Nuffield Health Norwich
Barrack St, Norwich NR3 1TS
Opening Times: Mon – Fri: 6:30 – 22:00, Sat – Sun: 8:00 – 21:00
Cost: One free pass available here. The pass must (currently) be used within seven days of being downloaded.
I’m back visiting my home gym! Before leaving the UK to go travelling long-term, I was a member here at Nuffield Health Norwich for a whopping thirteen years. Visiting again after twenty months non-stop on the road, it’s easy to see why I stayed here so long…
Location
This is one of the largest gyms in the area, with top of the range facilities and a great location close to the city centre on the inner ring road. And it’s got free parking too – an obvious choice of club for many.
Facilities
The large gym areas are located upstairs and are broadly separated into a weights room, a cardio room and a mini-gym. Other facilities include a 25m pool, jacuzzis, a sauna and steam room, not to mention a café (limited opening hours though) when you’re done.
Weights
The weights room is also large and well equipped with dumbbells up to 40kg. This includes many in the lightweight range, barbells up to 55kg, a huge range of kettlebells including multiple duplicates and a number of resistance machines. There are several sets of chin-up bars, a resisted pull-ups machine and a couple of squat stations.
Cardio
The main cardio area has just undergone a major refurb and in addition to the usual range of treadmills, crosstrainers, steppers, stairclimbers, rowers, bikes and mats, it now boasts Skillmills and Skillruns. I’m told these are the latest generation of treadmills! All equipment is top of the range and is regularly updated.
Mini Gym
You’ll also find a small separate gym designated for ladies only for a few hours each day, which includes a crosstrainer, treadmill and a rowing machine, along with a handful of resistance machines, a pull-up station, kettlebells, medicine balls, some mats and a range of dumbbells.
Functional Training and Synergy
What stands out to me, returning here after a long break, is the range and quality of functional training equipment available. In addition to the spacious Synergy area surrounded by mats, used as the basis for a number of classes each week, you’ll find a range of medicine balls, Swiss balls, a 60kg square tyre, power bags, stepboards, TRXes, punchbag, skipping ropes, BOSUs, rollers, foam roller, resistance bands… I could go on! We are spoilt.
Classes
Nuffield Health Norwich offers around 100 classes per week, predominantly Les Mills (Pump, Attack, Combat, Step, Balance, Grit, CX Worx) as well as Pilates, Yoga, Boxercise, Synergy, Tabata and Aqua. They also have a Spinning studio with regular classes. See here for the Class Timetable.
Staff were friendly and professional and all classes I undertook during my visit were of a high level of instruction. I went for Attack, CX, Synergy, Tabata, combined with gym training. All in all, a great atmosphere.
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Summary
The whole facility is in excellent condition, very clean and has undergone regular major investments since I first joined in 2004.
Overall, well worth a trip if you do find yourself visiting Norwich! It’s also walking distance from the cathedral, one of the main tourist attractions here, though personally I prefer the gym!
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