Since I started working in London, I’ve been hunting for a good Gym. I define a “good” as:<\/p>\n
After spending some time scouring the web, I collated the following list of gyms. It’s included here along with my notes on the ones I visited, over 2 sodden nights pacing the streets of London in the evenings. Obviously the prices were what were given to me at the time:<\/p>\n
A.\tUCL Bloomsbury Fitness Centre<\/strong> http:\/\/www.uclunion.org\/leisure-fitness\/bloomsbury\/index.php 020 7679 7221
\n3rd Floor, 15 Gordon Street
\n\u00a3255 for annual offer anytime membership or 3 months for \u00a3115
\n\u00a3200 for off peak offer anytime (excludes 11am \u2013 7pm Mon-Fri) or 3 months for \u00a385
\nFree induction. \u201cBaz: we have rubber dumbbells ranging from 2kg-40kg and 2 Olympic bars with range of discs on a squat rack and bench press. Unfortunately we do not have kettle bells.\u201d<\/p>\nB.\tCity University<\/strong>, http:\/\/www.city.ac.uk\/studentcentre\/saddlers\/join\/prices.html
\nNo Oly bars \u201cFree weights to 48kg\u201d
\nAnnual: \u00a3370.00 \tMonthly: \u00a337.50 \tDirect Debit: \u00a332.50 \t\u00a36.00 single visit
\n5 free weight stations. Pull up station. 3 rowers, some bars but narrow, not full length.<\/p>\nC.\tMAXIMUMS GYM<\/strong> LTD 82 ST JOHN STREET ISLINGTON LONDON EC1M4JN
\nWasn\u2019t there !<\/p>\nD.\tJuno<\/strong>, 61 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5PT. 020 7250 3489
\nWas women\u2019s only Gym, but now appears to have closed.<\/p>\nE.\tTHE CURZONS GYM<\/strong> 55 GRACECHURCH STREET CITY OF LONDON LONDON EC3V0EE – 020 7621 0911
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nF.\tThe Fitness Exchange<\/strong>, 9 Devonshire Sq, London, EC2M 4WY. 020 7626 3161
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nG.\tVie Health Club<\/strong>, 122 Clerkenwell Rd, London, EC1R 5DL 020 72788070, viehealthclubs.co.uk \u201ccomprehensive free weights area\u201d.
\n6 free weights areas, some detachable bars, \u00a363\/month + joining free of zero to \u00a3100 depending on how they\u2019re doing.<\/p>\nH.\tAquaterra Premier Gyms<\/strong>, 1-11 Ironmonger Row, London, EC1V 3QF 020 7253 4011
\nBig swimming pool but small gym, only 2 free weight stations.<\/p>\nI.\tSlim Jims<\/strong>, 1 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2PF. 020 7247 9982
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nJ.\tThe Health Studio<\/strong>, 1 Pardon St, London, EC1V 0LR. 020 72531223
\nActually called Drakes. Personal Training only. Very small place.<\/p>\nK.\tChariots<\/strong>, Fairchild Street, London, EC2A 3NS. 020 7247 5333,
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nL.\tCUTLERS SQUASH & GYM CLUB LTD<\/strong>, 020 7614 4275, LAMBS CLUB, 1 LAMBS PASSAGE, ISLINGTON
\nLONDON EC1Y8LE – 020 7614 4275
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nM.\tCHAMBERLIN & GRANT LTD<\/strong> 1 FINSBURY AVENUE CITY OF LONDON LONDON EC2M2PF – 020 7247 9982
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nN.\tKINDER GYM (UK) LTD<\/strong> 20 LINCOLNS INN FIELDS CAMDEN LONDON WC2A3ED
\nDidn\u2019t visit, suspected it\u2019s a kids gym<\/p>\nO.\tCitypoint Club<\/strong>, Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y 9AW. 020 7920 6200
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nP.\tBody Reform<\/strong>, Cousin Lane, London, EC4R 3TE. 020 7283 3728,
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nQ.\tFitness First Plc<\/strong>, 60-63 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8QD, 020 7490 3555
\nWouldn\u2019t let me in to see the place as there were \u201cno membership consultants available\u201d.<\/p>\nR.\tHolmes Place Plc<\/strong>, 33 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8LP, 020 7448 5454
\nNow Virgin Active. 2 Oly bars with possibly the room to use them, however rather light on available weights to use them. Don\u2019t think there was enough for a decent dead lift for example, not without using every weight in the place!
\n\u00a383\/month for a 12 month contract.
\n\u00a389\/month with no contract, but can use any Virgin Gym (bar a few exceptions).
\n\u00a340 joining fee<\/p>\nS.\tLA Fitness<\/strong>. 20 Little Britain, St Pauls, London, EC1A 7DH. 020 7600 0900 http:\/\/www.lafitness.co.uk\/
\nSwimming pool, some free weights but all metal plates. 10 rowing machines.Club Peak (12 month) RRP: \u00a346 \/ month
\nWeb offer: \u00a340 \/ month (12 month contract)
\nPushed a \u201cQuick Start\u201d booklet at \u00a330<\/p>\nT.\tVirgin Active<\/strong>, 333 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DG, 020 7014 9700
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nU.\tVIRGIN GYMS LTD<\/strong>, 9 CHEAPSIDE, CITY OF LONDON, LONDON EC2V6AT
\nDidn\u2019t visit<\/p>\nV.\t121 GYM<\/strong> 160 CITY ROAD LONDON EC1V2NP, 020 7336 0466
\nAs their name suggests the 121 Gym offers a personal trainer service for its members. Appointments must be booked in advance and each session costs \u00a340. They are located within the Complete Health Care Centre.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nYou may notice that the first 2 gyms are University gyms. This is a great tip as many people don’t realise that University gyms are typically open to the public too. <\/strong> Not only are they generally cheaper than “normal” gyms, their off-peak times are the wrong way round too. Given that students are typically in the gym during the day, when they should be in lectures(!) and in the bar in the evening, their off peak time is evenings and weekends, which makes them even cheaper. UCL for example is currently \u00a3200 for a years off peak membership!<\/strong><\/p>\n
However, on Thursday last week, I found the hidden gem: Bethnal Green Weight Lifting Club<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, which is less than 2 miles away from Farringdon. Not only do they have 3 pukka weight lifting platforms, 10 Eleiko Oly bars, loads of Eleiko weights, plus they have rowing machines, about 10 power lifting stations, loads of dumbbells. I need to confirm it, but I understand the cost will be \u00a340 for a 13 week term at 1 night per week. <\/strong>That’s a bargain!<\/p>\n
But even that’s not the best bit, I went this Tuesday evening and was coached in my lifting by the current British Olympic weightlifting record holder in the Snatch and Clean and Jerk and the 2002 Commonwealth Snatch gold medal winner: Giles Greenwood<\/strong>. His over 105kg weight record is 180kg (396lb) Snatch and 207.5kg (456lb) C&J<\/a>. Just to put that in perspective, I can’t even lift 180kg off the floor, let alone throw it over my head!<\/p>\n