If you’re one of the 11.5 million gym-goers in the UK, there’s good news: the best gyms for EV drivers have now been revealed.
In a recent study undertaken by Drax Electric Vehicles, 134 locations of the UK’s top 10 most popular gym chains were put through the test. The research examines which gym chains consistently provide locations with superior access to public EV charging within a 1-mile radius. With each gym chain scored against the city averages, the results are in – and they’re not what you’d expect.
Fitness First is officially crowned as the best gym chain for public EV charging availability, with 17.7% better access compared to the average gym in their city.
In fact, 4 out of 5 Fitness First locations exceed city benchmarks for public EV charger availability, making it easier than ever to power up your car while you power through your workout.
The Top 10 Gym Chains for EV Drivers. Source: Drax Electric Vehicles
Coming in a close second and third are Virgin Active and The Gym Group, offering 17.6% and 14% better access to EV charging, respectively, than the local averages.
Adam Hall, Drax Energy Services Director, comments, “These findings highlight the real-world benefits of developing a strong public charging network. It’s not just about powering vehicles—it’s about making everyday life more convenient.”
“The UK has one of the highest gym membership rates across Europe. By enabling convenient access to places like the gym, charging becomes part of the journey, not a disruption. This is the type of progress that helps make the switch to EVs more practical and appealing for everyone.”
Northern gyms are outpacing London gyms in EV charging
The analysis by Drax also revealed that Northern gyms lead the charge in access to public EV infrastructure.
Manchester topped the list with an impressive average of 173 chargers within 1 mile per gym location, outperforming even the UK’s capital city. Glasgow followed closely behind with an average of 96 chargers per gym, far ahead of London’s gym locations.
EV charging availability within 1 mile of gyms – city averages. Source: Drax Electric Vehicles
More gym chains are plugging in for a sustainable future
Several gym chains are joining the EV revolution by installing on-site charging stations at their locations. Notable examples include David Lloyd and Bannatyne, which are integrating electric vehicle chargers as part of their sustainability initiatives.
While David Lloyd sites typically offer onsite charging, EV drivers may still find public charging access more limited, especially in cities like Birmingham, where one location had 96% fewer chargers than the city average.
Adam explains, “As the number of electric vehicles on our roads continues to grow, charging access at everyday destinations like gyms is becoming a greater concern for consumer behaviour, especially for consumers without access to home charging.”
“Ultimately, expanding public charging availability, especially in high-footfall and routine-essential destinations, will continue to be important. We’re in a critical period where drivers and businesses considering the switch to electric vehicles need reassurance that charger availability is keeping pace with demand.”
About the data
The study was conducted by Drax Electric Vehicles in May 2025. It used Zap-Map data to assess the availability of 9,300 EV chargers near gyms across the UK. The analysis covered 134 locations from 10 leading gym chains in the UK’s ten largest cities. Charger availability was measured within a one-mile radius of each gym, and results were normalised against city averages to ensure fair comparison across regions with varying levels of EV infrastructure.
Each gym chain received a score where 1.0 represents exactly the average number of EV chargers available in its operating cities. Scores above 1.0 indicate chains that consistently choose locations with better-than-average charging access, while scores below 1.0 show chains with worse-than-average access.
