Website

Typical timeline: 2-3 weeks

£1,000 - £2,000

Typically includes: Facility information, pricing, contact form, gallery, mobile-responsive design, basic SEO

Suitable for: Small gyms, personal trainers, new fitness businesses

Professional Gym Website

Typical timeline: 4-6 weeks

£2,500 - £4,500

Typically includes: Above plus membership system integration, class timetable embed, trainer profiles, lead capture forms, testimonials section

Suitable for: Established gyms, fitness studios, CrossFit boxes

Advanced Gym Website

Typical timeline: 6-8 weeks

£4,500 - £6,000

Typically includes: Above plus custom timetable design, virtual tour integration, member portal, advanced lead nurturing, blog

Suitable for: Multi-facility gyms, premium fitness clubs, franchise locations

Enterprise/Multi-location

Typical timeline: 8-12 weeks

£6,000+

Typically includes: Multi-site management, custom integrations, advanced reporting, bespoke member portal, ongoing optimisation

Suitable for: Gym chains, franchises, health club groups

Ongoing Costs to Budget For

£50-300

per year for hosting

£10-30

per year for domain

£50-200

per month for maintenance

£40-300

per month for membership software

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Mobile-First

Mobile optimisation for gym websites

Your members live on their phones. If your website doesn't work perfectly on mobile, you're losing business every day.

Class booking speed

Members often book classes on their commute or between activities. A slow or clunky process loses bookings.

Solution: One-tap booking from timetable. Save preferences. Show availability clearly. Confirm instantly.

Timetable readability

Complex schedules are hard to read on small screens. Members give up if they can't find their class quickly.

Solution: Filter by day, class type, and instructor. Clear visual hierarchy. Horizontal scroll for weekly view.

Loading speed

53% of mobile visitors abandon sites taking over 3 seconds to load. Gym members are impatient.

Solution: Optimise images, minimise scripts, use fast hosting. Test regularly with Google PageSpeed.

Click-to-call

Potential members often call with questions before joining. Make it effortless.

Solution: Phone number in header, always visible, tappable to call directly. Also on contact page.

Easy directions

New members need to find you. Don't make them copy-paste your address into maps.

Solution: One-tap Google Maps integration. Include parking information. Show nearest public transport.

Thumb-friendly design

Most mobile users browse one-handed. Small buttons frustrate users and lose conversions.

Solution: Large touch targets (minimum 44px), important actions within thumb reach, spacing between elements.

Test Your Booking Flow

Try booking a class on your phone. Time yourself. If it takes more than 30 seconds from landing on your site to confirming a booking, it's too slow. Ask a friend who's never used your site to try - watch where they struggle. Real user testing beats assumptions every time.

Getting Found

SEO for gym websites

How to ensure local fitness enthusiasts find your gym when they search online. Local SEO is critical for fitness businesses.

Google Business Profile

Critical

Complete your GBP with all services, photos, and accurate hours. Encourage members to leave Google reviews. Respond to every review.

Local keywords

Critical

Target location-specific terms: 'gym in Cardiff', 'CrossFit box Bristol', 'yoga studio near me'. Include in titles, headings, and content.

Mobile optimisation

Critical

Fast loading, easy navigation, smooth booking process. Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites for local searches.

Class and service pages

High

Create individual pages for each class type and service. Target terms like 'HIIT classes Cardiff' or 'personal training Newport'.

Schema markup

High

Add LocalBusiness and SportsActivityLocation schema with address, hours, price range, and services offered.

Content marketing

Medium

Blog about fitness tips, nutrition, local events. 'Best Cardiff gyms for beginners' can rank well and capture leads.

Key insight: For gyms, Google Maps and Google Business Profile often matter more than organic search. People search "gym near me" and choose from the map results. Invest heavily in your GBP profile, photos, and reviews.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about gym websites

Answers to common questions about gym website design, costs, and features.

How much does a gym website cost in the UK?

Gym website costs in the UK typically range from £1,000-£6,000+ depending on complexity. A basic brochure site with facility information and contact details costs £1,000-£2,000. Sites with membership management integration and class booking cost £2,500-£4,500. Fully custom solutions with personal trainer profiles, virtual tours, and advanced lead capture can exceed £6,000. Ongoing costs include hosting (£50-300/year), maintenance (£50-200/month), and membership software fees (£50-300/month).

What essential features does a gym website need?

Essential gym website features include: clear membership pricing and options, class timetable with booking capability, facility information and photos, location with directions and parking details, mobile-responsive design, prominent contact information and enquiry forms, trainer profiles with qualifications, testimonials and success stories, opening hours, and integration with your membership management system. Virtual facility tours and free trial capture forms are highly recommended additions.

What membership management systems work with gym websites?

Popular gym membership management systems in the UK include: Glofox (from £100/month, excellent mobile app), TeamUp (from £59/month, great for boutique fitness), Mindbody (from £129/month, industry standard), ClubRight (UK-based, from £79/month), and Gymcatch (from £39/month, simpler option). Most offer website widgets or API integration for online sign-ups, class booking, and member portals. Choose based on your gym size, budget, and required features like direct debit collection.

How should I display class schedules on my gym website?

Display class schedules using an interactive timetable that shows classes by day, time, and instructor. Allow filtering by class type (yoga, HIIT, spinning). Include class descriptions, difficulty levels, and what to bring. Enable online booking directly from the timetable. Ensure mobile users can easily view and book classes. Most membership systems provide embeddable timetable widgets. Update schedules in real-time when classes are cancelled or changed.

Should my gym have an online booking system?

Yes, online booking is essential for modern gyms. Members expect 24/7 booking convenience - over 60% of class bookings happen outside business hours. Online booking reduces admin time, allows capacity management, and captures valuable attendance data. It also reduces no-shows through automated reminders. Most membership management systems include booking functionality, so you won't need a separate system.

How should I showcase personal trainers on my gym website?

Create individual profile pages for each trainer including: professional photo, qualifications and certifications (CIMSPA, REPs registered), specialisations (weight loss, strength, rehabilitation), training philosophy, availability, and testimonials from clients. Include a booking or enquiry button on each profile. Video introductions work particularly well - they let potential clients get a feel for the trainer's personality and approach before booking.

Should I include a virtual tour on my gym website?

Virtual tours significantly increase membership enquiries - research shows they can boost conversions by 15-30%. Options include: 360-degree Google Street View tours (free, requires approved photographer), professional video walkthrough (£300-800), or interactive 3D tours using Matterport (£200-500 for smaller gyms). Virtual tours are especially valuable for attracting nervous first-timers who want to see the gym before visiting, and for competing with larger chains.

How should I display membership pricing on my gym website?

Display pricing clearly and transparently - hidden prices drive potential members to competitors. Show all membership tiers with what's included in each. Be upfront about joining fees, minimum contracts, and cancellation policies. Use comparison tables to highlight value differences between tiers. Include any current offers prominently. Make the next step obvious with 'Join Now' or 'Start Free Trial' buttons. Price transparency builds trust and pre-qualifies leads.

How can my gym capture more leads online?

Effective lead capture for gyms includes: free trial or day pass sign-up forms, downloadable fitness guides or workout plans in exchange for email, free consultation booking for personal training, referral programme sign-ups, and newsletter subscription with exclusive offers. Place lead capture forms prominently on high-traffic pages. Use exit-intent popups carefully. Follow up quickly - leads go cold within hours in the fitness industry.

Do I need a mobile app or is a website enough for my gym?

Most gyms can succeed with a mobile-optimised website plus a membership management app (Glofox, Mindbody). Custom gym apps cost £10,000-50,000+ and require ongoing maintenance. However, if your membership system provides a branded app, use it - members appreciate app convenience for class booking and checking in. For most independent gyms and studios, investing in an excellent mobile website delivers better ROI than a custom app.

Need a website for your gym?

Web Cardiff creates professional websites for gyms, fitness studios, and health clubs across Wales. Fast-loading, mobile-optimised sites that showcase your facility and convert visitors into members. Let's discuss your project.

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