Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

I'm not a big fan of the gym. I normally end up paying a stupid amount per month and not using it because "it's raining, I'll go tomorrow" or "it's just a bit far", but the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace has changed all that.

For starters, it's recently been refurbished with new machines, weights and kettle bells, a dedicated spin studio and some other machines that I'm still trying to work out what to do with.

It's nice and close to my house, and being able to walk there and back is great.

The staff in the gym are friendly and helpful, and they set monthly challenges for members to compete against each other.

The pool by all accounts is nice, although I'm yet to use it. The only downside is the heat from the pool fills the reception area and basketball court so it always feels like walking into one of those tropical butterfly houses!

It's cheaper than some more glamorous 'brand name' gyms, and it's not full of Roid 'eads. The classes are all included too!

Only recommendable for people interested in pure 50s/60s concrete architecture - an overkill in grey walls, cold/drab changing rooms and prison style showers......
One of the few 50m pools in London and thus for real enthusiasts. Endless journey from the city center.....

Having undergone a recent refurbishment,this massive sports establishment is now back up and runnning (pardon the pun).
Despite still retaining it's rather austere appearence,there is definately a huge improvement especially in the women's changing rooms which were formerly repulsive and retch-inducing but now are spacious and clean (I sound like 60 minute makeover). With individual shower cubicles and toilets that smell like thay are cleaned more than once a year, things are definalty looking and smelling better.
Other improvements include the modernisation of the 50 metre olympic size pool with electronic timing displays so you can check your speed and new racing blocks.


As one of the only 50m olympic pools in the country, Palace attracts the best swimmers and also hosts a diving school (4 different heights) with coaching from a former olympic champion.


The atmosphere at Crystal Palace is more training oriented than leisure (the cool water temperature reflects this) but there are lanes to suit all speeds and lessons are available for adults and children in both swimming and diving with a childrens pool available for lessons.


The sports centre is also home to the famous athletics track which you can train on and various racquet sports courts for hire including outdoor tennis. There is a full aerobics programme and well equipped gym.
There's also a programme for children including trampolining and many clubs train here.

The pool itself is good but all the staff are unbelievably rude. Several times I have been here and every time every staff members are rude and really unhelpful.
Recently my girlfriends purse was stolen from the changing room lockers and the staff were not only unhelpful and unsympathetic but rude and were pissy jerks about it. She was upset but received no help from the staff.
Sack them all and get a better company to run this outfit.

i've just recently taken up swimming, which i never thought i would do, because gyms/sports centres in general intimidate me SO MUCH. but i love crystal palace sports centre, and i am so glad that it is right by the train station, and on my way home from work.

there is probably everything you could ever hope for here in terms of sporty goodness, but i only have a swim membership, but i'm very happy with it. £28 per month and i can swim all i like in their 50m pool. it obviously gets busy at peak times, and there is definite swimming etiquette that some people DON'T follow (don't chat me up whilst i am swimming please dude, not cool! and don't splash SO MUCH! and don't swim in the middle of the lane!!!!) but in general i find it to be a very pleasant experience.

i am working up the courage to perhaps participate in some exercise classes!

I'm not a gym regular here and have only been for events. The toilets are always absolutely vile and the staff couldn't be more miserable. The pools looks great though, been tempted to jump in while fully clothes a few times.

Crystal Place Sports Centre will cater for almost every one of your sporting and fitness needs.

Built in 1964, areas of the sports centre are not the most modernised but the range facilities available are fantastic and hugely better than anywhere else I have been.

As well as a number of huge athletic training and more general swimming pools and numerous gyms, they also offer trampolining, gymnastics, boxing, dry slope skiing, basketball, football, rugby, climbing and the list goes on.

I have been to many classes here over the years and I love Crystal Palace. The instructors here are fantastic and some of the best in the country.

Whichever sport you are wanting to try, you are sure to find it here and due to its location in Crystal Palace Park, there is no shortage of space whatsoever.

I've started coming regularly to this place only recently to do beach volleyball training. Since they moved the sand from the Olympic Beach test event in Horse Guard Parade to Crystal Palace, the venue for training there is amazing with a possible 3 courts. I would agree with the staff not being particularly friendly but the amenities there since this place got refurbished are top notch and compensate a little for the bad customer service.for now anyway Handball, Basketball, squash, studio classes, swimming, diving, climbing, fitness gym, indoor volleyball, fencing, beach soccer, beach volleyball, athletics, and much more,I don't think there's a sport that they don't cover really. There's a wide range of sporting events taking place there as well and it's worth checking this place out, if only just for a dive in the 50m long swimming pool for under a fiver.

I can't even rate this gym. My friend is raving about how good it is and wants me to go. Ive been trying to decided between palace or Beckenham gyms and finally chose crystal palace as it was closer and more convenient. I wanted some more info, so I filled in their form online, not heard a peep so emailed them, TWICE and still nothing. Called up, no answer. Called again and was told the person who runs the gym is busy and they'll phone be back. Can you guess what happened??? Yep not heard a word from them. If they don't want my business then fine. Gave Beckenham a quick call and they couldn't have been more helpful, so off I Beckenham I go, it's much cheaper AND you have use of the pool included in the price and do not need a separate membership like crystal palace.

Don't be fooled by the drab exterior. Crystal Palace Leisure Centre has been refurbished and it has an excellent 50 metre pool that is the envy of the rest of London. Nice, ample changing rooms, loads of other activities available and a unique setting in the middle of one of London's bike friendlier parks. I've never had any problems with the staff, and plenty of them are from ethnic minorities, so not sure what the other reviewer is on about. Worth the trip!