Canolfan a Llyfrgell Star Centre and Library is an impressive, purpose built leisure centre and…read morelibrary complex situated on the main street in Splott. The centre first opened in 1981 and was taken over by the Council in 2001 when it underwent minor refurbishment. It has recently undergone a further, more extensive refurbishment programme, which has led to the development of a modern Fitness Suite, as well as a disabled lift that is sited in the foyer. This phase also saw the incorporation of the new Splott Library. Splott is considered to be a 'problem area' and suffers from high unemployment and the associated social problems of economic privation. A small number of the kids in Splott are responsible for some pretty anti-social behaviour, and the sports centre is one of the local amenities where it's hoped that children from all backgrounds can meet and have fun. It offers an extensive programme of activities for children throughout the summer, including indoor athletics, football, badminton, baseball, basket ball as well as more creative pursuits that come under the general banner of arts and crafts, and include things like jewellery making, glass bottle art and clay modelling. In a bid to try and constructively engage the local under sixteen's at the weekends, (when trouble is most likely to erupt), the centre holds a youth night every Friday. Facilities: 6 x Badminton Courts Basketball Netball Indoor 5-a-side Fitness Suite Classes: swimming, gymnastics, soft play, yoga etc... Group Fitness Sessions: circuits, aerobics, boxercise Children's activities: including children's parties and holiday programmes. Full disabled facilities and changing room Food and Drink: hot & cold vending machines, snack machines, and fully licensed Bar Meeting rooms Function room . Membership/Savings: The Max card or Active card membership schemes offer the opportunity to save money on all council leisure activities. Useful Info: Bus Numbers: 11,12,13 Car park at the rear of building, with disabled bays and assistance where required. Email. STARCentre@cardiff.gov.uk

The Star Centre is the hub of Splott! Staff are so friendly. I have developed a friendship with the…read morestaff in the library. They're extremely helpful and polite. They go out of their way to help the community. Staff in the library help children with their homework and entertain teenagers with hilarious stories. Its such a shame that the Star is closing down and it will never be the same without the great local atmosphere. The Star holds events for families which I have taken part of and deeply enjoyed. There is also a gym. I hate to mention a small complaint. 2013 I joined a martial arts class in the Star and it was not very helpful. I learnt the language-not the art of physical activity. It wasn't memorable experience Other that that the Star is a great local place to meet up and have fun!

This place should be better than 2 stars as it is and could be even more so such a good facility…read more The building is good and the facilities are great. The staff are in the main very helpful. However .... The signs asking people remove their shoes before going in to the changing rooms are ignored by many people so the cubicle floors of the changing rooms end up filthy. The staff walk back and forth ignoring the point and I have never seen them ask a shoe wearer to remove their shoes. So expect to come out of there with dirty feet. The pool is rarely at 50m and when it is it is often very busy. Monday and Thursday nights can be quieter if you aren't too tired to train at 10pm ... In the mornings and now at weekends many of the lanes are taken by the swimming club. Not an issue but expect the other lanes to be crowded and have people of varying ability in each lane. If you are a quick swimmer expect to be frustrated as you dawdle behind a breast stroker waiting for a safe moment to overtake them. The pool is regularly booked out for galas and swim events at weekends and the information/warnings about these events is very discrete or difficult to find so be prepared for Saturday / Sunday morning disappointment and wasted trips. The pleasure pool is mayhem. The lifeguards do a good job but expect to be kicked by other swimmers, by bumped into, swam over/into and come out feeling the most unrelaxed you ever will. As a venue for promoting healthy lifestyle this place surpasses itself. Not!!! For those who bother to use the benches to remove or put on shoes, there is a glittering array of chocolates and sugary drinks in four vending machines, ideally located opposite you. If you or your children manage to get passed them, there are more sugary calorie dispensers by the exit turnstiles and just in case you haven't managed to give in to the sugar, there are 4 more vending machines on the way out. Only the British would fill a "healthy" sports venue with obesity causing, tooth rotting filled vending machines. So, while you are trudging home in the dirty foot rot of other people from the changing rooms, you can comfort yourself with chocolate and fizzy pop to remind yourself what a healthy life you live!

I love this pool and the centre itself. It looks fantastic and its great inside too. Whether your…read morethere to relax and have fun with the kids or to do a serious bit of swimming there is a place for you. Its easy to access and has lots of parking too. There is a gym, sauna, jacuzzi and do all sorts of fitness classes too for quite a reasonable monthly fee. Swimming for adults is £3.70 and no time limit. Family tickets also available. The only downsides are that the changing rooms can be a bit chaotic and its always worth checking out whats going on before you head down because they often have events on at the weekend so you might not get in.

Penarth leisure center is great value for money if you're looking to get fit or loose weight…read more It has a decent sized gym with a good range of equipment, a large pool and a lifestyle/wellness suite. There are also a huge range of fitness classes that run daily at the center. In recent years the place has undergone a revamp and so there is now a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi next to the pool in the wellness suite. (Full disabled access) Once a week there is even a ladies only session so the more body conscious or religious females don't have to miss out on the facilities. Prices are okay, for an off peak swim and relax in the wellness suite you pay £6.15 but if you become a member you can use the gym facilities, the pool and the classes from about £23 a month without getting locked into a contract. Bargain.

This place is pretty crumby …read more... The building is old and showing the signs of wear and tear. The changing rooms are quite grubby with a very odd aroma. Lots of the lockers are broken. The pool is unpredictable. It has a children's area and a hydro slide but I have never worked out when to guarantee that they are operational. The adult pool sometimes has lane swimming and sometimes not. It is 25m.

This is Cardiff's University's main sports facility, and it hosts most of its indoor sports clubs…read moreas well as a few classes such as aerobics. The facilities are pretty extensive, including a large multi-purpose sports hall; a field hall with six badminton courts, 5-a-side pitch and cricket nets; Martial Arts Dojo; a gym; and outdoor tennis and netball courts, grass hockey pitch and another pitch suitable for rugby, football and general training. Incorporated into the Talybont Halls of Residence campus site, it's hugely convenient for the many first year students living there, but not so convenient for everyone else. Still, it's only about a 20-25 minute walk from central Cathays or Roath for the majority of other students, and it's certainly well used.

Talybont sports centre is somewhere you should definitely be signing up to join if you're a Cardiff…read morestudent to keep the beer belly at bay. It is easily accessible to students staying at Talybont halls, but you can reach it by car if it's a bit too far for you as it has a car park. It has a large sports hall, badminton courts, a gym, outdoor courts and a large grass pitch for a number of sports. The membership is normally pay as you go or you can have a monthly or annual deal, the best deals are normally provided at the sports fayre at the union where they will have a stand enticing the students to stay healthy, despite the pot noodle dinners. I found the facilities really good and the changing rooms were nice and clean, I only wish I could have the motivation to attend a little more often....

I'll admit that I'm not a hugely sporty type of person, but a while back a friend convinced me to…read morego to a couple of classes and gym sessions at the Welsh Institute of Sport. I like to think she just wanted the company, rather than thought I could really do with the exercise... This is a large leisure centre that caters for a massive variety of different sporting needs. It's location is just out of the city centre, so can be ideal for many workers. It has all the commonplace essentials: swimming pool, gym, tennis and badminton etc. It also has a large cricket ground (I think the Ashes might have been played here recently, but I could be wrong). They also have table tennis, trampolines and gymnastics for the more flexibly minded. As far as I could tell, the classes (yoga and pilates) I attended were professionally run and welcoming. The pool is clean, although basic. This is a good place for serious gym people to come, while remaining welcoming for the rest of us. If you're after somewhere to take the kids though, perhaps look more towards Llanishen Leisure Centre for controlled wet fun.

A massive venue for all your sporting activities. Professional and up to date. Runs a varied range…read moreof classes and rents out its courts, pool and facilities at reasonable rates. League games are also held there regularly. Free parking, or walking distance from town through pretty Bute park.

Channel View is the Council owned Leisure Centre for Cardiff Way and there are a few things I…read morereally like about it. There's no swimming pool but its got all the other expected things like a gym with fitness classes, and various indoor courts for badminton and football. It also has a climbing wall and does loads of sessions for kids. Unusually there is also a music room, IT facility and cyber cafe. I like that they have women only gym periods because we can all feel a bit self conscious sometime and one of my favourite aspects it the outdoor gym they have, free and perfect for sunny days. Its basically quite simple obstacles that can add a bit of a variety to your jogging!

MANAGER SWEARS AT CUSTOMERS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN…read more After being told to go f-word myself I will not be returning to Channel View. On a previous day I'd left a rather sentimental item at the centre and after ringing up four times I was told they had found it. Upon arriving I asked the receptionist if she had it and was directed to a different office. In the corridor I was confronted by the manager who seemed to want to help at first but then for some reason grew furious when I told him what I was looking for. After five minutes of being angrily questioned I tried to walk away. He then shouted to me that he was the manager and that I should ''Go f**k yourself!". I was shocked. There was a children's play class next door and afterward some parents told me they could hear it. A very upsetting experience. Please think twice before giving these people your money to look after your children.

If I could give a -5 stars I would. They lie to prospective members, ignore complaints, refuse to…read moreacknowledge mistakes, and fob you off at every turn. It's not worth the money to start with and DEFINITELY isn't worth the hassle. AVOID DAVID LLOYD LIKE THE PLAGUE.

This is the best gym in Cardiff…read more Amongst other things it has a great gym, 2 swimming pools, 1 indoor and one outdoor both heated, squash courts and 14 indoor tennis courts too. It also has a nice social area and plenty of social functions in its diary. So it has the lot and of course you have to pay for it. It is the most expensive gym in Cardiff but hey you've got to expect that what with the facilities it has. If you're thinking of joining then you either have a bit of disposable income or you take your fitness seriously. This is where you will often see well known rugby players working out or more often than not relaxing in the pool. When I was a member here I used ot pay £65 per month and this was just for health and fitness e.g. the gym and swimming pools. It is a bit more expensive if you want access to the tennis courts too. You may see this as expensive but imagine how much a month you spend making your body unhealthy e.g. drinking. So why not spend that amount trying to make it healthy? If you have the money this is the place to join.

Oh, wow. I love…read morestumbling across old childhood memories and getting ridiculously excited about them all over again. Llanishen Leisure Centre is one of those places. As an excited child, I recall this place seeming like it took over an age to get to, so was surprised to drive past it the other day and discover that it wasn't 20,000 miles outside Cardiff like I'd always imagined. In actuality it's an easy 15 minute drive from the centre. Who knew? Llanishen Leisure Centre has the most spectacular of swimming pools. Oh, the fun and jollity I did have there. There is a fountain and hundreds of floats and giant balls the big kids always tried to stand on (I was resolute that I was not tall enough/I was a coward). There is also, majesty of majesty, a wave machine. A giant wave machine! The pool itself has a gradual incline from one end so you can walk in as you might walk into the sea. This means that the pool is great for all ages, and it's easy to keep an eye on the extra small ones with the help of the ever present lifeguard. When the siren for the waves (yay!) goes off, they actually break and roll up the side of the pool, making great sport for active imaginations. Llanishen Leisure Centre also has a whole heap of badminton and squash courts, a gym, yoga, swimming lessons and a pool-side cafe and pool tables. Did I mention the wave machine?

Tried to book a handful of slots on their shockingly slow, clunky and useless website. It only gave…read moreme the option to book one, impossible to book more than that. Thought I'd try phoning the helpline to speak to someone who could talk me through it. Spent ages going through all the options only to be hung up on after requesting to speak to an advisor. Appalling customer service the last time I went there, but thought I'd give it another try. never, ever again. Anyone wanting to go there should look at all the awful reviews online about this place and make their mind up.

Here I have many more memories than any other swimming pool in Cardiff and I had my swimming…read morelessons here. We also had school swimming lesson sessions, which were in extremely large groups and we had the lessons for long hours of the day, but they were fun and were different. They have children parties with cold and hot drinks and food. This pool was opened in 1989 and it has a refurbished fitness suit. It also has a cafe; tennis courts/badminton courts, squash courts, community suit, a bar, a crèche, junior activities, parties, changing rooms, toilets, showers, lockers, and vending machines. I always loved going here as a kid and loved to spend our jumping in the pool and swimming many lengths and splashing about in the waves. I keep having this place appear in my dreams, but I'm never in the pool I'm often walking around the place, or in a queue, or a room training/fitness, aerobics, and yoga. It is a fantastic local pool and it's great for all tourists and anybody really, children will just simply love it. People over the age of sixty years old go free; all ages can go in for between the prices of £1.50p - £3 during the hours of 10am - 7pm.

Another great leisure centre from Cardiff City Council. It has one of those pools that are really…read moregood for toddlers with a sloping shoreline so they can toddle in without going out of their depth. This is where I took mine when they were tiny. There's also a deep bit for proper swimming with lanes a dedicated times for different swimmers. The whole centre has a friendly feel. There are also lots of other good things for kids like gymnastics, trampolining and soft play. For adults there's aerobics, fit-ball, circuits and the very latest craze - Zumba (a dance class based on a combination of rumba and salsa).

All through primary school, I went swimming here every Friday evening. My overriding memories of it…read moreinclude that ravenously hungry feeling you get after swimming and giggling at naked women in the showers. I've moved on since then, I like to think. Fairwater Leisure Centre has everything you really need in a leisure centre. There is a large indoor swimming pool, a skate park, badminton and squash courts and a small gym (which tends to be quieter than some, so there's not too much queuing for equipment). The standard of the facilities is pretty high. The staff are friendly and there are swimming lessons available for all levels. An excellent addition, I think, is that there is a female only swimming period on Thursdays. So if you're worried for any reason about swimming in public, this is a great option.

Another of Cardiff's particularly unattractive leisure centres, Fairwater does however have some…read moregood facilities, including an outdoor skate park with a range of ramps - something which isn't in great abundance in Cardiff. Apart from that, there are four badminton courts, several squash courts, a fitness suite and a pool measuring 25 metres by 12.5 metres. As is the case with all of Cardiff's local leisure centres, they offer a good range of classes such as aerobics and yoga, plus plenty aimed at children ranging from creches to gymnastics, trampolining and active holiday programmes. They also have some sessions aimed at the over 50s, and host women's mornings (though I'm never sure quite what they do at such mornings: knit? gossip? I have no idea). If only they could give the outside of this place a facelift, it wouldn't feel so depressing going inside...