The pool is mostly a place for people to stand and chat at the lane ends. Even the dedicated training lanes suffer from it and there's no real attempt to manage pacing so you end up with people do... See more
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Location
Switch locationWoolwich New Road 49, SE18 London, England, GB
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See what reviewers are saying
I found the gym, swimming pool, Pilates class, aqua aerobics, family leisure time and swimming wonderful. The staff have been very helpful and friendly also very supportive. I really enjoy coming to W... See more
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The facilities are top-notch and the rooms are very spacious. There is plenty of room to accommodate everyone. The pool looks great. The cafe is inciting. Logistically, the centre is perfectly placed... See more
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Just as the name better I can say its the best gym sauna and leisure centre to be with. The better App has straight forward navigation membership joining process that allowed me join the gym or any ac... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Welcome to Better! We’re a charitable social enterprise, committed to the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community. From gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools to lessons and courses for both adults and juniors - plus libraries and children's centres - we've got it all. So whether you’d like to try something new, keep the kids entertained or have a dip in the pool, discover our inclusive range of activities, suitable for all ages and abilities at your local Better centre today.
Contact info
Woolwich New Road 49, SE18, London, England, United Kingdom
3.7
Average
112 reviews
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Upgrading memberships takes A MONTH - no access to gym during that month!
I tried to change my membership from one that only allowed a certain number of classes per month, to a much more expensive membership that allows unlimited classes per month.
Not only did I have to pay a "joining fee" to change membership type (um I paid a joining fee when I first joined? Why am I having to pay multiple joining fees?), after I paid for the new membership, I was told the change in membership would take A MONTH to process, and during that time I'd be charged for both memberships, but that I would have no access to the gym at all as my previous membership was listed as "cancellation - pending" and my new membership couldn't be officially activated until the old membership had been cancelled, which takes a month to do.
So beware, anytime you want to upgrade the type of membership you have, it means paying a new joining fee, being denied access to the gym completely for a full month while the change is activated, and having to pay two sets of membership fees for a month during the month you're not allowed access.
Outright theft!
1 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Jane,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We’re very sorry to hear about the difficulties you encountered when trying to change your membership, and we completely understand how frustrating this must have been. The situation you’ve described, particularly being charged a joining fee again, having a delay in activation, and not having access during that period, is not the experience we want for our members.
Our aim is to make managing and upgrading memberships as straightforward as possible, so your feedback highlights areas where we clearly need to improve both our processes and communication. We also take your concerns about being charged for overlapping memberships very seriously and would like to review this for you.
To ensure we can investigate this fully and provide a clear explanation, please get in touch with us directly with your details. We’ll be able to look into your account, clarify the charges, and work towards a resolution.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.
Warm Regards,
Hazal
It gives my worries away.
24 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Hammed,
Thank you for your feedback.
We are delighted to hear that visiting the centre helps you to relax and take your worries away.
It is always our aim to provide a welcoming and positive environment for all our customers.
We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Warm Regards,
Hazal
Not great for proper training
The pool is mostly a place for people to stand and chat at the lane ends. Even the dedicated training lanes suffer from it and there's no real attempt to manage pacing so you end up with people doing a slow breaststroke in the fast lane (especially bad when 4 or 5 lanes are taken out for swimming clubs, which is normal).
The gym is mostly people sat on equipment on their phones. Some elements (like the water fountains) are starting to get really dilapidated.
The pool has these weird lockers where you either need to deposit a pound to use it or buy a 20p token - but the token machine is broken (you can buy from reception but normally you realise this after getting changed for a swim when it's too late....)
17 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Ben,
Thank you for your detailed feedback.
We are sorry to hear that your experience in both the pool and gym did not meet expectations. We understand how frustrating it can be when lanes are not used as intended and when equipment areas are not actively managed, and we will share this with the team to help improve supervision and member experience.
We are also sorry to hear about the condition of some facilities, including the water fountains, and the difficulties with the locker system and token machine. This is not the standard we aim to provide, and your comments will be passed on to the relevant teams for review and improvement.
We really appreciate you taking the time to highlight these issues, as it helps us make necessary changes.
Warm Regards,
Hazal
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi James,
Thank you for your amazing review!
It's so great to know that you had a very good experience during your last visit to Woolwich Waves, you had great fun and found your teacher exceptional.
We also greatly appreciate your 5-star award.
We can't wait to see you again soon!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
Staff are great made me feel welcomed.
The staff were fantastic and made me feel welcomed from the moment I arrived.
11 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Sf
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased to see that you felt welcomed by our team at Woolwich Waves, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Kind Regards
Amir
Reception is pathetic
Reception is pathetic. Immature youngsters are there who dnt care about the place they working in.we group of 4 went to ask for info and they said check online. We signed off ourselves on screens at front. When we went 1st day we asked them if any one can show us around and they refused saying we dnt do tours. We were walking around like an idiot. Twice had to leave because we didn't know we need own padlock and then 20p for lockers. We paying £59 each which is about 240 in total and looks like no one cares.. need to change the team and have some mature people who knows what's customer service. Really disappointed. All of us will leave end of this month
15 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Zia,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are sorry to hear about your experience, as this is not the standard of service we aim to provide. We appreciate how frustrating it must have been to feel unsupported when seeking information, particularly as new members.
Your comments regarding the level of assistance from reception, the lack of guidance around the facility, and the information about lockers and access requirements have been noted. We recognise how important it is that all members feel welcomed, informed and confident when using the centre, especially during their first visit.
Your feedback will be shared with the management team so that these areas can be reviewed, including how we support new members and communicate key information more clearly.
We are also sorry to hear that you are considering leaving. We would value the opportunity to look into your concerns further and improve your experience, so please do get in touch with the centre directly if you are open to discussing this.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.
Warm regards,
Hazal
Please please do not let this new centre become rundown
I joined the new Woolwich waves a few months ago it certainly is a nice facility however there are definitely areas of concern that are not being attended to.
As a senior member who attends most days I am starting to notice that things are getting broke and not repaired.
Examples of this are one of the taps in the toilets has been broken for some time and , one of the swimming trunk dryers in the unisex changing rooms has been out of action for months I have REPORTED this 3 times and the only response I get is we have made the contractors aware
Why are the managers not complaining more to get these jobs done ?
They have just spent a lot of money on new gym equipment which is great. But as was seen with the waterfront centre in Woolwich before its closure if repairs are not done the centre soon becomes run down and old
Better made over 4 million pounds profit last year, and maintenance should be a priority for its, members
16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Philip,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are pleased to hear that you value the facility overall, but we are sorry to learn of the maintenance concerns you have raised. We understand how frustrating it can be when reported issues are not resolved as quickly as expected, particularly for regular users such as yourself.
Your comments regarding the tap and the swimming trunk dryer have been noted, and we appreciate you reporting these. While some repairs do require external contractors, we recognise the importance of ensuring these issues are followed up promptly and communicated clearly. Your feedback will be shared with the management team to review current processes and prioritisation.
We would also like to clarify that Better operates as a Charitable Social Enterprise. This means we do not operate for profit, and any surplus generated is reinvested back into our facilities and services to benefit the communities we serve. Woolwich Waves itself was a significant investment of approximately £115 million, and ongoing maintenance remains a key priority to protect that investment and ensure a positive experience for all members.
We also appreciate your wider comments about maintaining the long-term condition of the centre, and feedback like yours is important in helping us improve.
Thank you again for your continued support and for bringing these matters to our attention.
Warm regards,
Hazal
My experience was good
My experience was good. The response was quick, clear, helpful and polite. It's really appreciated. Thanks to Mohammed.
16 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased to see that Mohammed has been able to provide amazing customer service, and we hope your experience continues!
Kind Regards
Amir
I found the gym fantastic and people in the gym are friendly also helpful.
I found the gym, swimming pool, Pilates class, aqua aerobics, family leisure time and swimming wonderful. The staff have been very helpful and friendly also very supportive. I really enjoy coming to Woolwich Waves most days. I enjoy the fitness facilities very much.
12 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Bernadette,
Thank you for your lovely review.
We’re really pleased to hear you’re enjoying the variety of facilities at Woolwich Waves.
It’s great that you find the facilities enjoyable and the staff are nice and helpful.
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and hope to see you again soon!
Best wishes
Azaria
The perfect place to hit your goals.
The atmosphere is welcoming because the staff at the front desk were friendly. Also, the facilities are clean and properly maintained, including the lockers they are spotless.
Overall, there are lots of equipment and you don't have to wait for machines or weights.
10 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Kanyinsola,
Thank you for your lovely review!
We're thrilled that our atmosphere was welcoming due to our team at the front desk being so friendly.
It's amazing to know how clean and well-maintained you find our facilities, and that you're easily able to use the equipment we have in our gym space.
We can't wait to see you again soon!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
Nice and new leisure centre
Nice and new leisure centre, with many facilities. Nice staff members helped to find out lost property.
21 May 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Jal
Thank you for your review.
We are very pleased to see that you are enjoying the facilities at Woolwich Waves, and that the team have been able to assist with finding your lost property!
We hope that you continue to enjoy the facilities!
Kind Regards
Amir
On Sunday
On Sunday, we went to Woolwich Wave, to the indoor swimming pool with water slides.
As soon as we arrived, we went on the slides and spent some time enjoying them without any issues. Later, after a staff shift change, we went back to use the slides again. There was a young male staff member there who immediately told me to be quiet, saying “Listen!” in a very rude manner.
He would not allow my son to go down the slide and did not explain the reason. He simply kept pointing at a green wristband. We later found out that this wristband related to a swimming test requirement, but at the time nobody explained this to us.
Instead, he started threatening to remove me from the pool and said he would call security. His behaviour was extremely rude, aggressive, and unprofessional. I was simply there with my son to enjoy our day.
After this incident, he appeared to follow me around the pool and repeatedly approached me asking if everything was alright, but in a manner that felt intimidating and threatening rather than helpful.
In addition, there seemed to be no proper control or communication regarding session times, wristbands, or the rules that were supposedly being enforced. The whole experience was very poorly managed.
I then told him that I intended to make a complaint about his behaviour. His response was that he did not care because he was the manager. He stated that any complaints would come to him and that he was the person responsible for the rules and for dealing with complaints.
Overall, the experience was very disappointing and left me and my son feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome.
31 May 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Dear Marisa,
Thank you for your feedback!
Green wristbands are issued to under-16s who pass a swim test, a 25-metre length in the main pool, unassisted and without stopping, in a recognised stroke.
This is required on every visit for any child who wants to swim independently without an adult, or where there are more than two non-swimmers per accompanying adult.
There's also a separate age restriction on the green slide: children must be 8 or over, regardless of the swim test. If both rules came into play at once without being explained clearly, we can see why it felt confusing and frustrating.
We're sorry for how the interaction came across. Whatever the intention, you and your son should have left feeling welcomed, not uncomfortable. I'll be speaking with the team about how we communicate these requirements, so this doesn't happen again.
If you'd like to discuss anything further, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
The facilities are top-notch and the…
The facilities are top-notch and the rooms are very spacious. There is plenty of room to accommodate everyone. The pool looks great. The cafe is inciting. Logistically, the centre is perfectly placed to be near to public transport. Recognition of core customer group looks to have been well-researched. All the customers looked to be very happy with their experience and serious fitness fans seemed to be happy with the gym facilities.
2 June 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Jo,
Thank you so much for your lovely review of Woolwich Waves!
It's brilliant to hear you're enjoying the facilities and that the space feels welcoming and comfortable. We work hard to make sure every visit is a great one, and reviews like yours mean a lot to the whole team.
We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Warm Regards,
Abdus
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi
Thank you for your review.
It is great to see that you are enjoying your experience at the new Woolwich Waves, in the heart of Woolwich!
Kind Regards
Amir
Just as the name better I can say its…
Just as the name better I can say its the best gym sauna and leisure centre to be with. The better App has straight forward navigation membership joining process that allowed me join the gym or any activity i desired without having to go to actual centre, stand on a queue wasting time. It's easy to navigate through the app and the actual centre where activity takes place is clean and has been well organised (planned). Thank you Better
5 March 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Linda
Thank you for your review.
It is great to see that you are enjoying the gym, sauna and leisure facilities at Woolwich Waves and that you are finding the new Better App easy to navigate!
We are also pleased to hear you find the centre clean and well-organised, and we will pass your feedback on!
Kind Regards
Amir
The centre need more basic courses for…
The centre needs more basic courses for people who wish to improve their general fitness.
2 March 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your review!
We greatly appreciate your feedback regarding the range of courses we offer.
We'd be more than happy to share this with the general team for further review.
Thank you again for your feedback!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for your lovely review!
We're overjoyed that you find our team very professional and polite.
We also greatly appreciate your 5-star award.
We can't wait to see you again soon!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
The place is very clean more over the…
The place is very clean more over the staff are very professional and respectful the place is very big
24 May 2026
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Hana
Thank you for your review.
We are delighted you found the centre clean, spacious, and our team professional and respectful.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Kind Regards
Amir
Be careful
I was long thinking whether I should add a comment or not, but I had to let the other parents know about the accident we had at this waterpool.
On Saturday, 9 May my daughter went on the green waterslide and hit her head inside the slide which resulted in a cut to her head, 5-7cm long (which has been later fixed at the hospital). This slide is not safe for the children, especially younger, slimmer children (my daughter is 10 yrs old).
What surprised me the most, they took my contact details, filled in the accident form, but then there was no follow up with us to question, how did it happen, do they need to take any actions, double check the inside of the slide, etc. No actions, no investigation, not even to ask which slide it was. Maybe there is a part inside which caused the cut to her head! Nothing, and the slide runs as it was before. For that part I am very disappointed!
9 May 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Milda,
Thank you for your review!
We understand that you left a similar review via Google, which we're currently investigating.
We'll update you shortly regarding this, and we're more than happy to contact you further if needed.
Thank you for your patience!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
Sons swimming lessons
Really pleased with my sons swimming Teacher Nicola on a Monday evening. He has now moved up to development!
Fantastic teacher, very helpful!
11 May 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Better - Woolwich Waves
Hi Mrs Smallwood,
Thank you for your incredible review!
We're so happy that you're really pleased with your son's swim teacher, Nicola.
It's amazing to know that she's been very helpful and fantastic.
We're also overjoyed that he's progressed to our development group.
We can't wait to see you again soon!
Warm Regards,
Kaisha
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