Elmbridge named England’s seventh most active area in new study
Staying active can feel like a juggling act. Between work, family, and everyday responsibilities, finding time to exercise often slips down the list of priorities. Yet keeping fit isn’t just about hitting the gym, it’s about creating small, manageable ways to move more, feel better, and build a lifestyle where activity fits naturally into your day.
A new study by Betmaster reveals which areas of England are making it easiest, and hardest , for residents to stay active. By looking at gym memberships, sports event participation, and how confident people feel about getting the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week, the research paints a clear picture of the nation’s fitness habits.
Elmbridge ranks among the strongest performing areas in England, taking seventh place. The borough shows strong participation in structured exercise, with 45.63% of residents members of a fitness club, indicating a widespread commitment to maintaining regular activity. This is reinforced by high levels of weekly movement, with 72.64% of residents achieving at least 150 minutes of exercise. Alongside this, 81.91% of people say they feel they have the opportunity to be active, suggesting that access to facilities, green space, and local infrastructure plays an important role in supporting healthier routines.
Elmbridge also records strong engagement in wider sporting culture, with 18.48% of residents attending sports events. This points to a community where activity extends beyond individual exercise habits and into broader participation and interest in sport.
When compared with other high-ranking areas, Elmbridge stands out for its balance across all four measures rather than relying on a single standout factor. It combines strong gym membership with solid weekly activity levels and high perceived access, helping it maintain a position within the top tier of the national ranking.
In contrast, lower-ranking areas such as Sandwell highlight how different the picture can be across England. There, only 25.01% of residents are fitness club members and just 48.71% meet recommended weekly exercise levels, despite 69.22% reporting that they feel they have opportunities to be active. The difference underlines how participation levels can vary significantly depending on location.. The borough shows strong participation in structured exercise, with 45.63% of residents members of a fitness club, indicating a widespread commitment to maintaining regular activity.
This is reinforced by high levels of weekly movement, with 72.64% of residents achieving at least 150 minutes of exercise. Alongside this, 81.91% of people say they feel they have the opportunity to be active, suggesting that access to facilities, green space, and local infrastructure plays an important role in supporting healthier routines.
Elmbridge also records strong engagement in wider sporting culture, with 18.48% of residents attending sports events. This points to a community where activity extends beyond individual exercise habits and into broader participation and interest in sport.
When compared with other high-ranking areas, Elmbridge stands out for its balance across all four measures rather than relying on a single standout factor. It combines strong gym membership with solid weekly activity levels and high perceived access, helping it maintain a position within the top tier of the national ranking.
In contrast, lower-ranking areas such as Sandwell highlight how different the picture can be across England. There, only 25.01% of residents are fitness club members and just 48.71% meet recommended weekly exercise levels, despite 69.22% reporting that they feel they have opportunities to be active. The difference underlines how participation levels can vary significantly depending on location.
Robert Mardisalu, spokesperson for Betmaster, commented:
“Most people don’t struggle to stay active because they don’t care about fitness; it’s because everyday life gets in the way. Long work hours, commuting, and general fatigue all add up, and suddenly exercise feels like another task rather than something that helps. What we’re seeing in places like Hammersmith and Fulham is that when activity feels built into your routine, people are far more likely to stick with it.”
“Consistency really comes down to finding something that works in real life. You don’t need perfect routines or hours in the gym, you just need something manageable. In areas that perform well, staying active feels convenient rather than overwhelming, and that makes all the difference long term.”
Top 20 most active cities:Rank Area
1 Hammersmith and Fulham
2 Wandsworth
3 Lambeth
4 Richmond upon Thames
5 East Hertfordshire
6 Islington
7 Elmbridge
8 Exeter
9 Bromley
10 Kensington and Chelsea
11 Mid Sussex
12 Cambridge
13 Surrey Heath
14 Hart
15 Wokingham
16 South Cambridgeshire
17 Ribble Valley
18 Winchester
19 Wiltshire
20 St Albans