London's best gyms and fitness centres
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Maggie Davis, Christine Koh Fleming, Fiona McAuslan, Andrew Shields
Updated: Tue Jul 14 2009 Central | North | South | East | West
West
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Iyengar Yoga Institute
223a Randolph Avenue, London, W9 1NL
A light and airy design characterises the two studios at this leafy Maida Vale venue. Around 50 classes take place weekly with a maximum of 35 people in each class. All teachers are certified by the BKS Iyengar Yoga Teachers' Association. Read more
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Alan Herdman Pilates
The Victory Services Club, 63-79 Seymour St, London, W2 2HF
A former dancer and teacher with the London School of Contemporary Dance, Herdman set up Britain's first Pilates studio in 1970 and continues to be one of the key figures in the development of the discipline. Read more
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Body Conditioning Studio
3a Ladbroke Rd, London, W11 3PA
Ex-Rambert dancer Dreas Reyneke has long been one of London's most highly regarded Pilates teachers and is now joined by two extra instructors, Stephen Beagley and Jane Burn, both of whom are ex-ballet dancers. Read more
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Westway Sports Centre
1 Crowthorne Road, London, W10 6RP
The main attraction here is Britain's largest climbing centre, which extends up inside the White City roundabout. However, Westway is also home to eight indoor tennis courts plus London's only public clay courts, while the six artificial football pitches are heavily used. If you fancy something different try Eton Fives, an arcane game played on a three-walled court (there are four here, again the only ones in London), in which you strike a small ball with gloved hands. The courts have various hazards and the unpredictable bounce demands quick reactions. Read more
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The Life Centre
15 Edge Street, London, W8 7PN
This is one of London's original yoga centres, having occupied a former church on a quiet street near Notting Hill Gate for more than 14 years. Elizabeth Stanley and Christine Letter have ensured that this smart, welcoming centre remains at the top of its game with over 60 classes a week including pregnancy yoga, mother-and-baby yoga and baby massage. Read more
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Portobello Green Fitness Club
3-5 Thorpe Close, W10 5XL
The Westway Development Trust owns this friendly, bustling place, which has retained a strong community focused feel in the face of the bland corporate image of the chains. Capoeira and Thai boxing are popular, along with courses (which cost extra) ranging from burlesque to belly dancing. If you just want to use the gym, a recent refurbishment has brought in new Cybex equipment - and there's a decent free-weights room as well. Read more
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Jivamukti Yoga
Unit 136-137, 300 Kensal Rd, London, W10 5BE
Jivamukti yoga is Ashtanga-based yoga which incorporates spiritual elements such as chanting. The centre has a smart feel with a hippy edge - represented by altars in each of the two studios complete with photos of Indian gurus. Read more
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Seymour Leisure Centre
Seymour Place, London, W1H 5TJ
The main hall at Seymour used to house one of the most attractive swimming pools in London which measured, bizarrely, 44 yards. Now a floor seems destined to cover it permanently, giving over the space to racquet sports and five-a-side football. Swimmers are still catered for in a bright but narrow 30-metre pool that's also used for sub-aqua. There's a large Courtneys gym here, an extensive programme of classes, a physio practice and a beauty salon in the basement. Good value considering its location. Read more
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Fitrooms
254-258 North End Rd, London, SW6 1NJ
Every aspect of this open-plan gym is inspirational and cutting-edge, from the smart Life Fitness cardiovascular machines and well-equipped weights area, to the clean metal lines and pumping dance music. New courses include Absolution - 30 minutes of intense abs training with a Swiss ball (ouch!), Rowing Challenge - where you row on computerised machines and can compete against others, and a Versa-Climber class. There's also a new beauty salon upstairs, featuring three treatment rooms. Read more
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36 comments
The problem with big gym chains is that they recruit too many members. The result is massive overcrowding.
And they don't invest in cleanliness or repair of equipment to a sufficient extent.
The result - mould in the showers, dripping shower-heads, no soap in the dispensers, filthy floors, loos that smell like some kind of slum in Calcutta. And in the gym, machines that say "out of order" for months on end.
I have just moved to North West London and I am looking for a gym to join and take part in some classes. I am looking for a friendly gym where I can meet new people and have fun, was wondering if anyone could recommend some good gyms,
thanks,
Lucy
Why would anyone choose to workout in an airless sweaty gym? There is a great alternative in British Military Fitness. Get outside, get an all over body workout lead by professionals and best of all MEET PEOPLE AND HAVE FUN! When was the last time you had a conversation with anyone in the gym?
In response to Dunstan, it seems you are mistaken. Aegis training may not be a bodybuilding or powerlifting gym - we specialise in weight loss- but it does have a wide variety of equipment and is regularly used for olympic lifting, strength training and strongman type training. The fixed db'd go up to 35 but there are adjustable olympic dumbbells, and also has a 150kg crane tyre - for flipping and sledge hammer work, a weight sled for dragging and heavy sandbags and even a beer keg. Plenty of stuff to keep the strongmen happy.
For a review of the 50 best gyms and fitness centres, its disappointing to see that there wasn't one bodybuilding / powerlifting gym included. The gyms listed are all the type of place where the dumbells dont go heavier than 20kg and there's someone doing bicep curls in the squat rack. If there even is one.
I am unashamedly a complete Bikram Yoga nut and having being do it for over four years now. Without it I would not have been able to even think about running the London Marathon yet alone do it. I been hearing a lot good things about Bikram Yoga Soho for some time now and last week I went to see what all the talk is about. Wow now I know. Clean, great atmosphere and HOT & SWEATY. If you’re into Bikram you must go there is - IT’S FANTASTIC!
aquaterra in islington has a decent pool but is overcrowded. dont know much about the gym as i dont use it. some of the staff are bit wotless and not very upto speed with whats going on when you ask them an easy question regarding the facilities that they offer.
I don't agree with Steve or Mandy. I love Bikram yoga and have also been to many of the Bikram yoga studios in London, and several in Australia - and Bikram Yoga Soho is by far the most pretentious, clinical, crowded and unpleasant studio I have been to, with the rudest and unfriendliest staff. The location is good, but I try to avoid this studio if I can.
Jen- apparently there is a Bikram studio opening in Canary Wharf this summer. Just do a search in "International" on www.bikramyoga.com
This is a great compilation! Great work Time Out!
Just to make a general note and a piece of advice:
I made the unfortunate mistake of joining Fitness First Black Label - AKA Globogym (for those of you who have watched dodgeball).
While the staff and trainers at my local branch were very friendly and made the gym feel as much as a homely environment as one could expect from such a large facility, dealing with head office was a NIGHTMARE! I would not wish this upon anyone. From troubles with cancelling my membership, misinformation, and problems with the direct debits i found my mouth got the biggest workout of all arguing with people over the phone!
My best piece of advice - stick to your local 'small guy' fitness club as much as possible. The people are usually friendlier, you get more personalised service and you don't get caught up in the loads of corporate hotlines.
The Factory Gym (North London) have so many new classes, Bollywood fusion, belly dancing as well as new classes in the next few weeks I am eager to try, like the Jazz fusion and newly added street dance class (even though I have no rhythm). Don't underestimate the power of dance for a full work out!!
Does anyone know of any Bikram yoga classes in Canary Wharf?
I used Gymbox on the pay-as-you go option ... however, this did not turn out to be the case.
Following the cancellation of my membership they continued to extract money from my account and the staff's attitude completely changed when dealing with customer complaints.
Very very disappointing
The aquaterra at Islington is dreadful. The free weight training areas consist of one tiny rubber mat in front of a mirror but the free weight rack is in the same space, so anyone who wants to grab a weight has to somehow get around the person who is using the tiny mat to train. There is another tiny mat area but "priority" is given to staff who have clients to train, to the extent that they barged around me without even waiting for my set to finish. So rude, what kind of work out ethos is that? Also, only one pair of 3kg free weights, although this is the most popular size used by women. Dirty. Machines time limited to 15 minutes. bureaucratic. Dull. Dingy. Depressing.
Steve's comments aobut Bikram Yoga Soho is spot on! It rocks! I did the ten day trial then signed up for the year. Just a few minutes walk from Oxford St tube and so so hot!