It's hard to know which is more breathtaking: the views of the Hollywood Hills, or the Adonises who choose the hills as the backdrop for their exercise. Crunch classes...

Gold's bills itself as 'the mecca of bodybuilding', and perhaps with some justification: this is where the Governor of California honed and toned his body.

The best-known bathhouse in the city has a good gym, but that's not the main reason why people come here. At weekends, a live DJ provides a soundtrack to the shenanigans until 6am.

The Santa Monica YMCA offers racquetball and handball, weights, a lap pool, a spa, aerobics, yoga and volleyball, among other classes. For other YMCA centres in LA, see...