First impressions of Virgin Active
My 'Virgin Active' Experience
1: Choosing a gym
2: 
First impressions of Virgin Active
3: Guided tour of Virgin Active
4: Joining Virgin Active
Having decided – on the basis of cost, proximity and creche facilities – to give Virgin Active a try, I phoned my local Virgin Active Life Centre to check prices and confirm the NHS / corporate discount.
The membership saleswoman gave me a 7pm appointment the same day to have a tour of the facility.
There are actually 2 versions of Virgin Active clubs - the "Life Centres" which have the full range of facilities, and the smaller "City Clubs" which do not have the pool / sauna.
The exact size and range of facilities varies from club to club, but all the UK's 25 Virgin Active clubs are listed on their website.
First impressions
My first impressions of the Virgin Active Life Centre were slightly overwhelming. I had driven past the warehouse-like building many times, but this was the first time I had been up-close and personal!
It was massive and the sheer number of cars in the car park gave a clue as to the number of people inside.
I later found out that there was a total of 5 class either in progress or about to commence (Pilates, V-Cycle, Step, Yoga and Ab-Attack) which accounted for the large number of cars and swarm of people. (When I went along the next day, it was much quieter.)
The place appeared very modern, sleek and smart. I went inside and waited for my tour guide to turn up.
I was impressed to see that so many ordinary looking people could offer the £47 monthly fee. All these people weren't company executives, captains of industry, elite athletes etc. – judging by their clothes and body language they were ordinary middle-class Joes, Janes and their kids, from all walks of life.
The one thing they had in common was that they were serious about looking after themselves and keeping fit.
