Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre

“I do a lot of fitness classes at Arcadia and I must. So much fun and way if getting healthy. All the instructors are amazing especially Mike, Zara, Cheryl and Marcia. They are the Best. I highly recommend Arcadia to all fitness lovers.”

“Great gym with a nice library attached and a proper community feel. Brilliant classes with really supportive and friendly teachers. Mike is also great, he's very approachable and always happy to give advice if you need it.”

“This is both a library and a gym, but this review is focused on the gym itself. I'm not knocking the staff in this review, who I have always found to be friendly and doing the best they can. They are not in control of most of the negative factors that have prompted my relatively low rating. First, it must be noted that while the Better council gyms are meant to represent affordable, accessible options, it really is no longer competitive on price. A membership here is at least as, and often more expensive than private gyms in Manchester. For example, the Jetts Levenshulme gym is cheaper, and is also 24 hours. The one caveat here is membership at Arcadia also includes swimming pool access, so can be worth it if you wish to regularly take advantage of that - however, there is no option to join without also paying for swimming pool access, regardless of whether this is a facility you wish to use. Secondly, as alluded to in my previous point, this gym is not 24 hours, and in fact has rather restrictive and inconvenient opening times. It is only open 9am to 5pm on both weekend days, for example. This is really poor given there are cheaper 24 hour gyms all around Manchester. To add to the inconvenience, there is a really irritating booking system you have to use to book a half an hour slot to attend the gym, but it really makes no sense, as there isn't a limit on how long you stay, it's not like it actually tracks numbers, it's just another barrier to convenience. Thirdly, the equipment is very limited in both number and selection, and this gym is virtually unusable at peak times. Equipment is regularly broken as well with lengthy times to replace it. In addition to broken equipment, soap dispensers and taps in the bathroom are almost always broken. I don't think I have ever seen both sinks and both soap dispensers working at the same time in there. I will also add that there are regularly very obnoxious groups of young teenage boys and men in here who hog equipment and engage in very dangerous conduct, such as throwing around exercise balls like they're footballs right next to the squat racks. Navigating the small changing room is a pain when they stand in the middle of it in groups taking pictures of themselves flexing in the mirror and shouting at each other. People also regularly leave gigantic weights on the barbells, which take lots of time and effort to remove. I think the place could benefit from at the very least some signs telling people to re-rack weights and only one piece of equipment at a time. Once again, this is not the fault of the staff that work there. There is clearly a systemic problem in funding, in Better's organisational structure, etc. I write this to make people aware, and to highlight the issues facing this gym so hopefully Better and Manchester City Council can address some of them.”

“This gym has been a problem from before I even signed up. I called in advance with basic questions to understand how things worked, and even then it was clear there were communication issues. Unfortunately, nothing improved after joining. The staff experience has been baffling. Simple requests are frequently misunderstood, explanations are inconsistent, and I’ve repeatedly been told I need to “sign up” before using the gym — despite already having an inclusive, paid membership. No one seems aligned on basic procedures, and the lack of clarity creates constant friction for members. The facility itself is unacceptable. From day one, multiple pieces of equipment (around four to five at any given time) have been non-functional, with no signage to warn users. For a gym, that’s inexcusable. Even worse, the gym does not have a working weight scale. That alone says a lot. I raised this issue multiple times and was repeatedly told they were “investing in a new system soon.” Months later, there has been zero evidence of any upgrades or improvements. The equipment that does work is poorly maintained — faded numbers on machines mean you can’t even tell how much weight you’re lifting. This is basic gym functionality, not a luxury. Yes, if you drive, you’re told to sign in every time to avoid parking fines — that part is clear. But that’s where the clarity ends. Inside the gym, policies are vague, inconsistently enforced, and poorly explained. Customer service is another major failure. I’ve submitted multiple complaints, each taking weeks to receive a response, if one came at all. That level of disregard for members is unacceptable. A gym is supposed to reduce stress, not create it. Instead, this place delivers constant mental and emotional frustration — all while taking your money upfront. Without competent staff, clear communication, or properly functioning equipment, this gym simply isn’t worth it. I do not recommend this gym to anyone.”