help us to reopen central ymca club

The Central YMCA Club was the world’s first YMCA, central London’s largest gym, health and wellbeing centre, and a vital resource for thousands of members and users across diverse communities.

On 2nd December 2024, the Central YMCA announced that it had sold its Great Russell Street site and would close the Central YMCA Club on 7th February 2025.

We are group of members who came together to save the club. Our campaign has attracted exceptionally strong support. More than 8,000 people signed a petition to save the club, over 250 people joined our campaign groups, and we established a strong campaign team.

In just 8 weeks, we gained the backing of Camden and Westminster councils, had the issue raised in Parliament, achieved listing as an Asset of Community Value listing, and generated extensive media coverage. A club member also applied, ultimately unsuccessfully, for a High Court injunction to stop the closure.

Despite our best efforts, Central YMCA closed the club on 7th February 2025. Our aim is now to restore the Club to active use.

The story so far

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Member testimonials

“The Central YMCA is beautiful in its simplicity and authenticity. Unlike sterile, high-end gyms, it felt lived-in, vibrant, and inclusive. It didn’t matter if you were a beginner or a seasoned athlete; the atmosphere welcomed everyone. ”

Tom Lewis

“Over the past 40 years, the YMCA has offered me a special place to go where I could get physically fit, talk and make friends with people from various walks of life, given me nutrition advice as my body has aged and is absolutely the reason I am so self sufficient and independent at my age”

Basil Reuben

“I just love it! Having recently suffered a devastating bereavement, my weekly outing to the YMCA is more important than ever, providing a central basic structure to my week. Losing it will, I fear, affect me like a second bereavement.”

Ann Eastman

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in the news

The club closure is making the headlines

Basketball England - Central YMCA: Historic English basketball venue facing closure

WestminsterExtra - Central YMCA face protest of flash mob

BBC News - YMCA closure protested by Village People flash mob

Camdenist - The gym as a cultural asset 💪

Daily Mail - Anger as world's first YMCA is to close in New Year after being sold to developers to become 'just another luxury hotel' in central London

London Centric - Young man, there’s no place you can go.

The Standard - Campaign launched to save London's oldest YMCA from closure

Fitzrovia News - Campaign launched to save the Central YMCA Club

Camden New Journal - Shock as world’s first YMCA closes down

Metro - World’s first YMCA shut down and ‘sold to hotel chain’ in London after 180 years

BBC - World's first YMCA in central London to close

Fitzrovia News - Central YMCA sold and will close to members in February 2025

BBC Radio London - Shay Kaur Grewal show, time stamp 3:15:34