Time is at a premium for most of the people living in London, but many still find a spare hour or so to work out at the gym. Busy lives require the best facilities, a central location, and state-of-the-art equipment. As the rising fitness capital, London has sports centres down to a science, with luxurious gyms on the corner of almost every well-known street. Complete with smoothie bars, anti-gravity treadmills, and all sorts of quality kits, working out in London has never been as easy or inviting. Here is a list of the 10 best gyms in London.
1. Fitness First, Fitzrovia
Located on Tottenham Court Road in central London, Fitness First boasts a swimming pool and a sauna as well as cool-down air showers, a spin studio, and a specialist physiotherapy facility. This gym is the perfect choice for people who like to cross-train, use both weights and cardio equipment, as it is full of top-quality machines for both heavy lifting and heart rate lifting exercises. Access to all areas of this impressive fitness suite costs £95 per month, with lower prices available at branches outside of central London.
2. Pure Gym, Piccadilly
A contract-free, affordable option, Pure Gym memberships cost no more than £36.99 per month. With a stacked weightlifting area as well as high-quality exercise machines, this gym is reachable via the major London tube lines. There is access to holistic fitness classes as well as an impressively stocked gym that is open 24 hours making it easy to fit in a work-out even on the busiest of days.
3. E by Equinox, St James’s
This super luxury fitness facility that is located conveniently on St James’s Street is one of the most upscale gyms in London. From the elevated locker rooms with complementary laundry services to the Cryotherapy chamber and spa, this gym has it all. E for Equinox has Pilates studio, customised Woodway treadmills in the precision running zone, and refreshing eucalyptus towels available throughout. Working out has never been more luxurious, as is reflected in the monthly membership costs of £350.
4. Virgin Active, Fulham
In response to the recent wave of popularity, Virgin Active has undergone a major renovation and now boasts an impressive Pilates studio. Membership includes unlimited Pilates classes as well as access to a 25-metre indoor pool and extensive fitness suite. Virgin Active also provides 2 hours of free creche services, making life easier for parents of young children who struggle to find the time to work out. The creche caters to children as young as 6 weeks old as well as older children and is Ofsted registered. Membership costs start at £71 a month.
5. Third Space, Mayfair
The latest addition to the exercise chain, Third Space in Mayfair specialises in grown-up, luxury training. Not only is the work out equipment state of the art, but this branch also has UV-treated fresh air as well as Himalayan sea salt walls on the sauna and the option to use the provided specialised cycling shoes. These key features are what dictate the £265 monthly membership costs, making this branch slightly more expensive than other Third Space centres. But with such specialised amenities, it is worth the extra cost.
6. Lanserhof, Mayfair
Located at the Arts Club on Dover Street is the world’s first medical gym, the revolutionary Lanserhof fitness centre. Members have access to some of the country’s best medical professionals as fitness coaches. This six-floor facility is packed with cutting-edge technology such as a high-tech induction process, facial recognition systems, and the Technogym. Face scanners in the exercise machines provide individual training programmes for each member and there are over 250 exercise classes on offer every month, from yoga and Pilates to aerobics and spin. Sky-high memberships to this exclusive facility are to be expected with annual plans starting from £4000.
7. Espa Life, Westminster
The Corinthia Hotel is renowned for its large spas but it also houses one of the city’s best gyms. Espa Life provides excellent therapies and treatments to members and their recent collaboration with Athletic Medical Performance makes it an excellent place to start prioritising your wellbeing and get back in shape. With Technogym, Peloton, BLK BOX, and Theragun, Espa Life has all the latest gear to make any fitness journey as easy and luxurious as possible. The gym also offers yoga sessions, one-to-one personal training slots, and a nine-metre, steel-lined pool. Espa life memberships start at £385 per month.
8. Vita, Chelsea
At the start of 2022, a new six-story fitness centre was unveiled in Chelsea boasting a perfect view of Sloane Square. With a warm colour scheme and the inclusion of natural minerals all inspired by the Mediterranean, Vita gets its name from the Italian word for life. The gym boasts dedicated personal training studios as well as three floors housing yoga, barre, and Pilates studios. Vita takes a holistic approach to wellness and has numerous treatment rooms specialising in physiotherapy, osteopathy, and nutrition, ensuring the best possible fitness regime for members. Vita unlimited packages start from £298 per month.
9. BXR, Marylebone
London’s finest boxing gym, BXR, is owned by double heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. It is an extensive, industrial-style fitness facility boasting 12,000 square feet of open space and state-of-the-art equipment. Downstairs is a studio for Sweat by BXR, a pay-as-you-go fitness class programme that includes yoga, strength, and conditioning, and Europe’s only Versa Climber class. An annual membership at Joshua’s gym starts from £125 per month and BXR also offers flexible class packs starting at £30.
10. The Lanesborough Club and Spa, Belgravia
Located within the five-star Lanesborough Hotel, this luxury private members fitness and health club boasts one of the best exclusive gyms in the city. With elegant, gleaming marble and beautiful interior design, this 18,000-square-foot facility houses a hydro pool, a spacious gym, and tailored fitness programmes for each member. With spa treatments carried out by some of London’s leading therapists, The Lanesborough Club and Spa validates its monthly fee of between £300 and £525.
Whether you are a busy person who needs a flexible gym or a parent that needs inclusive childcare, the fitness centres of London have it all. Luxury and convenience, weights and wellbeing, whatever you desire in a gym can be found in England’s capital.
