Llanishen Leisure Centre

Negative experience: We popped into the cafe as we were early meeting some friends. Most of the tables had used cups and plates on them, the sofa area looked like 3 thousand kids had been through it, food toys rubbish everywhere, 3 staff in the kitchen and not even noticed we were in the building, never seen anything tike it, so we went to Starbucks.

Fantastic experience: First time back at Emma's class after my cancer treatment good to be back

Fantastic experience: I'd like to thank Debbie for going out of her way to help me solve the membership issue. You did save me alot of time and I appreciate it so much . Also a shout out to Lisa who also helped figure out what I'd done wrong . Thank you both so much. X x

Negative experience: Terrible, the floor in the gym is crusty and unkept. Two of the cables done have the numbers on their weights. The machines are just bad in general. Waste of money

Negative experience: Terrible, I booked a badminton court in advanced but they called me on the day that its cancelled because they need more space for a birthday party. They said that they would refund me with credits but they didn’t. Very disapppinted.

Fantastic experience: Came in this morning with my girlfriend and my cousin to play some badminton, courts were great, didn’t have to pay for hire equipment either. Lady at the desk was very polite, cheerful and helped us with the equipment, after our session she had another remember of staff, Sam, walk us around the gym and other areas upon our request, sam was super friendly, very knowledgeable and really helpful with all the questions we had, really pleased with the customer service, will definitely be returning! Thank you, -Harry

Fantastic experience: Amazing place love it! Rather pricey tho

Positive experience: Really clean changing area and the pool is great fun. My 2 year old loves the wave machine and little slide. Only problem is how cold the water is! We can only stay 40mins because my daughter gets cold. Very accessible, and great parking

Negative experience: AVOID Llanishen "Leisure centre" I went very recently , only to be greeted in the first instance by a poor distressd mother, with her two children, protesting to the girl at reception as to why she had received a parking fine, having used the centre , & parked in the leisure centre car park??!! Should have taken this as the huge red flag that it was ,& walked straight back out. The aforementioned receptionist (whom looked all of about twelve years old) seemed far more interested in speaking to the equally pre-pubescent boys, of which there were dozens when entering the gym. That, in an of itself is not an issue, if it weren't for them just hanging around the gym equipment, not letting others use it, whilst looking at their mobile phones as if at a youth club. There should be a designated times for this type of usage; ..& should people that young be allowed in the gym anyway? ( Isn't there a minimum age requirement???) The changing rooms were filthy, showers do not work properly, and the swimming pool was absolutely freezing. Terrible experience from start to end.This place is now run by "Better" ......utterly inappropriate name, bring back the council.

Positive experience: Cool little leisure centre with pleasant beach style pool and wave machine. Wide variety of classes to suit all abilities and ages

Fantastic experience: Need more centres like this in Cardiff. A great asset to the community, need to put more class on in the evenings. Great to see it used so much, we're lucky to have it.

Positive experience: The staff were really helpful and the ladies changing rooms were clean. The locker we used was in a small "U" shape near the entrance to the changing room. Unfortunately when it came time to leave the pool it made getting things from the lockers harder as it felt quite tight. Into the pool: the pool itself is a beach style pool with a wave machine as well as a broken - bucket fill activity (not sure how else to describe it - the joystick did nothing and the buckets had to be filled manually). The waterfall mushroom was nice and the small slide although I think a slightly bigger slide would have been appreciated by the kids there. I'm not sure exactly what the giant ball barricade was for, other kids were climbing on it and not getting told off and it did provide a sheltered area from the wave machine. It was a nice touch that an inflatable net and several beach balls as well as soft balls were available but they were quickly taken if you didn't get to them quick enough. There were also water cannons that could be moved and angled but these did not get much attention from the children there. The humidity and the pool was much cooler than I was expecting and another swimmer commented that the day before when they visited that people were going blue it was that cold. Which is surprising as you would expect warmer waters over a half term when more children are going to be using the facilities. Even I found the water to be a bit chilly on the day so had to keep an eye on those I was with. From the pool you can see the "cafeteria" if you wish to call it that. When we went swimming over the lunchtime period and from the pool you could see shutters down so it was closed and your options were two vending machines so we didn't bother to explore it after for a warm drink to warm up with.

Negative experience: We visited on good Friday the pool was absolutely freezing we had two children under 2 we couldn't stay in the water long because it was that cold, changing rooms with no lock on the door, showers that don't shower you!! Water everywhere and very slippery.... definitely needs family changing rooms we won't be returning a major renovation needed.

Positive experience: Staff very helpful. Easy online booking for a swim session. Joined as a pay as you go member £15 a year then you get a reduced rate when you pay for your session. Don't forget to input your car reg number on the Ipad or you'll get a fine.

Negative experience: I visit the gym on my way home from work most days, however it’s becoming increasingly unbearable and I’m seriously considering my membership. Firstly, the changing rooms are jam packed and there are rarely any changing cubicles available. As a result there have been occasions I’ve had to change in the toilets near reception or I’ve had to leave the gym and go home as there is such a wait in the changing room. Which is unacceptable. Secondly, the gym is full on teenagers who are usually stood around the equipment in groups or are sat on the machines on their phones. Surely there should be designated days for the teenagers to attend rather than pushing the regular gym goers out. Really disappointing experience at Llanishen.

Negative experience: Very helpful assistant on the desk. Didnt get to view still waiting for doctors referal for the inerva suite after 4 years plus of long covid.

Fantastic experience: It’s a grand leisure centre. Well trained, informed & considerate staff. The wave machine was the talk of North Cardiff when I was a nipper. The gym facilities now are really up there with expensive gyms. Go there!

Fantastic experience: Great staff and range of activities for the whole family.

Negative experience: I will never go there ever again because I was working in the rear of thayer car park for balfour beatty laying electric cable for a telephone mast and I was charged £ 120 pounds when I was working there over the two days I was there I will not be going back there ever again

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff. Plenty of parking. Love the wave machine. Clean changing rooms.

Fantastic experience: A lovely place for children party

Fantastic experience: 13.10.2023 I am a mum of 2 boys with my youngest son being autistic + a handful of other diagnoses. This review is mostly to thank all the staff members that are so helpful all the time They are all so kind and considerate, I really appreciate their efforts. So.. Yeah, thank you, everyone

Fantastic experience: Staff we're fantastic to my daughter who is currently on crutches, we visited to watch a squash match, the staff made our visit very enjoyable and ensured my daughter could access all areas with ease

Positive experience: Very expensive, changing room showers not working or hairdryers. The pools in need of doing up its very ruff. It's only getting worse over the years it's had no improvement for about 40 years . For what I can see. It's a shame Because it's s great thing for the community. They must take loads of money. Caerphilly swimming recreation centres fabulous why isn't cardiff. Who's the managers. Come on sort it out.

Positive experience: Good mix of shallow and deeper water for little ones. Fun elephant slide for toddlers, plenty of play equipment. Good control on numbers means there is enough room. Don't forget the pound for the locker. A fun hour for the children. Only 2 of the 4 hairdryers working, and would be great if they had a spinner to dry the bathers.

Fantastic experience: An inclusive and welcoming gym suitable for all regardless of ability. Really accommodating for me and my guide dog Jamie. Not all gyms are as welcoming but Better really put themselves out there and truly provide a Better experience for all gym users, and not just those without any form of disability. Thank you very much, you really do show how a gym should be run, and take your social enterprise work seriously!

Fantastic experience: Very friendly staff lovely warm pool and clean changing rooms what more do you want

Fantastic experience: nice swimming pool with an extremely fun wave machine, a shallow + deep end and a lot of water sprinklers. will come again

Fantastic experience: Nice and clean. Pool is good temperature. Gym area is OK. Tonning suite side is busy on Tuesdays

Fantastic experience: I like this leisure centre. It's slightly outdated but it doesn't stop me to have a good time. It's well managed and maintained. I can definitely recommend this place for a good stretch

Fantastic experience: My little one loved it will definitely be returning

Negative experience: Been swimming here today with 2yr granddaughter and what a letdown! Changing room stank of wee, lazy people not putting used nappies in bin provided. Couldn't enter pool until dead on our allotted time even though there was nobody in shallow end! Looking at lifeguards high chairs they were dirty and rusty, the waterfall umbrella wasn't on apparently only certain times, why it just can't stay on? There is no fun going swimming anymore!! No deciding on the day, you have to try and get a time slot which is ridiculous, a week or two in advance! Cardiff Council should have left them as council leisure centres and not sold out to private company. I don't know where the money is going but it sure as hell isn't going into the upkeep of this pool?! Suffice to say I will not be stepping foot inside again!!

Negative experience: Do NOT COME HERE! Not letting my son bench or use free WEIGHTS, even though he's perfectly capable to lifit the Weights. He should be fine if under supervision and with a group of close friends. Although he's only 14 he is perfectly capable of benching 65kg so should be safe for him to be able to lift it. Do not come here! Go to JD for the same price and many more benefits!

Negative experience: Received a parking fine despite supplying my licence plate at the ipad next to the cafe and only staying 49 minutes. I would avoid coming here if the car park is going to dish fines for no reason. I will follow up, was a nightmare dealing with the company that runs the car park but got the fine withdrawn after much back and forth via email. Would still avoid

Negative experience: WORD OF WARNING!! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PARK HERE WITHOUT PAYING. THESE PEOPLE JUST DEMANDED I PAY THEM £100 FOR PARKING FOR 25 MINS .

Negative experience: The cafe closes far to early the opening times are rubbish the amount of people walking out disappointed and bemused at the fact it’s not open

Negative experience: We came here has a family food is lovely only problem is the cafe is not open long for food cafe opening times are rubbish

Fantastic experience: Place having facilities for many games, including gym, yoga, swimming, squash, badminton and many more.

Fantastic experience: Really nice place, well kept with a lovely badminton Court. Very accessible and has adequate parking. There's a retail park next to it so if you need water or anything ita about a minute away by walking

Fantastic experience: Great place for the kids swimming. Wave machine always good fun. Lots of inflatables in the pool to play games. Good fun.

Fantastic experience: Great pool for children but for £8 per adult for 1 hour swimming, it's a little expensive.

Negative experience: I went to swimming pool , it is small size , and half of the pool with barrier , so small space for kids , every thing in pool not working Fountain and other things for kids , not clean wall , restaurant not clean and very small

Fantastic experience: My son and I visit here most Saturdays for a good swim and to have a bit of fun too in the pool. Staff are excellent. Changing rooms clean and tidy. All round brilliant

Fantastic experience: Complete update and modernisation of the front entrance and the toilets. New pay and display meters now in place.

Fantastic experience: Staff friendly and very helpful. Must remember to put car reg in machine inside centre, for free parking.

Positive experience: Reasonable pool. Gradient for children & non swimmers which is good. Wave machine OK but inly pit in for about 3 mins each time. Separate male & female changing areas which are clean and spacious. Features separate changng cubicles. Individual shower cubicles are actually hot!

Positive experience: The facilities are good, the pool is great - not in the least bit off-putting. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the people who go here are friendly. I'd give it 10 stars but for one thing - it's so hot and airless in the gym. I'm not the only one who has mentioned it. I am honestly dreading the Summer!

Fantastic experience: First time visiting and was worth the trip. Swimming pool is a good size and was not crowded for my swim for fitness sessions. Staff were friendly and helped me find my way. Plenty of parking which is free if you visit the centre. Will go again soon

Positive experience: Decent pool but can get pretty busy, took the baby here swimming but had to leave after 30/40 minutes as its not very warm and he was getting cold

Negative experience: Was expensive for a couple of blokes dressed up as dinosaurs and a quiz

Fantastic experience: Kid loved the Dino show.

Fantastic experience: My 5 year old son absolutely loves swimming here and its all down to the two lovely coaches, Alice and Hannah, who taught him on his 1st lesson when I accidently enrolled him on the ALN course by mistake! I've since re enrolled my son onto the correct swim class (Foundation) and he is doing so well :) Thank you to everyone at Llanishen Leisure Centre who has been nothing but professional and helpful.

Negative experience: Why have vultures 'Gemini Parking' in charge of a parking space for a leisure centre? If you forget to record your registration you get fined minimum £60(!!) when it's clear you're there to use the gym or attend a class. Really mad and very annoying. Wont use Llanishen again whilst they are teamed up a company like that. Social Enterprise!!!

Positive experience: Took the baby swimming. Booked online, easy to do. Plenty of parking. Changing rooms were cold and not very big, its hard with a baby to change. The hairdryers actually worked, which is a bonus. Pool temp was also on the colder side. Had a nice hour out though.

Fantastic experience: Our 4 year old has been learning to swim here since October and he absolutely loves it. The instructors are fantastic and supportive. Would absolutely recommend this if you’re looking for somewhere for swimming lessons.

Negative experience: Wont go there simply because of the car parking management company who they allow to dish out fines in their car park. Doesn't matter if you put your registration in for free parking, there is still a good chance you will get a parking fine. The company Gemini parking solutions are impossible to talk to as well. Have a look at their reviews you will see plenty of reports of this, also specifically for Llanishen leisure centre.

Fantastic experience: Really good kids love the wave machine very clean changing rooms hot showers friendly staff definitely recommend

Fantastic experience: Easy to get to and easy to use. Pool was a little cold today but made me get those lengths in quicker

Negative experience: Wanted to take my children swimming after school but the family swim sessions end at 14:30 which is while my children are in school. Seems ludicrous you can't just turn up during pool opening hours and swim with your kids. Lane swimming is available but the shallows which couldn't possibly be used by lane swimmers can't be used for families during this time apparently. Although I can take them Friday until 5pm which would mean a whole 45mins of swimming if we rushed straight there from school. Disappointing.

Positive experience: Cheap way to spend a few hours with the kids but the building is starting to look a bit run down these days.

Fantastic experience: Very clean and every half an hour they put waves so the kids really enjoy

Fantastic experience: Lovely to still have such a fantastic swimming pool left in cardiff with a beach effect pool and fun things for the younger children to enjoy, very nice cafeteria staff who was happy to serve and was friendly with the children definetly recommend a visit and we will also definetly visit ourselves again

Positive experience: Lovely pool although no unisex changing rooms?

Positive experience: Swimming with my kids. Easy, fun and the water is not too cold. Best to book ahead as it's popular but they say before is usually sufficient.

Fantastic experience: Very good facilities but very poorly advertised parking rules. First time I've been there for many years and knew nothing about having to register my car in order to park there. Now awaiting fine in the post which I will contest.

Fantastic experience: Great community asset. Facilities for lots of different activities and friendly staff

Negative experience: The Information on the website is not very clear and even when calling on the phone number No answer!!! DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT BOOKING FOR SWIMMING VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN YOU TURN UP!!! AND THEN GET TOLD BY THE MEMBERS OF STAFF OH WE DON'T HAVE A PHONE TO EVEN ANSWER.... UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE!!!

Positive experience: Pool was lovely cafeteria very poor

Negative experience: Went to try and have a swim yesterday. Really unfriendly and unwelcoming

Fantastic experience: My granddaughter loved the waves today...very excited!

Fantastic experience: Lovely children's pool small and a few bits for little ones to play with. Will use again

Fantastic experience: Great place for a swim and the staff are great as well you can't ask for a better place to go

Fantastic experience: Have been swimming here for a while and wanted to check out the gym, as I'm thinking of a membership. We were greeted warmly and shown around the whole place, given plenty of info and made to feel very comfortable! Only thing with the pool is how many people they expect per lane... This isn't always realistic but it's not the very end of the world.

Positive experience: I have mixed feelings about this place, it's lovely for my boys to enjoy swimming but every time I have been I feel people are not friendly at all. Kids enjoy the waves and hopefully we go bk to being able to stay longer then an hour.

Fantastic experience: Staff are always friendly. They have many classes to chose from.

Negative experience: Needs a good clean changing rooms are a disgrace pool okd tatty and dated now won't be returning

Negative experience: Pool is quite good, wave machine is what makes it. OK for an hour with kids. Only 2 stars due to the state of the changing rooms. Absolutely filthy. Tissue on the floor, dirty floor, rubbish everywhere, used nappies in lockers, the place smelt of dirty nappies and urine. They're obviously not cleaned through the day. And people are disgusting for not putting their rubbish in the bins. Doubt I'll come back unless I hear the changing rooms are clean.

Positive experience: Lovely leasure centre and swimming pool. However Lost a star for staff that didn't seem to want to help, and another for the awkwardness of separate changing rooms. As a family with a baby this made it a little tricky. It's 2022 not 1960

Fantastic experience: Really good and fast service. Staff and doctors are brilliant

Positive experience: Clean place. Big pool. Nice cheap cafe. Center users don't pay for parking

Negative experience: Without naming names there is a famous life guard here that according to the manager is classed as banter. It is offensive, intimidating, personal his inappropriate remarks needs to be sorted asap I would never let my daughter go here alone especially wearing a swimsuit whilst that particular banterful life guard I still there

Positive experience: I used to go to Llanishen pool as a kid and it hasn't really changed at all.The tiles and roof inside have been there since the early 90's, tiles are cracked with worn bumpy filler, if you look up the roof tiles have mould water marks. There's piles of gritty sand in corners and the changing rooms are FREEZING! Only a few showers are actually warm. They changed a few water attractions. The the slide to squirty fishes, took away the real looking alligator for a more playful cute one but that now has been taken away too. Theres a water bucket thing for little ones but that doesn't work either, only the mushroom shower and fish work. There's 3 domes by the squirty fish which have been there for LONG time too. But the one attraction you can't faulter with is they do have an AWESOME wave machine Also Cafe has friendly staff. Like I said it's ok, just not great. It's ok and price has gone up slightly it's £8.50 roughly for an adult and child, which is still extremely reasonable. You book using the 'better UK' app and type in your area to find what council pool is closest to you.

Fantastic experience: Went on a Sunday afternoon. Was very busy at this time. The leisure centre itself is very clean and tidy. Big gum area and lots of activities on. Kids loved the wave machine that went off on the half hour. The changing rooms were freezing coming out of the pool though.

Fantastic experience: Had my son had his 5th birthday party here Big inflatable bouncy castle. Soft toys, balls and hoops for kids. Speakers to connect own music. Tables all set up. Great friendly party host!!

Fantastic experience: Great atmosphere with staff. Cafe just right all you you need through the day we'll looked after.

Positive experience: Helpful staff, great pool. Changing rooms are breezy to Sat the least

Positive experience: A great place for our 5 a side games but the recent price rise for the court is a gouge, hence reducing the rating. You'd think that keeping fit would be something that would be encouraged with cheaper pricing, to make it more accessible for people. Cost of living crisis and high inflation has hit folk hard and I suspect fitness and leisure activities are the first to be reduced or stopped altogether as many have to tighten their belts.

Positive experience: Pretty good gym, price isn't too much, good range of equipment

Fantastic experience: had my daughters 6th birthday here, great inflatable, extra soft toys and balls for the kids to play with, speakers to connect our own music too, tables all set up on arrival, party host helping throughout (who was very helpful and nothing was too much trouble), and they let us leave all our rubbish at the end. All in all a really great party venue and pretty stress free kids party - thank you

Positive experience: Nice leisure centre with a lot of facilities, the pool is a nice size, the only problem is that the water can be a bit cold, including some of the showers. A spacious changing room with some cubicles. A really nice clean cafe that sell food and drinks. They also have vending machines.

Negative experience: Booked a swimming session, they cancelled due to technical issues and refusing to refund me

Positive experience: First Word, Freezing, pool and surrounding changing areas, second would be worn as in needs a facelift. Staff were helpful and friendly; seems they got their hands tied behind their back when it comes to sorting issues out. Sorry did I mention it was cold.

Positive experience: My granddaughter was having swimming lessons and the gentleman that was teaching the lesson was very good with all the children

Positive experience: Really clean, was lovely and quiet at midday during the week, less than 10 people in the pool. If using the centre, don't pay for parking at the machine, it's free for centre users.

Fantastic experience: Love coming here! Great for little ones as it has a beach layout with shallow bit with slide and they usually have balls the children can play with too!

Negative experience: My parents have lived opposite Llanishen Sports Centre for over 50 years, children, grand children have used facility and supported……in the last 6 months + the noise coming from building has been very disruptive because of one person Alex Mesoud, the management team have been very supportive but this employee clearly does not respect a simple request by his line manager

Positive experience: Recently started to use the pool here, my initial impressions were that staff are lovely and helpful. The facilities seem good. Will be going back.

Fantastic experience: Went to Zumba great lady who took us was very good indeed loved it

Fantastic experience: I can't praise the staff enough! I have been having issues tracking progress online. Staff had the issue sorted within minutes. Everyone I've come across has always been helpful and polite face to face and over the phone. Also the staff are working incredibly hard regarding covid restrictions and maintenance a safe environment.

Fantastic experience: Just took Chester to the pool for his very first time, wow the staff were incredibly helpful and clear with the new instructions about the one way system. They also had a gentleman who was going around the parents showing them from the pool side how to teach their child to swim and to hold their child safely in the water. Looking forward to going back soon.