YMCA

The facilities are always clean. They have a lot of great free classes and the childcare is amazing. My kids love going there.

Best YMCA location in the Philadelphia area. If the maintenance of the equipment does not impress you, then the staff certainly will. If you have kids and no sitter, take them over to the kidZone and your children will be well taken care of. Great programming too.

I am a great fan of this place. My family and I go to family swim time 1 – 2 times a week. It’s clean, the staff are very nice. Can’t wait to go again. The kids love it

I think this must be the flagship location for the area. Everything is new and many advanced options at this location.
They have a massive pool area, both indoors and out. It includes different zones for different levels of swimmers, including a wading pool area. They have slides indoors and outdoors for more experienced swimmers.
They put a ton of money into this location, it is clear that they have a lot of money in a rich area to put this phenomenal location together.

This place is the bomb diggity. It’s beautiful, everything is new and the pool, hot tub and sauna are my favorite. They have classes but I haven’t attended any but the equipment is nice and new and each piece of cardio equipment has it’s own TV. nice free weights, track to run on and mostly nice staff. There was one youngish staff member who was pretty snotty to my 14 year old son («could you NOT pull on that, that’s NOT how that piece of equipment is supposed to be used) but I had a word with him and he seemed like he would either be nice next time or just avoid us all together… fine by me. I still love going and now they put a Bryn and Danes quick take out food place in the lobby. If they had rooms I’d stay. Overall it really is great.

I really enjoy working out at this Y. In my opinion, the best time to go is during the weekday before 10:00am or after 8:00pm, if your schedule permits. The parking lot gets a little crowded as the day progresses. You don’t quite notice it inside because there are so many things to do. This place is like an inexpensive country club, but my comparison may be off base considering I’ve never been to a country club. Okay, let me stop digressing.
The indoor track is nice and much easier on your legs than running outside. Thirteen times around the track is equivalent to a mile. If you’re a parent with a child in a stroller and you like to go for walks/​runs, but it’s too cold outside, the track at this Y allows strollers.
The workout area contains great updated cardio equipment and a nice free weight area. The area with the benches is a little tight, but it is manageable. Let’s talk about the pool. Man oh man. The pool area is like a mini water park. The slide has to be the best in the Greater Philadelphia area. The locker rooms may be the only area in this Y that has not been updated, but it’s functional. There’s not much needed.
There are many classes offered here. It literally has something for everyone. If you’re new to working out, you can come here and not feel intimidated because it’s such an inviting atmosphere. I should also add that they recently opened a juice bar area, which is great if you want a post workout shake.

A great place… clean environment. The «Y» has very clean equipment, very nice pool areas, and a nice staff. They also have assisted individuals with low income (You need proof of tax returns). Overall, we have had a great experience there.

This YMCA rules!!! It’s as nice as a country club and has any amenity you could possibly want. The regular gym area is always clean, has tons of machines and a nice lay out. What I use this gym for mostly is the classes, however, because I do most of my cardio outside. The classes are great, the equipment is clean, the gym is nice and they are usually not too crowded. All the bathrooms and locker rooms are clean and big and the building in general is just very nice. I love love love love this Y!

This gym is the bomb. It has the feel and class offerings of a fancy sports club, yet the kindness and welcoming atmosphere of a normal YMCA. No sales pitches or «free personal training sessions» here like at all the other corporate chain gyms in the area.
The classes are pretty great, they replace the equipment regularly, bathrooms and locker rooms are clean, and I honesty think this location greatly improves the sense of community in the area with the events they have going on. I will keep going here hopefully as long as I live in the greater Philadelphia area. Thank goodness for ya, Ambler YMCA!

I love this YMCA branch! I have my daughter takes swimming class here. The teachers are professional and graceful !!! And the faculty is so beautiful and clean!!!

Do you guys know how good you have it?
I belong to the Durham, NC YMCA but love to work out at this Y when I’m visiting my in-​laws. Granted, I’ve never gone when it’s been really crowded, but I can’t imagine it’s *that* bad. The place is huge!
The machines are amazing. When I visit, it’s like going to a YMCA of the future. I can watch whatever I want on my personal treadmill TV, and it’s loaded with amazing exercise programs that I actually want to do. No more manually changing the incline and speed every few minutes!
Besides the machines, the best thing about this place is all the natural light! It’s a building of windows! So I feel less guilty about exercising in an air conditioned space instead in the great outdoors because I can actually see the outside world.
This is the future.

I go with my friend that has special needs so we both get in for free becuase we go to the special needs swim. The people that work there are very nice to me and my friend.
We just say we are here for the special needs swim and they let us go right in. The pool is clean and warm (sometimes). We have a great time when we go there.
It is very good.

I occasionally visit here when I’m up at my parents house. It beats the hell out of the Columbia North Y on North Broad, which is my usual spot. It’s like Chuck E Cheese v. Six Flags. No competition.
It’s crowded, certainly, but hey, what gym ain’t these days? If you go at off-​peak hours, you’re fine. Plenty of cardio machines, weights, and even an indoor track. I’d like to see them add a few more benches for the free weights and a free towel service. For the money we pay, that’s the least they could offer. It’s a non-​profit for crying out loud!
The pool is top-​notch. If you’re training for triathlons, it’s crucial. Get a good soak in the hot tub after, and be sure to avoid looking directly at the old, hairy balls that prance around the locker room.

I’m adding two stars because the staff are friendly and helpful, the child care room is amazing, and the swim teachers ROCK (my 4yo nearly has his front and back stroke down pat thanks to private lessons with Miss Angela – money well spent)…Admittedly, I realized how good we had it after visiting the Hatboro Y… which, in turn, reminded me of the one we used a few years ago back in Queens. Not much to complain about when you compare it to other YMCAs.
And even just the lobby… a super useful space, and everybody uses it to settle their kids, wait for people, have a snack, work, study… I’ve actually put my kid in child care; invited a private language instructor to teach me at the table; and had dinner afterwards that I brought in and warmed up in the microwave for me and my little dude (who’s already had his fun time and shower for the evening). Oh, and they have COFFEE now. (Not recommending the pumpkin spice.)
And the sheer number of classes, most of which are free with membership… I’ve posted all the schedules on the side of my pantry so we know what we can do a few hours before we decide to go. Yogalates… on my list of things to try. As well as cross train boot camp because my husband says I won’t last the hour… I’ll die trying.
Tip: Don’t try to lap swim on Thursdays, especially if kids annoy you. And don’t take your kids to swim on Thursdays. It’s a big lesson day.

We moved from Collegeville area to Ambler in July 2011. Although not a member, I had visited the Spring Valley Y on a few occasions. It is almost identical to the Ambler location. We moved here and joined the Y after a tour and discussing the cost and the fact they were in the process of building a pool outside (like Spring Valley). Although the cost for Ambler is about $ 8 – 10 more a month than Spring Valley, we justified it with the difference in childcare cost. At Ambler, it’s included in your membership, but at Spring Valley you pay $ 1/​hour. Being pregnant with my second child, I figured Ambler worked out to be a better deal.
These are the reasons I’m rating this beautiful facility with 2 stars:
I recently received an email stating pool memberships are now available for purchase. WHAT??? They are charging the members (who already pay top dollar for their membership) $ 400 to use the outdoor pool. $ 800 for non– members. This was not conveyed to us at the time we enrolled.
The children’s classes are almost impossible to get into. I’ve been a member for almost a year and my daughter has gotten into swim lessons twice, but the first time, we had to go to Abington because Ambler was full. I try enrolling her first thing in the morning on the day enrollment starts, but most classes for 3 year olds are usually already full.
I enrolled my daughter online for camp this year. I paid $ 50 for a deposit and the remainder was supposed to come out at a later date. We had a change of plans, so I called to cancel camp and they said I had to come in to fill out a form. I went in and they said I would lose the $ 50 deposit. I asked if they could put it towards a class or swim lessons and they said «no.» REALLY???
The place is gorgeous and new, but next to impossible to work out in the mornings when my daughter is in preschool. It’s packed. I haven’t tried going any other time because my schedule doesn’t allow.
On a good note, the dance teacher, Dana, and the swim instructor, Caitlyn, are awesome with the kids. They seem to genuinely like what they do. Too bad it’s so hard to get into classes with them. Guessing we’ll be canceling our membership in the near future. $ 97/​month is a lot to pay to not have use of the entire facility.

I’ve belonged to this YMCA for 15 years. I am so sad to be quitting and will miss my many Y friends, but the «new» facility on McKean Road is a nightmare.
Yes, it is a lovely building. Yes, the cardio and weight training equipment is new and shiny. But I quit because I can no longer tolerate the incompetence of management and the snafus that ensue. These statements are my opinion only, but …
1 — The management staff is beyond horrible. Both managers and staff members repeatedly lied to the members about the delays in opening.
2 — When members ask a question or raise a concern, management personnel tell different stories to different members and flat-​out lie to members. This has happened to me on multiple occasions.
3 — Many of the floor staff are great but some of them are routinely loud, obnoxious and — worst of all at a gym — woefully ignorant of basic principals of exercise science.
4 — The noise level is unbelievable and the moronic music way too loud.
5 — Children run amok in areas allegedly off-​limits to them for safety reasons. One routinely sees 8 and 9 year-​old kids in the fitness center flailing around on cardio equipment unsafe for them. I’ve thrown more kids out of the fitness center than the staff in my experience.
6 — Theft from the locker rooms is routine.
7 — The parking lot is dark, many people speed and I feel it is unsafe at night, especially for children.
The reason I was willing to pay twice as much for a Y membership was because I supported their efforts to strengthen the community, especially lower income families. In my opinion, the sad truth is that the management is so poor and so untrustworthy that I’m not longer comfortable giving them money.

Its the best gym in the area which may not be saying all that much when the competition of a bunch of dirty LA Fitness. The place is brand new with a pretty fantastic indoor pool and quality cardio and weight area. They are in the process of building an outdoor pool which will be available to members for what I’m told will be a pretty hefty surcharge. If you have kids the Y will be your best option to get them involved with sports lessons. From swimming to basketball the directors here really take pride in putting on quality programs and I can attest that my daughter loves it. 2 hour daycare per day is also a nice perk for those of us who need a break from the litter once in a while.
I will say this… The Ambler YMCA is only a year old. Community centers often do not age well. Equipment wears out or breaks and often does not get properly maintained. Floors, locker rooms and heavily used areas show their wear quite rapidly and if they are not replaced make the place look run down and worn out. The real test for this place will be when the time times to start making repairs. Will they make the investment to keep the place spotless or will it go downhill? Only time will tell. In the meantime as soon as they build a Lifetime Fitness in the area we’ll all jump ship because that place is the gold standard of gyms and since moving to Ambler from Scottsdale, AZ we’re counting the days till they decide to expand to this area.

Wow, very impressive facility. This may be the nicest Y I’ve ever been in, and I travel for work and have used several up and down the east coast.
Commenting on the fitness center, the cardio and weight room. Very impressive selection of high end equipment. Someone else commented on the size of the change facilities. Yes, they seemed rather small when I first used them in fact that is everyone’s first impression. However, I’ve not yet seen them crowded. Maybe that is because there are separate change rooms for men, boys, women and girls, and a family change room, five in total. So like a multi-​lane highway the usage gets spread out and just our lane seems empty. Just my idea, I’ve only been in the men’s room.
The facility is architecturally pleasing to look at, from the outside and inside. And the fitness center has glas windows on two sides, looking out on the «campus» parking lot and the nice, new lobby.
I wish this was my home Y.

Exercise! New equipment and new façade! The Ambler YMCA is better then ever! The best fitness center in the area.
Three pools for those who like to swim laps and watch the kids whisk down a 2 story water slide. A state of the art hot jacuzzi and dry sauna will relax your muscles.
My two concerns are the locker room size and the absence of racquet ball courts. There are plans of an outdoor pool and more! I am looking forward to getting back to shape at the YMCA.

I can’t review all aspects of this brand new facility; we’ve just been there for my daughter’s swimming lessons. What I’ve seen, though, is fantastic. The building and grounds are beautiful. There are four pools (I think) so that classes, lap swimming, sports and kid playing can all go on simultaneously. The kid’s pool has slides and fun spraying things. The instructor we had was competent and friendly. We walked through the weights and cardio room and found a ton of high quality equipment. There’s also childcare, basketball courts, and multipurpose rooms. I believe there’s an indoor track upstairs, but I haven’t had a chance to see it. I’ve only gone on Saturday; I’d like to know if it gets extremely crowded at peak times. Anyway, this place is a big step up for the Y and you should check it out.