Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre © Andrew Brackenbury
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 -
From state-of-the-art gyms to heavenly swimming pools, brilliant boxing clubs to dynamic dance studios, we select the very best spots for a London workout. So, no more excuses: it‘s time to get off your backside
Central | North | South | East | West
Central
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Gymbox
100 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6JS
This centrally located gym offers some of London's most witty workouts from its 'Tour de Holborn' spinning class to jolly 'Cheerleading' class (pom poms optional). Located underneath High Holborn, this compact space combines the atmosphere of a nightclub with state-of-the-art facilities. A full-size boxing ring dominates the main space, along with a large movie screen. There's also an impressive free-weights area, spinning studio and two exercise studios. Despite the boxing theme, more than 50 per cent of members are women - the Look Better Naked class is currently a lure. A newer branch in Covent Garden (at 42-49 St Martins Lane, WC2) boasts a vast studio and Olympic-sized boxing ring. Read more
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Jubilee Hall Sports Centre
30 Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 8BE
Affordable membership and an unpretentious community atmosphere means this London stalwart attracts a healthy mix of people from well-honed blokes bulking up to more average-shaped folk who just want to keep fit. There's no pool but there is a huge open gym and exercise studios which more than make up for it. A variety of classes are offered, including power yoga, hatha yoga, exotic dancing and flamenco. The men's changing rooms have also been renovated and have a new sauna, while the café now has wi-fi access. Read more
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Central YMCA
112 Great Russell St, WC1B 3NQ
A perennial favourite with those working in the West End due to low membership rates, a fully equipped Pilates studio, large cardio theatre and up-to-date resistance training equipment. It's not glamorous but that's not the point here; instead it provides every possible type of workout and activity including climbing, trampolining and volleyball, taught to a very high standard (YMCA Fitness Industry Training is an industry leader and many of its graduates instruct here). A good 25-metre pool is divided for lane swimming; there's also a chapel, therapies and a decent café to boot. Read more
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Aegis Training Ltd
16 Hewett Street, London, EC2A 3NN
Greg Smith and Graeme Marsh founded Aegis in 2004 and have put together a high-calibre team of specialist trainers and therapists. Their 3,000 sq ft gym near Liverpool Street station offers ample workout space, plus rooms for a range of treatments. There's no joining fee; you simply pay for as many sessions as you want. Aegis also provides personal training at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in Holborn. Read more
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The Third Space
13 Sherwood Street, London, W1F 7BR
Spread across four levels and connected by open steel staircases, the club's facilities include a sky-lit climbing wall, boxing room and even a table tennis table set on a glass floor above the pool. The gym is kitted out with Cybex, Life Fitness and StairMaster machines, and those about to compete at high altitude can prepare by working out in a hypoxic chamber with reduced levels of oxygen to simulate conditions at 7,000 to 9,000 feet. There is also a Pilates and Gyrotonic studio and exercise classes like yoga, martial arts, burlesque and the Nike Rockstar Bollywood workout on offer as well as a Fresh & Wild juice bar, gym kit laundry service, wi-fi access, integrated medical centre offering complementary therapies and a live DJ four times a week. Read more
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The Place
17 Duke's Rd, WC1H 9PY
A beautiful glass-fronted building, The Place lifts an otherwise barren spot just off Euston Road. Inside you'll find a clean modern space catering for both dance students (as young as five) and visitors to the excellent Robin Howard Dance Theatre. The large studio has 300 seats raked to a stage 15m by 12m and affording a truly electrifying visual experience. It's the perfect host to the annual 'Resolution!' season that acts as a platform for fresh contemporary choreography. Founded in 1990, 'Resolution!' is a must for those looking for genuinely emerging dance talent, though any night at The Place is a safe bet, as the venue prides itself on being a leader in modern and inventive physical performance. There are also classes and courses for adults and children of all standards in ballet and contemporary techniques. Read more
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Danceworks
16 Balderton St, W1K 6TN
Since 1982, Danceworks has offered Europe's largest selection of classes in six well-appointed studios. You can choose from more than 160 dance, fitness, martial arts and yoga workouts each week. New trends include a burlesque dance course, poledancing and singing classes. Read more
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Pineapple Dance Studios
7 Langley St, WC2H 9JA
Debbie Moore named her studio after the pineapple warehouse in which her studio was founded in 1979. It still retains its 'Fame'-era charm and there are more than 30 dance classes each day. 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!