Better - The Eltham Centre Reviews 

Better offers value and I am grateful for that, but even at that, it would help to have the cubicles in the swim area clean and not always smelling of pee.

Some of the swim teachers can actually be better at teaching as most times it looks like they are not doing much teaching at all (I don't really blame them at times because it seems that they are overwhelmed by not enough staff being available to do the job, so they are multi-tasking and getting frazzled in the process).

Also if the teacher rota can be a bit consistent, it would be nice because from one lesson to the next, I am never sure which teacher we would get; we just get whoever shows up.

Lovely team members at our local centre. Our kids love the swimming lessons at Eltham. I cannot fault anything on this side.
The changing rooms for swimming are in a really sorry state though - cold, dirty, ceiling falling down, temperamental showers and mold on the surfaces.
The website is also incredibly confusing - sending you into various different rabbit holes unfortunately. It is also very difficult to see what you have booked as I need to have different logins depending on what I am doing.

After a lovely visit to the pool and gym, I noticed the changing rooms needed a bit of a clean, I informed the staff and they acted on this really quickly with a quick follow up call and an email outlining a plan to keep on top of the cleaning. I also noticed they were steam cleaning the changing area. I was very impressed with the quick response and look forward to joining very soon

My son really loves his swimming lessons

From joining to my gym induction, everyone was amazing and so helpful. I felt anxious to join but I honestly needn't of because so far everyone has been so nice.

The centre is conveniently located and centre staff are always happy to help and very friendly. Have been using both the library and gym and would recommend.

My wife and I are long-term members of our local gym; we have been members for over 10 years, have never caused any problems, and have always been courteous. Recently, when we went to attend the gym, the security company that runs the car park had closed the gate. This was not a problem for us, as we are both easy-going people and were happy to park elsewhere. We parked outside the school where, by law, you are entitled to park until 8:00 AM and again after 5:00 PM.
As we parked, a very rude member of the security company named Jay told us to move, claiming we were not allowed to park there. He was very aggressive and rude in his manner. He insisted we were "not allowed to park" there, stating that a lorry was coming and we would be blocking the entrance, and he aggressively demanded that we move. When he finished shouting, I replied, "I’m happy to move for the lorry, but I am entitled to park here by law if I want to, and don’t talk to me like that." At this, he exploded and began a verbal assault. I also responded with verbal insults, as I do not believe you should ever let anyone bully you or be aggressive toward you—especially when you are a paying customer and a member of the public. During this time, a member of the Eltham Centre staff was present and agreed with everything Jay was saying. Jay also tapped on my car door and said, "Leave your car here if you want to see it get smashed up." This suggests that this security company is comfortable threatening members of the public and that the Eltham Centre is happy to endorse this behavior.
After some back and forth, I moved the car to another location just so I didn't stop the lorry from turning in when it eventually arrived. At that point, "Jay from the security company" said he was going to ban me from the gym. I parked around the corner and began walking in with my wife. When we entered the centre, we were stopped by one of the Eltham Centre managers, who told us we weren't allowed in and instructed us to "skip it for today."
Jay and the Eltham Centre staff continued to be verbally abusive. Jay almost resorted to physical abuse toward my pregnant wife; he balled up his fist as if he were going to punch her, squared up to her, and got in her face. He only stepped away when I stepped in front of her. I pointed at him and told him to back off and not stand so close to my pregnant wife. He told me not to point at him, to which I replied that he had been pointing constantly the entire time. He refused to acknowledge that he was pointing at me, and the Eltham Centre staff falsely claimed that he never pointed and never touched my car (despite the fact that we have a picture of him pointing and there is CCTV to show him touching my car). Feeling outnumbered by the liars and bullies belonging to the Eltham Centre and the security team, I decided to leave.
I have complained several times to the Eltham Centre, only to receive a reply stating, "If you need us to do anything more, please let us know." I have had a chat with the manager, but I still have more questions than answers. I am still waiting for a proper resolution regarding these events. I will not let this go, as I believe Jay is a danger to the public; he was very close to physically assaulting a pregnant woman and did verbally assault her—all of which was backed up by the Eltham Centre staff. I've also had no email reply from their complaints team, but I left a bad Google review and they came back and said that I was lying, without any review of the CCTV, as I requested.

I have a off peak membership, but most of the time I come for exercise It’s still
So busy I can’t enjoy my exercise. Every treadmill and bike usually taken, all weight machines too. Otherwise it’s a nice gym if it wasn’t that busy. Plus the toilet oftentimes very untidy and dirty.

So far group lessons are great and the gym is good. The biggest put off is so dirty in the Eltham Greenwich center.

1. No one uses showers and I would never use it as cleaning is not existing there. Smells, extremely dirty and nothing is in working condition. It is really bad situation.
2. Overall center looks like there are no cleaning crew existing. Trust me this is a very bad situation. It is never cleaned, with dirt you could say it is not been done for a while at all.

When booking swimming lessons for my daughter, I specifically mentioned that it was for a non swimmer. When we came to swimming lesson, I mentioned to the lady by swimming pool who did the register that my daughter is absolutely non swimmer. After lesson my daughter was crying as the swimming instructor told her to float. She doesn't know how to float. Swimming instructor then was rude to her for not being able to float. I am very disappointed. We have been moved to different day, will see if it will work.

I have articulated my experiences in detailed formal complaint submitted to senior GLL management by email to Richard Gallagher, Justine Jardine, Steve Hannen and Peter Bundey on 29 Sept 2025 and 14 Oct 2025, regarding serious and persistent historical violations of hygiene, health and safety standards both in Gym and Swimming areas. Most alarmingly, the poor maintenance and tidying up of the free weights area in gym and the apparent staff apathy and lack of care both in Eltham and Coldharbour Centres over the past three years. I hope Senior Management at GLL and Healthwise would act on these complaints and make improvements soon so that I am in a position to give them a better review.

Knowledgeable trainers, clean facilities

I have been using the Eltham Centre for a number of months now. The staff are friendly, the customers are all friendly and talk to each other. The equipment is good for a locally run gym, The equipment is not as good as other gyms I have been a member of like Gymbox or even Pure Gym (although I did join a new branch), but for the membership cost I can't really complain.

I also had a membership query and emailed the contact centre and Summer helped me out within a day and was super efficient, friendly and polite.

I can't really complain

Very dirty toilets at the gym. 10 a.m. in the morning and the toilets were disgusting in Eltham branch. Looked like non one cleaned them for few days. Appalling

I needed support for the state of my health. I asked for support to use the swimming pool to strengthen my legs and I was offered the help although it took a few months. The service from healthwise at the Eltham pool is unique and excellent

I recently joined and have been swimming a couple of times. Staff and people there have been very friendly. Nice feel, but issues with hairdryers, showers, lights not working.

Great and helpful many thanks

The Eltham Centre is a bit tired looking and some facilities are not always available but I think it is good value for money. I’m also aware that the centre will be undergoing a refresher shortly