In the UK, Young Adults Are Picking Homes Based on Gym Proximity

We already know Gen Z is drinking less. A new survey suggests the gym has taken the pub’s place, right down to where they choose to live

The one amenity young people in the U.K. say a neighborhood needs before they’ll move in is not the pub on the corner, but a gym.

That’s the headline finding from The Gym Group’s 2026 Gen Z Fitness Pulse Report, which speaks to a few trends that have elevated the gym as the new third place among a generation drinking less and looking for in-person connection.

The data comes from a nationwide survey of 2,000 Gen Z respondents aged 16 to 29, conducted in partnership with the polling firm OnePoll. It’s the third wave of research following surveys in 2024 and 2025.

The 24/7, high-value, low-price (HVLP) gym chain operates more than 260 gyms across the U.K. and offers no-contract memberships. Fitness classes are available for all members, such as strength and conditioning, yoga, Pilates, HIIT and Hyrox, the racing format that has pulled a wave of young people into competitive fitness. 

Other findings revealed that almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents have already chosen, or would consider choosing, a home because it’s close to a gym. The same share said the gym is more than just a place to exercise; it’s somewhere they feel part of a community. A sizable portion (72%) believe going to the gym can combat loneliness.

They’re willing to pay for it, too.

Nearly a third (32%) said they’d pay a premium to live near a gym (an average of £40 extra a month, or about £480 a year). Meanwhile, 42% now rank health and fitness as their single biggest discretionary spending priority, up from 26% a year ago.

The share of Gen Z adults working out is also notable. Nearly six in 10 (58%) exercise at least twice a week, and more than half (54%) get to the gym weekly, the report found.

It’s not only about getting fit. Motivation splits almost evenly, as 40% exercise for their fitness levels and physical health, and 39% say it improves their mental well-being. For all that, they want a deal. More than 40% say value for money is the most important factor in choosing a gym.

“From where they choose to live, to how they spend their money, support their mental well-being and build friendships, gyms and fitness have become firmly embedded in the routines and priorities of this generation,” The Gym Group CEO Will Orr said. “Understanding Gen Z fitness habits is not only important for us as a business, but for the future of the nation’s health and well-being.”

In a July trading update, The Gym Group reported first-half revenue up 10% to £133.1 million, average membership crossing one million and average revenue per member climbing 5% to £22.14 a month. The chain said it remains on track to open at least 20 gyms this year.

That comes after a new report from PwC found that the U.K. market has the ability to roughly double its number of low-price gyms over the next decade.