Nuffield Health

A proper gym facility just outside Elstree, Nuffield Health is what you'd expect from a mid-range health club - decent kit, swimming pool, and enough classes to keep you occupied if you're staying nearby. The place caters mainly to locals and corporate members, so it's got that slightly business-like feel rather than the boho vibe you might get at independent studios elsewhere.

You'll find the usual suspects: treadmills, weights, cardio machines, plus a pool and changing facilities. The class schedule varies - spin, yoga, that sort of thing - though nothing particularly adventurous. Weekday mornings and evenings are predictably rammed; weekends are more relaxed, especially midweek afternoons.

If you're based at Elstree Park or Home Farm Glamping for a few nights and you absolutely must get a workout in, this is your best bet locally. It's membership-based, so you'll need to check their day pass rates - not the cheapest option for a casual visitor. Worth a quick session if fitness is part of your holiday, but frankly, you're coming to Hertfordshire for Aldenham Country Park and the surrounding countryside, not to stare at a wall of mirrors. The pool is decent enough for a few laps, though it gets busy with the afterwork crowd. Best avoided during 6-9pm unless you enjoy queuing for equipment.