For centuries, London has been a city that embraces the pursuit of physical fitness. Inspired by the gymnastic strength and discipline programmes of Germany and Scandinavia, the Victorians soon began to see the benefits of regular workouts and created their own sanctuaries within the capital to do so.
The German Gymnasium, built in 1865 in King’s Cross, is widely regarded as the first purpose-built gym and it’s safe to say that things have changed a little since then. Now the gym & fitness industry in the UK is valued at almost £6 billion with around 11 million people holding regular gym member status. As ever, London leads the way with some of the most prestigious, exclusive and expensive gym facilities that cater to both physical and mental wellness in innovative, bespoke and successful ways.
Our guide to the elite gyms of London presents a collection of the very best.
Surrenne
Beneath the glorious Knightsbridge hotels of The Emory and The Berkeley lies Surrenne, perhaps the most coveted gym in all of London. This place spans four subterranean floors with 2000 square metres dedicated to the most exquisite suite of fitness, wellness, health and beauty services you could find anywhere in the world.
The Fitness Centre carries state-of the-art equipment from Peloton, Woodway and Hydrow for the most complete cardio programmes and the Recovery Suite is waiting with steam rooms, Hyperice tools and Hypervolt massage machines to rejuvenate and refresh when the workout is done. Surrenne is also home to the first Tracy Anderson Studio in the UK with regular body sculpting classes available using methods from the celebrated fitness author.
Membership is capped at 100 so there is often a lengthy waiting list with references from existing members a necessity for review. If successful there will be a joining fee of £5000 that includes a full body assessment and annual subscription costing around £10,000. This is focussed fitness delivered in first-class surroundings with the very best services and support.
Lanserhof at The Arts Club
In the heart of Mayfair, this is a collaboration between the two world-renowned institutions of the medical spa brand, Lanserhof Group, and the legendary private members space of The Arts Club. The philosophy here is to use a sophisticated integration of medical diagnostics with luxury fitness and holistic health programmes to provide a complete approach for health and wellbeing. MRI scanners, 3D scanning and a Spine Lab are used to profile your individual physical requirements, restrictions and capability so a tailored schedule can be created.
Six floors of services deliver some of the most innovative fitness products available anywhere in the world with microchip-enabled facilities that recognise the members and automatically adjust to a personalised training program. There are virtual reality training machines also available to deliver an immersive core workout experience that is out of this world. Cutting edge therapeutic services such as cryotherapy chambers, IV infusions and acupuncture provide unmatched recovery choices and on-site nutritionists support all members with lifestyle coaching and dietary guidance too.
There are several levels of membership here, but to experience the full facilities amounts to a £1500 joining fee and annual subscription of around £6500. This is a wonderful place where the future meets fitness in a medically aligned way.
The Lanesborough Club & Spa
The Lanesborough Hotel at Hyde Park Corner has been held in high esteem since it was established in the fabulous surroundings of the old St George’s Hospital in 1991. In 2015 the Lanesborough Club & Spa was created on site and quickly became an award-winning addition to their already stellar services.
There are five main areas to The Lanesborough Club & Spa across a sanctuary of 1600 square metres. A Fitness Centre houses the latest cardio and strength building gym equipment with personal trainers on the floor to maximise use and tailor personal programs for every member. Male and female Thermal Suites provide the saunas and steam rooms that lead to a shared hydrotherapy pool and the Relaxation Areas are well-designed lounges of tranquillity. Spa treatments, massages, facials and alternative therapies are always available too with collaborations from brands such as Tata Harper introducing rejuvenating products into the experiences.
Fees at The Lanesborough Club & Spa start from £6000 per year, but there are day passes that offer the opportunity to experience the facilities without commitment. Although, after a few hours you are certain to be impressed, energised and refreshed.
KX
KX, pronounced ‘Kicks’ was established in 2002 in the centre of Chelsea and serves as a great example of how the area has witnessed a new youthful and forward thinking energy over the last two decades. As you would expect, the members can benefit from personalised schedules and programmes that attend to their requirements and fitness goals, but it is through the lifestyle consultations and cellular blood testing that the real advantage of KX is delivered. A Wellness Assessment can uncover how a collection of the 100 classes from disciplines such as yoga, Pilates, Barre, spinning, boxing and dance led by world-class instructors will be able to complement your cardio and strength training.
Although all levels and abilities are welcome at KX, there are facilities created with an elite athletic audience in mind. Their Athletic Performance Programme is a 6 week schedule that encourages peak performance using advanced sports testing and tailored training regimes. For many, this is the perfect way to begin their membership at KX with the course costing around £4000 including membership for that time. Full annual membership is available at KX starting at approximately £7000 per year.
Visiting a London gym in 2025 is so much more than a few minutes on a treadmill and a plunge in a pool. The lifestyle, communities and experiences they provide offer ways to augment your entire life in the city. Our collection demonstrates how important this can be as a social anchor where your schedules of physical and mental fitness are aligned with the ever-important aspect of spending time with like-minded people and establishing new connections. In many ways it can become a valuable and incredibly beneficial home from home.
