Virgin ActiveUK and Worldwide

Virgin Active is widely considered the "boutique" leader of the big UK gym chains. While other clubs focus on general fitness, Virgin Active has carved out a niche as a high-end "lifestyle" brand where the "Soul" pillar—comprising yoga, meditation, and recovery—is given as much weight as the heavy lifting.

The History of Virgin Active

Launched in 1999 by Sir Richard Branson in Preston, Lancashire, Virgin Active was designed to disrupt the "stuffy" health club industry. By combining high-energy exercise with social lounges and luxury spas, it quickly became a global brand. Over the last decade, the company has shifted its strategy to focus on high-value urban hubs, selling off many of its smaller regional clubs to focus on "Collection" sites and premium city locations.

Business Model

Virgin Active operates a premium health and wellness model. They avoid the "budget" race, instead focusing on high-retention, high-value memberships. Their strategy centers on the "Four Pillars": Strength, Stability, Stamina, and Soul. Yoga is the cornerstone of their "Soul" category, treated as a specialized boutique experience rather than just a supplementary class.

Global and UK Presence

As of 2026, Virgin Active is a global powerhouse with a presence in 8 countries: the UK, South Africa, Italy, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Botswana, and Namibia.

The Numbers:

• Global Clubs: ~230
• Total UK Clubs: ~38
• England: 38 (The vast majority of locations)
• Scotland, Wales, & Northern Ireland: Following a major restructuring and sale of regional clubs to Nuffield Health and David Lloyd, Virgin Active currently has no active clubs in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
• London: The brand's heartland, with 22 clubs across Greater London.

The Yoga Offer: What to Expect

 Yoga is a mandatory part of VA "Soul" offering. Every club features at least one dedicated Mind & Body studio, and their flagship "Collection" clubs often feature specialized Hot Yoga and Sound Bath studios.

What is the cost of membership?

Virgin Active is one of the most expensive mainstream chains in the UK.

• Standard Clubs: Starting from £75 – £120 per month.
• Collection/London Clubs: These range from £150 to over £250 per month.
• Most Expensive Clubs: The Chiswick Riverside and Mayfair locations are among the priciest, with memberships often reaching £299 – £400 per month for full access.

Booking, Waiting Lists, and "No-Show" Strikes

• Booking: Essential. You book via the Virgin Active app up to 8 days in advance (booking usually opens at 8 pm).
• Waiting Lists: Highly common for popular evening and weekend Vinyasa classes. The app allows you to see your position on the list, and you will be automatically moved into the class and notified via email if a spot opens.
• No-Show Policy: Virgin Active is strict. If you have 3 "no-show" strikes (or cancellations made less than 1–2 hours before the class) within a 30-day period, your booking privileges are suspended for 7 days.

Yoga Variety and Frequency

• Number of classes per week: depend on the size of the club, there are 3 yoga classes a day in Moorgate for example ( but a lot pf pilates reformer classes) and there are 5 yoga classes per day at Virgin active Islington
• Larger London clubs often host 30–45 yoga sessions per week.
• Types of Yoga Offered: Virgin Active has renamed yoga into 4 categories: foundation, align, flow and calm. In terms of yoga types these could be: Hatha yoga, Vinyasa and Yin yoga. They also recelntly added sound bath session to their schedule.