Personal Trainers in the UK
Losing the weight for good this time, getting strong in your fifties, coming back from an injury or a baby, training for the half marathon, or simply someone to make you turn up: find a local personal trainer people recommend.
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Finding a good personal trainer in the UK
A personal trainer designs the training to you — your goal, your body, your week — and stands there while you do it, correcting the lift, changing the plan and, above all, making sure it happens. Trainers work in commercial gyms, private studios, your home and the park, and increasingly online; most specialise, in fat loss, strength, running and endurance, older clients, pre- and post-natal, rehabilitation after injury, or sport. The good ones ask about sleep, food, work and past injuries before they mention a burpee, and measure progress by something other than the scales.
Qualifications matter: a Level 3 Personal Training qualification is the minimum, with a CIMSPA or REPs registration, first aid and insurance, and extra qualifications for pre- and post-natal, older adults, rehabilitation and nutrition. A female trainer, a trainer who has been through what you are going through, or a trainer who works with people your age is a legitimate thing to look for. Most offer a free consultation or a taster session, and the best sell blocks of sessions with a plan rather than a lifetime contract.
The listings here show each trainer's reviews, specialisms, where they train, prices and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who works with people like you, and whose clients in your town are still training a year on.
What personal trainers do
Assessment and plan: a consultation on goals, history, injuries and lifestyle, a movement screen, and a programme built to you and revised as you progress.
Sessions: one-to-one training in a gym, studio, home or park, coaching technique, intensity and recovery, typically 45 to 60 minutes.
Specialisms: fat loss, strength and muscle, running and endurance, older adults, pre- and post-natal, rehabilitation after injury or surgery, sport-specific and teenagers.
Beyond the session: programmes to follow between sessions, nutrition guidance from qualified trainers, habit coaching, and check-ins by message or app.
Alternatives: small-group training for two to six people, partner sessions, online coaching, and bootcamps and classes at a fraction of the one-to-one price.
Before you book a personal trainer
- Be clear about the goal and the time you can give; the plan is built on both.
- Check Level 3 qualification, registration, insurance and first aid, and the extra qualifications for pregnancy, older adults or injury.
- Ask where sessions happen and whether gym membership is needed on top.
- Ask for a free consultation or a taster, and how progress is measured.
- Ask about blocks, cancellation and what happens if you are ill or away.
- Choose someone you will turn up for; the trainer's job is half coaching and half accountability.
What personal training costs in the UK
As a rough guide, a one-to-one session costs £30 to £60 an hour outside London and £50 to £100 in it, with blocks of ten sessions discounted 10 to 20 per cent; small-group training £12 to £25 a person a session; partner sessions split the price; online coaching with a programme and weekly check-ins £60 to £200 a month; and a consultation or taster free at most trainers. Home visits add £5 to £15 for travel. Gym-based trainers may need you to be a member; studio-based ones include the space.
Two sessions a week with a good trainer for three months costs less than a year of unused gym membership, and works.
How do I find a good personal trainer near me?+
Look at the trainers listed for your town, check their qualifications and specialisms against your goal, and read reviews from clients who sound like you, ideally a year on. Book a free consultation with two and choose the one who asks more questions than they answer.
How much does a personal trainer cost?+
Typically £30 to £60 an hour outside London and £50 to £100 in it, less per session in blocks of ten; small-group sessions are £12 to £25 a person, and online coaching £60 to £200 a month. Most offer a free consultation, and many a discounted first block.
What qualifications should a personal trainer have?+
A Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training as the minimum, registration with CIMSPA or the REPs register, public liability insurance and a current first aid certificate, plus specialist qualifications for pre- and post-natal, older adults, exercise referral or rehabilitation if that is what you need. Ask, and expect a straight answer.
Do I need a gym membership to have a personal trainer?+
Only if the trainer works in a commercial gym; many train in their own studio, at your home with portable kit, in parks, or online, with no membership needed. Ask where sessions happen and what is included.
How often should I see a personal trainer?+
Once or twice a week for most goals, with a programme to follow on your own in between; three times a week for a fast start or an event; and less often — fortnightly or monthly — once you know what you are doing, with the trainer reviewing and progressing the plan. Three months is long enough to see real change.
Can a personal trainer help with weight loss?+
Yes, and it is the commonest reason people hire one: a trainer builds the training, keeps you turning up, and the qualified ones guide nutrition and habits, which is where the weight actually goes. Ask how they measure progress; the ones who use more than the scales are the ones who get results that last.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.49 a month to sit above the free listings.