I've been coming here about five years, on and off. (I have a medical condition that means there…read moreare a lot of "off" periods.) I've recently returned after a six-month break. I'm undecided about the refurbishment - while the showers and spa area are much better, it would have been so nice if they'd put a jacuzzi / whirlpool tub in. I can live without a swimming pool, but a jacuzzi is kind of a staple in most gyms these days, even city ones. (They had one here, years ago - though I don't think it was a Fitness First back then.) Aside from that, I really like the new spa area, especially the loungers. It could be kept a few degrees warmer - it's a bit nippy when you get out of the sauna / steam room - but it's very nice and peaceful, and the loungers are super-comfy. The new gym itself, I'm not sure about. It looks much more macho and serious now, with all that black and gray and rubber, and I find it much less relaxing than the airy white and purple spaces that we had before. I guess serious athletes will approve of this, but I liked the old, light, unintimidating atmosphere. A big yay on the rebounders, and the new hairdryers in the ladies' changing - they are a HUGE improvement on the old heavy ones. Overall, it's still a great place to come, for a small city gym. Staff are friendly, professional, and know their stuff. It's always clean, and I've never had any problems with theft or harassment from guys the way I have in London. At some point I probably will want to find somewhere with a pool (especially since the new pool at Westminster is so small and crowded), but for now it's a fine place to come, and monthly fees are reasonable.

Great Friendly Gym. Easy Free Parking etc. Only down side is they clean the gym when it opens,…read moreinstead of last thing at night, so if you train first thing you have to put up with dirt and rubbish everywhere and put up with the cleaning staff working around you. Lights supposedly come on automatically at 6.30am, although ive had to wait till 6.45 befor and that cuts into your training time, especially if you have to go to work straight after. All in all a no frills friendly gym.

Old school gym. Not the most modern equipment but enough for a good workout. Great and friendly…read morestaff. Cool crowd. Reasonable rates.

I had previously been to several yoga classes in my life and found them all to be okay, but I never…read morefound I kept going back after a few classes and it was hard to put my finger on why. But then I found The Yoga Hall. I have attended both Laura and Fin's classes for several years now (i gather they have other good teachers too) and both are completely amaizing. Somehow they take yoga to a completely different level. When I was pregnant with both of my children I had classes on Fridays with Laura which i really found helped. I suffered from really nasty Syatica (sp?) which was really bothering me and Laura took time to show me some special exercises which really helped. She always has time to talk about any individual worries that you have and I have noticed that she has also worked really well with people who have particular difficulties (for example there was a lady in my class who had a knee problem and Laura always took the time to make sure she knew what she should and shoudln't do and actaully she mentioned that Laura had given her some special exercises which were helping too). I also did the baby massage class which is completely brilliant. Both my babies absolutely loved it and it was actaully a really good way to meet other new mums and share experiences too. I did try another baby class in St Albans too as it was on a more convenient time but it wasn't anything like as good so I actaully changed my work days in order to go back to Laura's classes! (I know I sound a bit obsessed at this point..but believe me I am normal really!!!). I even found that the massage that I learned helped my babies sleep but they always slept the best when they had been to Laura's class that day. There are other things available at the yoga hall too - there is a trapeze class sometimes but I have never managed to get to one yet but my friend says it is great. All sorts of other things going on there too. Check out the website for more info. They are also a real community centre and I have made friends there too. It has such a lovel family atmosphere. (There is also a lovely cafe right next door which sever yummy and healthy food and drinks which is just perfect for a 'chill out' light salad or something afterwards.) I can't recommend them highly enough really. They blow everything else in St Albans (and elsewhere in my experience) out of the water.

Parkour, also known as Freerunning, is a type of urban gymnastics that involves using creative…read morefreedom to move through spaces and over objects at ground level. Parkour has been labelled a daredevil activity. However, the 'Parkour gym sessions' on offer are conducted in a controlled environment under the supervision of coaches at ground level. Parkour gym session currently run as follows: Ø Tuesday evenings at Francis Bacon School , Drakes Drive , St Albans , AL1 5AR . 5pm-6:30pm for under 12s 6:30pm-8:30pm for over 12s Ø Thursday evening at St Georges School, Sun Lane, Harpenden , AL5 4TD . 5pm-6:30pm for under 12s 6:30pm-8:00pm for over 12s The sessions cost £5 (Thursday over 12s sessions £4), and all the money raised will go straight back into the running of the club. Each participant will need to get a consent form signed by their parent/guardian if they are under 18 and can be picked up from the sessions. If this is something that may be of interest, please visit any of the sessions. There is no need to book just turn up.

IDEALLY SUITED TO MEN AGED 20 TO 30…read more I have been a member of this gym for around 20 very happy years going four times a week so feel well qualified to write a review on Nuffield St Albans. But sadly it has recently declined in so many ways that I am now leaving. I do yoga (not at Nuffield) a lot of running (some at Nuffield) plus other aerobics - but my main reason for going to Nuffield St Albans is to do weight lifting- and as I work full time I usually go in the evenings. If you are a man aged 20s to early 30s who loves weight lifting and likes to flex your muscles in the gym and intimidate others then Nuffield St Albans is the place for you. In the evenings you will meet other like minded men who like to reserve equipment so others can't use it by placing a towel over a machine (while they go on another machine.) If they know you are waiting to use a piece of equipment Nuffield male personal trainers, who like to show off in front of their clients that they are boss and own the gym, will purposely spend longer with a client on it, thus ensuring you wait even longer. This is their pay back to you if you ask politely how long they will be. While there are three main weight lifting areas one of them is pretty much out of bounds in the evening for women (choc full of the types described as above and if you do wander into the 'mens' area, you will be glared at until you leave.) At first glance the other areas look as if they have lots of equipment in them but the reality is they do not have enough of the machines that everyone wants to use - thus there is always a scramble between gym users as the most popular become free. Which brings me to another issue - the state of the gym equipment at Nuffield. Suffice to say much of it is old, out dated and clunky (certainly much has not been replaced since my time there.) Many aerobic machines are also out of order a lot of the time, although quite often you will get on a piece of equipment you believe to be fine only to find it not working (and no one has bothered to even put a notice on saying it is out of order.) Audio equipment may or may not work (always take your own music) and there is no wifi for customers. Money spent on upkeep has been minimal over the past few years. At night the car park is in my view particularly dangerous as no one has bothered to repaint the lines - I recently had a nasty fall walking over a speed bump where the fluorescent warning lines have been eroded and never replaced. There are few pavements making it hazardous for pedestrians. I don't think Nuffield would be responsible though for any car park incidents as they have lots of signs up saying it is all at your own risk. Meanwhile, the carpet and floors at the club are dirty and worn. Due to the ridiculous idea of having a swimming pool open to the gym, it is also so stifling hot in the summer that doing anything more than a leisurely walk on a treadmill could put you at risk of heatstroke. However, if you try to raise an issue or ask for help at Nuffield St Albans you will find yourself talking to reception which is staffed by young women who are often huddled together chatting. When disturbed they will respond with one of five comments: 'well there's not much I can do', 'we are getting a refurb', 'I will speak with the person concerned' , 'what do you want me to do about it' or 'it is only temporary equipment'. It is all pointless as nothing is ever done. A tip - don't make an issue of too many things, especially if you are a woman, as you risk being taken aside by one of the men in his twenties outlined above who bowls over to you, big shoulders squared for combat, to tell you it's your attitude as a customer which is the problem. The threat is if you don't like it, tough and they could ask you to leave. If you have a problem it is much better to get a man (preferably in his 20s or early 30s) to make the complaint as then they might listen. For this treatment Nuffield, a 'health and wellbeing centre' - and a 'charity' to boot - charges around £1000 a year. You have been warned!

This is a review of the pool as I haven't yet used the gym. Firstly, I've been here a few times and…read morenever struggled to find a parking space which is great. I think that it's a little strange walking through the gym to get to the pool and changing rooms, but it's a big open space and it really isn't that bad. The changing rooms are huge, and have always been clean when I've visited. The showers are inside the changing rooms. The pool itself seems large and whilst I'm sure it can get busy it hasn't been on the occasions I've been. The children's pool is also really big and has been quite busy but I've been at the peak time (after school) and they have lessons going on too. I did think that the sides of the pool needed a clean last time I was there, and whilst I appreciate that there are enough chemicals in the water to stop me from becoming unwell, it was a bit scummy and doesn't look very nice. The sauna and steam rooms are in the same area as the children's pool so the layout is a bit higgledy piggledy. All in all I'd happily go back.

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