The Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre

Fantastic experience: Great facilities... Great location...

Fantastic experience: Been coming here for 17 years now as a member of one of the (non-uni) sports teams that train out of here. Never had a problem, great staff and beautiful pool.

Fantastic experience: The womens aqua fit classes are amazing and the staff are soo lovely. Recommend!!!!

Fantastic experience: I have been going to this leisure center for a few months now and i love it! I am able to go to the gym which is rarely crowded, go for a swim in the lovely clean pool, and end my day with a lovely sauna. The staff are always lovely and welcoming and I would definitely recommend this gym. Makes working out a pleasure here, also is always very clean in the gym!

Fantastic experience: Good price for aston staff

Positive experience: I've been a member of several gyms over the years, but this one truly stands out. The cleanliness of the facility is impeccable. Every corner of the gym, from the workout areas to the locker rooms, is spotless. This high standard of hygiene is particularly reassuring in the pool area, which is always crystal clear and well-maintained. The modern equipment is another highlight. The gym is outfitted with the latest machines and weights, ensuring that every workout is efficient and enjoyable. Whether you’re into cardio, strength training, or a bit of both, the variety and quality of the equipment make it easy to find what you need. What truly makes this gym exceptional, though, are the instructors. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to help. Their classes are engaging and challenging, providing the perfect balance of motivation and support. The only downside I’ve encountered is the limited space for free workouts. While the gym excels in many areas, the designated area for free workout and stretching can get a bit crowded during peak hours. there is just enough space for 3 people and it's cramped in the corner, surrounded by machines. However, this is a minor inconvenience compared to the overall high standards maintained in the facility. Overall, this gym is an excellent place to achieve your fitness goals. The cleanliness, modern equipment, and outstanding instructors make it a top choice. If they could just expand the free workout space a bit, it would be perfect!

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym and spa with sauna. At the time of this review the price is £28.99 a month and 15 pounds for parking for year. It's got everything you need including exercise classes that you can book on a app they have. 5 star from me and I highly recommend.

Positive experience: Great place . Parking is decent if early enough but there are a number of pay and display car parks near by .

Fantastic experience: Good facilities and the staff are always helpful.

Fantastic experience: Ok place , you can’t dive or jump but it’s a good place

Positive experience: Excellent sauna facility & staff are appropriately qualified ➕️ the gym is fully equipped..‍♀️

Fantastic experience: Staff are lovely and accomodating, thry do have a capacity limit so phone ahead to avoid disappointment especially on school holidays

Fantastic experience: Regular place for badminton. Decent prices for court bookings

Fantastic experience: Pool built in 1902 so far so good, kept original architecture that makes it historical, helpful staff and 5 star for steam rooms. Pool depth 1.8 meters, lifeguard observe. Single entrance for adult 5£.

Positive experience: Swim and sauna review * with update* While this centre still has one of the cleanest facilities that I have used in Birmingham, since rejoining in October 2023, there are several complaints I have had. Before I critique I will say that the women's only swimming and steam sessions are an amazing addition to the centres offering. However, since rejoining I have noticed a huge decline in the kind of members who have started joining, a huge influx of men who; - swim in medium and fast lanes, despite swimming at beginning level ( with no correction from staff) - New members have no consideration for swimming etiquette, over taking, cutting others of, unnecessary splashing et. This makes a stress reducing activity very stressful. - Unhygienic practices in the steam room!!!!!! (I have personal witness a man bring in a blue plastic bags full of oranges and hand them out, and then attempt to peel and eat it in the very full steam room. I have also witnessed a man using shower gel to wash himself while sitting in the steam room.) - The final straw for me was a 4 week maintenance closure, that was announced to members 1 week before the closure date. Its such a shame, as this was such as beautiful and respectful environment, but I have canceled my membership and wont be returning. ---- 5 star review I've been going to this centre on and off for 3 years and the only thing that makes me cancel my membership is when it is no longer local to me. For me, it is the only centre where I have felt I am really getting value for money, the changing areas are cleaned constantly, the swimming area is so relaxing - rarely loud, and other swimmers are respectful. However the most stand out thing about this centre is the customer service! Over the last three years whenever I have had a complaint or needed assistance the staff have ALWAYS been polite, helpful and go above and beyond to help. The only 'downside' I can mentioned is that you have to have a 3month membership when you join, but that's never been a problem for me!

Negative experience: Installations are old. Courts in hall 1 really warm. Good availability, easy booking system. However, students are given preference.

Positive experience: Nice place to play badminton. Receptionist is helpful and polite. No free car parking spaces but there are pay meter spaces on the road and car park nearby.

Positive experience: Good gym, pool, and facilities. Friendly staff. Mondays can be very busy, and there's not always access to a bench. It's also quite warm in here too. Some fans would be good!

Fantastic experience: Lovely, helpful and friendly staff from reception and lifeguards to cleaners, and a friendly mixed crowd. Really good pool to swim in.

Fantastic experience: One of the best sport centre in Birmingham. Access for both uni students and public. User friendly app where you can book all your chosen sports sessions. We always book badminton court. The swimming pool is very clean and has some beautiful tiling. They have weekly ladies only sessions.

Fantastic experience: Great building and services

Positive experience: The pool is pretty sweet, 23m long not 25 but what’s a couple of meters between friends ey? Overall a pleasant experience apart from the tone deaf man singing a hymn in the pool. I was only affected for the 5 minutes I was changing, thankfully I did not notice whilst doing my lengths & against all odds, the windows on the ceiling didn’t shatter either. Be aware, if you book swimming you are not entitled to the sauna / steam room, only if you get the day pass.

Fantastic experience: Part of Aston university and open to local community great gym with excellent facilities

Fantastic experience: best gym in aston

Fantastic experience: Very good gym with friendly staff. Decent amount of equipment. Always kept clean.

Positive experience: The receptionists were pretty friendly

Fantastic experience: Great place and cheap prices!!! Definitely going back!

Fantastic experience: It's a very good barber

Fantastic experience: Excellent sport's centre, very well maintained and clean, staff are very welcoming and friendly

Fantastic experience: Lovely place, had a lot of activities there. Well equipped, good atmosphere

Fantastic experience: Lovely, friendly pool with spectacular tiling. A gem. Sauna, steam room, and cold showers (as well as temperate) are part of the same unit. Despite the 23m length had a good workout.

Fantastic experience: Love it, not very expensive, you have it all under one roof with good quality of sports in one place.

Negative experience: It’s fun but it was to small pool

Positive experience: Good facilities

Negative experience: I had the worst customer service experience here ! It was my first day at the gym and had bought £8 one day pass for the gym for trial, but for the amount that I had paid , I received zero customer service - no instructor was around or on the floor to guide , considering it was my first day at the gym . Would never go again ! Also , who wants to join the gym , one advice - You’ll be paying £20 for a month just for using the gym equipments and no customer service, so if you’re going thinking you’d be guided - you’re highly mistaken ! Saved you from that.

Fantastic experience: Very clean nice staff

Fantastic experience: Played netball here, nice court

Positive experience: Staff is not polite enough and shouting when the time is up.

Fantastic experience: Very helpful staff and great facilities

Fantastic experience: A very nice sports centre with a good gym, pool, sauna & great staff

Fantastic experience: Easy place to find

Fantastic experience: Good sauna and swimming pool

Positive experience: Really nice pool and sauna/steam room area. Lovely staff and changing facilities. Let down by the fact that more often than not the place is full of Turks either in the pool just standing and leering or in the sauna constantly hacking and spitting. I feel uncomfortable here when this is the case.

Fantastic experience: Great gym and friendly staff

Positive experience: Great pool

Negative experience: Because there is no for kids it's for adults

Fantastic experience: Great swimming place and nice staff. Not too crowded but rather quiet and decent. Recommended.

Positive experience: Nice badminton courts but gets quite oppressive in hot weather and turning a few fans on when playing badminton is not very helpful.

Fantastic experience: Wish it was 24 hours however good overall

Fantastic experience: Was a very Good experience at reasonable price but parking issue

Fantastic experience: Great to play squash and badminton

Fantastic experience: I had so much fun here and it's so aesthetic and serene .

Fantastic experience: Very nice place.

Fantastic experience: Excellent facilities with friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Neatly maintained and polite staff

Fantastic experience: Well equipped friendly staff and people

Positive experience: Nice swimming pool.

Positive experience: Love this plass

Fantastic experience: Love it here

Fantastic experience: My go to place, especially for swimming, Have been going for more than a month, staff is helpful and friendly. The water itself is nice and not freezing cold like in some pools For swimming there is an app where you book a session and the same for steam room and sauna so not overcrowded. Also in pool life guards monitor the pool and no one messes about so can just get on with swimming witout distraction. I haven't attended classes but heard good feedback. The gym itself is nice and clean and people clean equipment after each use so there is an extra peace of mind. Hope it's helpful

Fantastic experience: Fantastic atmosphere for the BUCS. Basketball games,then an All Star game 2 days later very exciting game went into overtime

Negative experience: Some of the staff are rude and ignorant.

Positive experience: Parking is easy if a little expensive, facilities are nice and clean and relatively modern. Excellent venue for regional events

Positive experience: Limited parking

Positive experience: Great facilities, little expensive though for court hire if you plan to go frequently. £8.50 each hr slot so if you book two slots every week. It adds up. The gym area was clean, looked around but didn't use. Plenty ofachine variety but not many double machines so you'll be waiting turns when it's busy with all the students.

Fantastic experience: It is a nice place with good facilities,

Fantastic experience: Great facilities.

Fantastic experience: Very Friendly staff, good swimming pool

Fantastic experience: Very nice

Fantastic experience: Great value gym with excellent facilities

Fantastic experience: The best lane swimming mixed with glorious historic surroundings

Fantastic experience: Clean and Well Maintained sports complex

Fantastic experience: Took my boys out for their first football training. Great atmosphere and fantastic facilities.

Positive experience: Good gym and pool, but note the times on Google are incorrect. It doesn’t open til 11.00am on Saturday and Sunday, not 9.30. Opening hours aren’t great but the facilities are good.

Fantastic experience: Staff is helpful and firm but fair. They keep the changing room and pool area clean and tidy. The swimming time slots are for 45min and it's pretty strict. The pool is beautiful. I have not yet tried the gym, but I will!

Positive experience: Really good sports centre with plenty of courts and machines. A bit lacking in the drinks department especially for a place for fitness, couldn't find a decent energy drink for a good workout session

Fantastic experience: Very nice facilities

Positive experience: Opening times are a bit disheartening but facilities are good. Parking is an issue during the day but have car park available after 4.30

Fantastic experience: No problems

Fantastic experience: Nice pool

Positive experience: Its fine

Negative experience: Staff are extremely rude and unprofessional especially swimming instructors. Dirty facilities, and poor customer service. Would not go there again.

Fantastic experience: Great facilities and excellent customer service from all the staff

Positive experience: Great place to go if you just want to have some fun and relax

Fantastic experience: Amazing very friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Nice swimming pool!

Fantastic experience: Great gym

Positive experience: Good service and great facilities..

Positive experience: Great clean gym with friendly staff. Great facilities, great pool. Great work out

Positive experience: It is ok

Positive experience: The gym and pool aren't 24 hours. The induction is non existent but the trainers seem friendly enough and the staff are very nice.

Negative experience: Main gym has no social distancing, overcrowded and poorly ventilated.

Fantastic experience: This leisure centre is one of the places I enjoyed that I ever visited and and as leisure centre one should have fun fully.so please am telling everyone one to feel free and visit this leisure centre.i really love it ❤️

Fantastic experience: Excellent

Fantastic experience: A great place, if you know to swim and you like to do some line swimming.

Fantastic experience: Forget your bad times

Fantastic experience: Great facilities, and friendly staff

Fantastic experience: An old fashioned swimming baths design. A bit of nostalgia.

Fantastic experience: Historic building ,warm water ,friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Great place, however one of the halls are way too hot and smells of the swimming pool in the room next door