Family · Children
Kids’ clubs, swimming lessons and crèche: what a premium club does for children, and what it charges
The children’s offer is where family clubs earn their premium and where the extras add up. Swim lessons, kids’ classes, holiday clubs, crèche and junior gym at each chain, with what is included and what is billed on top.
Updated September 2026 · Prices and facilities are illustrative and need verification
What is on offer
| Service | Ages | David Lloyd | Virgin Active | Nuffield Health | Typical extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crèche | 3 months to 5 years | Most clubs; hours included on family tiers | Club-V at family clubs | Rare | £8 to £15 per session |
| Swimming lessons | 4 months+ | DL Swim; weekly lessons | Yes at pool clubs | Yes, Swim Academy | £35 to £60 per month |
| Kids’ classes (dance, gym, sports) | 3 to 12 | DL Kids programme, extensive | Some clubs | Limited | Included or £5 to £10 |
| Holiday clubs | 4 to 12 | Full and half days | Some clubs | Some clubs | £30 to £60 per day |
| Junior gym | 11 to 15 | Supervised sessions after induction | 14+ | 11+ with induction | Junior membership £15 to £40 |
| Racquets coaching | 4+ | Tennis and padel programmes | Selected clubs | Rare | £8 to £20 per session |
| Family swim times | All | Daily | Daily at pool clubs | Scheduled | Included |
| Birthday parties | 4 to 12 | Yes | Some | Some | £150 to £350 |
Provision varies by club within each chain; extra costs are typical ranges. Verify at your club.
Swimming lessons
Club swim schools run 30-minute weekly lessons in small groups, usually £35 to £60 a month per child on top of membership, sometimes discounted for members. Council pools charge similar for lessons without the membership. The club advantage is convenience (lesson while you train) and warm, uncrowded pools; the standard of teaching is comparable. Ask about Swim England accreditation.
Crèche rules
Book ahead; sessions are usually 90 minutes to two hours with a daily maximum; parents must stay on site; ratios follow Ofsted-style standards though registration varies. Family tiers at David Lloyd include a monthly allowance of hours. If you will train while a child is in the crèche twice a week, price that against a childminder and the premium looks different.
Holiday clubs
Full-day holiday clubs at £30 to £60 are competitive with local providers and have a pool. They book out at Easter and summer the day they open. For working parents this can be the single most valuable thing a family club offers.
Teens on the gym floor
Junior gym typically opens at 11 to 14 after an induction, with supervised hours and limits on free weights. At 16 most clubs allow full access. A structured junior programme is far better than an unsupervised teen with a phone; David Lloyd and Nuffield both run good ones. See family memberships compared for the pricing.
FAQs
Common questions
Are swimming lessons included in gym membership?
Rarely. Club swim schools charge £35 to £60 a month per child, sometimes with a member discount.
What age can children use the gym?
Supervised junior gym from 11 to 14 depending on chain, full access at 16. All require an induction.
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