<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001281774</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOWN SPORTS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CLUB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001363776</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Canterbury Mezzanine Capital, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001363778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Canterbury Detroit Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1952115</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 250,706 shares held by Canterbury Detroit Partners, L.P., which is a party to a co-investment agreement with Canterbury Mezzanine Capital, L.P.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>(2) - Canterbury Mezzanine Capital, L.P.,
      By: Canterbury Capital, L.L.C., its general partner


(3) - Canterbury Detroit Partners, L.P.,
     By: Canterbury Detroit, L.L.C., its general partner</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patrick Turner, Canterbury Mezzanine Capital, L.P. (2)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patrick Turner, Canterbury Detroit Partners, L.P. (3)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
