The Mrs managed to catch this of me yesterday before my daily swim at Withington baths currently…read moretraining for iron man triathlon event. Can't tell you how far i've come.

I'm glad that when they built the gigantic Aquatics Centre they didn't let the smaller quainter…read moreleisure centres around town turn to wreck and ruin. Whilst the Aquatics Centre is certainly more suitable for serious swimming, it is nice to have convenient local pools such as Chorlton Leisure Centre and Withington Leisure Centre. Withington Leisure Centre is home to a 25m pool, a sauna, gym and they also hold aerobics and aqua aerobics classes. Memberships are available. My friend had a student membership which she said was really good value as long as you used the facilities a couple of times a week - it's about half the price you would pay at the swanky Virgin gym at Parrs Wood. It's a little bit cheaper for a swim here than at the AC but you have to be prepared to circumnavigate loitering biddies and splashing kids as there are no lanes, and there is free swimming for under 16s and over 65s! The best thing is that you don't need to worry about finding a pound coin for the locker and lugging your pile of clothes, shampoo, towel etc around (which inevitably leaves you with soggy knickers or your towel on the bottom of the pile when you get out!). You simply leave all of your belongings in one of the cubicles around the edge of the pool. I like that traditional touch, and although this pool isn't as pretty as Victoria Baths or as functional as the Aquatics Centre, it's a good place to swim if you live in Withington or Fallowfield.

This leisure centre boasts an olympic sized 50m swimming pool, and a 20m swimming pool - this can…read morebe particularly handy around 4pm when the kids come in after school as they considerately split the adults and children. The centre also has a huge fitness centre, tennis courts, 5-a-side pitches, grass football pitches, athletics track, and resides inside The Mystery Park. Overall, it's pretty good value for money, the facilities are very clean and the staff are pleasant enough. What is the first thing most people want after a hard work out or swim? Usually something to eat and drink. So I suppose the only way they could improve is provide a cafe/restaurant instead of just your typical vending machines.

Wavertree Sports Park is a great new complex which brings you a whole range of sporting, exercise…read moreand leisure facilities. Lifestyles offer a range of membership schemes or pay and play options, which allows you to use the facilities. The first time I went, I made use of their 50 metre swimming pool though it's not as big as it sounds. There is a smaller pool section which is split up and more for beginners and younger children. At times, they will aisle the swimming lanes making it free from interruptions, which is always good whenever you have wild ones splashing around! It does depend on the time of day you go. Obviously at less peak times such as early morning, it's a lot calmer. If swimming is not your sport, the site does boast a tennis centre, sports hall and athletics park too. The techno-gym is also popular with locals. If anybody has used the gym, I would like to know what puts the techno into techno-gym! As a whole, this is a decent sports centre, very modern and well maintained. I would recommend it to anyone, as it's one of the classier Lifestyle centres in Liverpool.

I teach yoga in the centre come and try it everyone can do yoga it's not complicated. Wednesday…read moremorning 10am to 11.30am Thursday evening 8pm to 9.30. Learn how to relax, you will love it Elaine

There is lots going on at this leisure centre - childrens swimming pool is great. There are plenty…read moreof classes for everyone, and 'jungle jims' soft play is good for little ones. There is a creche so you can attend a class without your child and pick them up when you have finished. My only problem is that the toilets never seem very clean both inside the pool area and in the reception.

Withington 'Baths' is a seriously old school swimming pool - and has played host to entire…read moregenerations of South Mancunian schoolchildren who have been dragged their by their teachers in the pursuit of being taught how to swim. I should know, I was one of them (as was my Dad). I still have incredibly fond memories of the place - this huge Victorian monument to the pursuit of health, which towered over Withington belching out steam and chlorine fumes. The changing rooms smelt of feet, and our swimming teachers ranged from the disinterested to the downright sadistic. I still have nightmares about having to dive into the pool in my pyjamas in order to locate a plastic brick from its slimy depths. I still go to the baths occasionally for a quick swim, as well as to sweat out various accumulated impurities in its sauna. Not much has changed since my primary school days. The main tiled pool still looks slightly dilapidated, the lockers still look as though someone's been going around headbutting them, and the building still looks like an old Victorian sanitorium for the mentally disturbed. Yet, it still provides a vital service to the local Withington community, and is great value for money. And, it's nice to know that whilst Withington may be changing all the time, the baths is still a small moment of the past suspended in time - always different yet always the same.

If you're looking for an affordable place to keep fit, or just want to go casually for a swim/gym…read moresession/fitness class this place is ideal. I'm not one for being tied down. In gym contracts I mean. So, this centre is great for me. You can pay monthly for under 30 (student and Manchester city council workers have discounts) or just pay as you go. There'a pool, gym with free weights as well as cardio equipment, and a dance studio for classes. Everything you need really minus the swanky changing rooms and posh jacuzzi. But then, you're not being charged the Earth either!

I was a member of this tennis club for 4 years before I started university and enjoyed every moment…read moreI spent here. The facilities available have been revamped by the new large clubhouse that's been erected, nice tarmac courts (unfortunately not lawn tennis as the name suggests) along with 3 astroturf courts, knock-up wall and seating areas for spectators. The new clubhouse boasts a large bar on the upper floor with a balcony for comfortable viewing on tennis competition days and for the parents whilst their children are being taught by the professionals at the tennis club. They run weekly tennis lessons ranging from beginner toddlers to pro-adults of all genders and ages, making them feel welcome in the atmosphere around the club. The prices of the membership are very cheap considering you get unlimited play on the courts throughout the years, obviously not when the courts are in use for competition or training, and also into the clubhouse. For those budding tennis fans/players around Congleton, this is definitely a must sign up for.

I come to Sugden fairly often, mainly to play badminton with my friends. I must say that prices for…read morebadminton courts are very reasonable, but I don't find the service much good. Once all the fields were taken, even if we had booked one and we were there on time, yet no one was there to check that players were respecting their times. Lockers are provided to drop your stuff, but you have to pay 20p to use one. I considered signing to Sugden just after moving to Manchester because it's very close to uni. Therefore I took their gym induction to give a look at the place and at the machines. The gym is ok, not very big to tell the truth. I was actually rather disappointed with the induction itself, cause it lasted only five minutes, the instructor just hastily showed us the rooms, we didn't even have time to try any machines. Also, we were more than ten people taking the induction, and I was expecting something more serious and personalized since I was paying for it.

I'm not a student at Manchester University, but one of my best friends is and that means that I get…read moreto in to Sugden Sports Centre every week to play a bit of badminton. There are loads of sports halls and courts and stuff here, so lots of space to do whatever sport you're into - be that squash, badminton, basketball, circuit training, etc. If you're playing badminton like we do, then it costs just over a fiver to hire a court for an hour once you're a member. This isn't too expensive, especially when it's split between the two of us. The one thing that annoys me here just a tiny bit is the fact that you have to pay 20p for a locker and you don't get it back. It's quite cheeky to get you to pay for the privilege of having your stuff safe whilst you're exercising. Surely, after membership and court hire, that should just be a given.

Walton Hall Park Sports Centre is located in a quiet park, offering a range of sporting facilities…read more Although it falls short of a swimming pool, it does have other excellent facilities indoor and outdoor. There are 4 badminton courts available in the sports hall which is bright and spacious for groups. However, the floor could be more solid. In terms of the gym, this is one of their better features. Though small, it still has all the usual apparatus you would expect a gym to have. If you love football, then here is a good place to come as they have a large synthetic football turf with real size goal mouths. There is even a stand for spectators to cheer you on! As a whole, this sports centre ticks most boxes when it comes to your fitness needs. They offer classes too which is always popular with the locals. In addition, they have a nice little cafe on the ground floor so you can sit down and relax once you've finished.

Meadows Leisure Centre, located in Maghull provides some of the finest facilities in the area…read morecatering for all ages and abilities. The centre consists of a swimming pool, fitness centre and gym, plus a library. This was certainly the first time I've ever saw a library within a sports centre which I actually think is a great idea, epecially if Parents/Guardians await children whilst they are swimming for example. The library does also have a children's area and a section where you can loan videos and DVD's; pretty much the same as your standard library. You do not have to become a member to use the pool but you do for the gym. Apparently there is an induction included for gym members and many other different types of memberships depending on your requirements. Whilst prices may be expensive for non-members, this is really an attractive place to exercise as it appears clean, tidy and has excellent facilities.

This is a swanky council gym! There's a beautiful indoor swimming area with a large lap pool and a…read moresmaller square-shaped pool with panoramic windows to the outside, a nice gym on the second floor that overlooks the pool, a sauna, and even a library; this place offers it all! The co-ed changing room is nice with private, individual changing stalls, lockers, and hair dryers. There's hot showers in this changing room too, but you'll have to push the button every couple of minutes to keep the water going. It's very clean and really offers a lot to the community! Outside, there's a free fitness gym too with some equipment, so you can take your workout outdoors.