REVIEWS OF HOTEL EXECUTIVE CLUB LOUNGES, KIDS CLUBS AND MORE.
No family stay feels complete without a proper swim, and during our time at the Hilton Reading we made full use of the LivingWell Health Club, tucked just across from the main hotel entrance. As hotel guests, our room key doubled up as our health club pass, so getting in and out was completely seamless, no extra bookings, no faff, just a quick tap and in we went.
The club runs Monday to Friday from 6am to 10pm, and on weekends from 7am to 9pm. As we stayed over the weekend, this worked brilliantly for us, since children get all day access to the pool on Saturdays and Sundays. That meant we weren't racing against a clock to get our swim in, and could really relax into it.
Before you even reach the main health club, there's a separate Performance Studio just off to the side. My wife and I used this ourselves and honestly loved it. It's a proper little training space, kitted out with rowing machines and a couple of Peloton style spin bikes, plus free weights and mirrors along one wall. It felt like having a boutique studio all to ourselves, quiet, well equipped and a lovely spot for a quick session before heading in for a swim.
Through the side entrance and into the health club itself, you're welcomed by a smart little reception desk. It's stocked with things to buy, protein shakes, drinks and various bits and pieces, and the staff on hand were friendly and happy to help with anything we needed, from towels to general questions about the facilities.
Now, the pool. This was the highlight for us. It's a proper indoor lap pool, generously sized with two clearly marked lanes, gorgeous deep blue tiling underfoot and gentle underwater lighting that gives the whole room a really calming, almost spa like feel. Our kids and I had the best time in there, splashing about, racing down the lanes and just generally having a whale of a time. There's a handrail entry at one end making it easy to get in and out, plenty of poolside loungers to relax on afterwards, and it never once felt crowded or cramped. For a hotel pool, the size genuinely surprised us, it felt like a proper leisure centre pool rather than a token hotel extra.
Just off the pool area, there's a sauna and a separate steam room, both of which my wife and I made good use of. The sauna is timber lined with tiered wooden benches, warm and inviting, while the steam room is fully tiled with a built in bench and a lovely gentle heat that left us feeling completely relaxed. After a swim with the kids, having somewhere quiet to unwind for ten minutes was exactly what we needed.
The male and female changing rooms were spotless throughout our visit, clean, tidy and well maintained, with everything you'd need for getting ready before or after a swim.
We didn't personally take part in any classes, but it was lovely to see just how much is on offer. The timetable covers everything from Les Mills Body Pump and Body Combat, to HIIT, Zumba, yoga and mobility and stretching sessions, running right through the week including early mornings, lunchtimes and evenings. There's clearly something for every fitness level and every schedule, and it's a great reminder that this isn't just a hotel gym, it's a proper working health club.
Beyond the pool, there are two further rooms worth mentioning. The first is a well equipped gym that my wife and I used ourselves, with a full run of treadmills, cross trainers and rowing machines lined up against floor to ceiling windows, plus a separate free weights area with dumbbells, benches and a squat rack. It's the kind of space where you could easily get a full workout in regardless of what you're training for, cardio, strength, or a bit of both.
There's also a separate studio room, kitted out with a punch bag, kettlebells, a big screen for virtual classes and its own set of free weights. We didn't get the chance to use this ourselves, but it's a lovely, bright space, and clearly built to cater for group classes and personal training sessions alike.
The LivingWell Health Club at Hilton Reading genuinely exceeded our expectations. Members and hotel guests alike benefit from free WiFi throughout, a complimentary towel on every visit, poolside loungers to relax on, and even a discount on food and drink around the hotel. Add in the free personalised fitness plans on offer, the sheer range of equipment, and a pool big enough for proper family fun, and you've got a health club that feels like a genuine extension of the hotel experience rather than an afterthought.
We'd happily use the LivingWell Health Club again on our next stay, and if you're travelling with kids who love to swim, or simply want to keep up your fitness routine while away, this is a facility well worth making time for.
We are a family of 4 - mother, father and two children. Our aim is to travel the world and review all travel opportunities to help other families.
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