Gyms and Sports Facilities
Maike Sauter
Sports Secretary
sports [at] st-annes-mcr.org.uk
St. Anne's facilities
The college has a small fitness room with exercise bikes and a small weights room downstairs in 58 Woodstock Road. It's free for MCR members to use and closes at 9 PM.
As with most private gyms, you'll need to be inducted first to use the St. Anne's fitness room. The process takes about 10 minutes, and is run by the MCR Sports Secretary, (Maike Sauter. Please contact the sports secretary by emailing sports [at] st-annes-mcr.org.uk) to arrange a suitable time.
The fitness rooms also contain some free weights, as well as a bench press and cardio machines. A number of rowing machines are available on the main site in the Erg Room, which is located in Room 2 of 6 Bevington Road; to gain access, you will need to get the door code from the Lodge.
Finally, St. Anne's shares a sports ground with St. John's College. The grounds are located on Woodstock Road north of the main college site, at about 7-8 minutes cycling (from RSH, they're due south and are even closer). You can also view a map of the location.
University Sports Centre
The main university Sports Centre is at Iffley Road, about 20-25 minutes cycle from RSH, or 10-15 minutes from the main college site. The membership is a one-off payment for the year. The different facilities on offer, details of the prices, and a map to the centre may all be found at the university sports page.
University Club
The University Club also has a small sports centre on Mansfield Road for graduates and university staff. The complex also comprises a small canteen, bar, and shower facilities. It's free to join, but you will need to register online to gain access to the building. They also charge a yearly membership to use the gym. Details of how to register, what's on offer, and a map to the club can all be found at the University Club webpage.
Private gyms
If you require more advanced training equipment than the college or university can provide, there are a number of private gyms in Oxford. A few of the more popular ones are listed below.
- Bourton Mill: This club is an excellent and popular option in City Centre; it's located on High Street just east of Carfax junction, about 10 minutes walk from the main college site. Memberships are available on a monthly basis without a contract; they also have discounts for students as well as classes on offer. You can also ask to try the facilities out for a day as a guest before deciding whether or not to join.
- LA Fitness: Another good option in the City Centre; check out their website for more information on their facilities, membership options, and a map. Joining this club gives you the advantage of being able to use the entire network of LA Fitness clubs throughout the UK.
- Ferry Sports Centre: If you live in Summertown and want something closer to home, this one is worth checking out. They offer two types of memberships: pay-as-you-go ones which involve a small one-off induction fee, and monthly ones which offer unlimited access for a flat fee. You qualify for discounted "student slice" price if you show your student card when registering. You can also hire badminton courts as well as a basketball court, and the centre has a good swimming pool.
- Esporta: This one is also in Summertown. It is larger and better equipped than the Ferry Sports Centre, but is also more expensive. Esporta have indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a pool, and a sauna. Their basic student membership is a 12-month contact priced at about £55 per month (more if you want to use the tennis courts).
