Metropolitan vs David Lloyd in Spain: the premium club choice in Madrid, Barcelona and Málaga

Spain’s own premium chain against the British racquets brand that has arrived to challenge it. Metropolitan has 20-plus clubs with pools, spas and padel and a members’ club atmosphere at €90 to €150. David Lloyd has three Spanish clubs built on its UK family-and-racquets model at €120 to €180.

Updated September 2026 · Fees in EUR from club sites and reports · By About Health Clubs

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At a glance

Short on time? Here’s the honest answer.

Choose Metropolitan if you want a Spanish premium club with pool, spa and padel in most major cities, and multi-club access matters. Choose David Lloyd if you have children, play tennis as well as padel, and live near Aravaca, Turó or the Málaga club.

Spa, padel, 20 cities → Metropolitan

Family, tennis, three clubs → David Lloyd

Side by side

How they compare

	Metropolitan	David Lloyd Spain
Typical price	€90 to €150/mo; joining fee €100 to €300.	€120 to €180/mo; joining fee standard, often promoted.
Sites	20+ across Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao and more.	3: Madrid Aravaca, Barcelona Turó, Málaga.
Pools	Indoor at most; outdoor at several.	Indoor and outdoor at all three.
Spa	Full spa and wellness area at most clubs; a core part of the offer.	Sauna, steam, spa at all three; smaller than Metropolitan’s.
Padel	Courts at many clubs.	Courts at all three, plus tennis.
Tennis	Rare.	At all three clubs, with coaching.
Family	Adult-led; some kids programmes.	Crèche, kids clubs, family swim; the core model.
Contract	12 months with permanencia; monthly at a premium.	12 months typical.
Multi-club	National access on top tier.	Three clubs; Platinum adds UK and Europe.
Best for	Adults who want spa, padel and a city-wide club.	Families and tennis players near the three sites.

Adult individual rates in EUR, September 2026. Both chains price by club and run promotions; confirm locally.

Price: Metropolitan is cheaper, and the gap is the racquets

Metropolitan runs €90 to €150 at most clubs. David Lloyd Spain starts around €120 and passes €180 for family and Platinum tiers, with a joining fee. As in the UK, the David Lloyd premium is buying courts, children’s provision and outdoor pools. If none of those is on your list, Metropolitan is the same core for less.

Footprint: twenty cities against three

Metropolitan is in every major Spanish city and its top tier gives national access. David Lloyd is in Madrid, Barcelona and Málaga only. For anyone outside those three the comparison does not exist; for anyone who travels within Spain, Metropolitan is the only one that comes with you.

Spa: Metropolitan’s defining feature

Metropolitan built its brand on wellness areas: hydrotherapy pools, thermal circuits, relaxation rooms. David Lloyd Spain has sauna, steam and spa areas that are good by UK standards and modest by Metropolitan’s. Members who join for the water after the workout will notice.

Racquets and family: David Lloyd’s home ground

Both have padel. Only David Lloyd has tennis at every club with coaching and junior programmes, and only David Lloyd runs a crèche and kids clubs as a matter of course. A Spanish family with two children who play will find David Lloyd is doing a job Metropolitan does not attempt.

Contracts: permanencia at both

Both ask for 12 months as standard, with the permanencia penalty stated in the contract. Monthly options exist at Metropolitan for a premium. Cancel in writing; Spanish consumer arbitration is free if a club refuses to honour the terms.

Metropolitan is the Spanish answer to Third Space with a better spa. David Lloyd in Spain is exactly what it is in Surrey. Pick the one that matches your household, not the one with the better website.

Our verdict

Metropolitan for most adults, David Lloyd for the family that plays

Metropolitan wins for individuals and couples: cheaper, in more cities, a stronger spa and padel at most clubs. David Lloyd wins for families near Aravaca, Turó or Málaga who want tennis, a crèche and an outdoor pool in one fee, and for UK Platinum members who can use it on trips.

Tour at the weekend. Metropolitan clubs are calm on Saturday; David Lloyd clubs are full of children, which is either the point or the problem.

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FAQs

Common questions

How much is Metropolitan?

Around €90 to €150 a month depending on club and tier, with a joining fee of €100 to €300 that is often discounted. Madrid and Barcelona flagships are at the top of the range.

How much is David Lloyd in Spain?

Roughly €120 to €180 a month for an adult, more for family and Platinum tiers, plus a joining fee. Promotions in September and January usually cut the joining fee.

Can UK David Lloyd members use the Spanish clubs?

Platinum members yes; other tiers via a guest arrangement through the home club. See our guide to using a UK membership abroad.

Does Metropolitan have tennis?

Rarely. Padel is common across the chain; tennis is not. For tennis in Spain at this tier, David Lloyd is the option in its three cities.

Compare with London’s luxury tier: Third Space, Equinox, Harbour Club.

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