February 16, 2022
London’s BEST endorphin boosting fitness studios | 2022
It’s mid-way through February, raining and you’re wondering whether your desire to workout is slipping away. Fear not, our Editor Kaya Cheshire is here with your definitive guide to endorphin-boosting studios, stand-alone gyms and sweat-fuelled sessions to make you crave many many more.
These are perfect on the days you’re commuting to the office, pre or post workday and even for a spontaneous mental health boost on those down days.
Although the rise of fitness from home workouts has seen huge expansion, nothing beats an in-person workout with passionate trainers, competitive counterparts and a badass playlist.
These are the top 9 tried and tested fitness spots to get your sweat on!
StrongHer | Strictly Women Only
The mission of East London’s fitness studio StrongHer is to create an inclusive community of women, all with a shared love for fitness and wellbeing through effective strength and resistance training and straightforward nutritional education.
All levels (beginner, intermediate, or workout pros) are welcome as well as those who identify as women, which means non-binary and transgender too! With strength & conditioning, HIIT, weight training and mobility classes available, you’ll be spoilt for choice. With some amazing coaches including Shaz, Abi and Lana, you’ll be pumped for your next session.
Price: Get a 7-day unlimited intro pack offer for £25 to try studio classes & the gym
Location: Bethnal Green, East London
With its flagship located in the heart of Marylebone, BXR London is the world’s first high-end boxing gym. BXR launched in January 2017 and spans 12,000 square foot across two floors with a full-size boxing ring by Ringcraft at its core.
In 2017 BXR London launched Sweat by BXR, its boutique pay-to-train concept which offers group training classes based on cardio, strength and conditioning, boxing skills and mobility. At Canary Wharf, Sweat by BXR utilises VersaClimb, a low impact climb where you push for an insane vertical mile height. With some incredible coaches including Carli and Thalia, you’re in for a treat.
Price: Introductory sweat for £15
Locations: Canary Wharf, Marylebone, Bishopsgate (2022 opening)
1Rebel’s Rumble classes combine classic boxing techniques with HIIT-based challenges to sculpt muscles and break a real sweat! If you’re up for a real fitness challenge, this class is highly recommended. Ready to box like a pro? Book in with Luke, Mia or Alice for a truly legendary training session.
With 9 London sites, and multiple concepts including Reshape (treadmill sprints and weights), Ride (cycle), Rig (hybrid fitness concept combining HIIT, circuits and functional training, plus Reformer pilates, Rebel is fast becoming one of the best gyms in London.
Price: from £23/class or first three classes for £29
Locations: Broadgate, Hammersmith, St Marys Axe, Angel, Southbank, Bayswater, Victoria, Holborn, Oxford Circus
The Fore is a gorgeous workout studio that means business. This is one of the newer additions to the King’s Cross development and when you walk in you’re not disappointed. The space is beautifully bespoke with a co-working space, gorgeous sofas and natural light from every angle. That said, it’s undoubtedly one of London’s toughest exercise classes and with TXR, HIIT, Boxing, Yoga and PT available, you can pick your poison.
Fortitude with Mike was a killer unique class that combines TXR, the RIP Trainer Technogym’s Skillmill, to test every element of your fitness, build endurance, speed and flexibility. That said, Shogun boxing with New York native and professional boxer Richie is a truly memorable experience!
Price: £20/class or wider membership options
Location: Kings Cross
Core Collective is a boutique fitness brand with studios in Knightsbridge, Kensington and St John’s Wood. They offer a selection of classes including cycle, circuit, ROW, power yoga, and Mat Pilates. Core Collective also has TRX sculpt and TRX burn classes that are an awesome challenge to fitness lovers! With a mission to bring results-driven, fun and flexible classes in a community-focused environment, Core Collective is on the hot list for the foreseeable future.
Price: £18/class
Location: Kensington, Knightsbridge, St John’s Wood
Now even David Beckham is a fan of the cult Aussie workouts which merge functional training, circuits and HITT training! Expect more burpees, box jumps, and moves that’ll leave you utterly destroyed but on a high from the team that’s there to pump you up! A great F45 is in one in Camden, that’s run by Palomie – a positive owner who’s ready to help you at every turn! The team is also excellent, big shoutouts to Stephan, Jay and Ray for the energy and encouragement that’s needed to get through the sessions!
Cost: 7 days for £20, 10 classes/£240
Location: Camden
The original high-intensity interval workout. Barry’s tones muscle and maximise fat loss with a combination of running and weights. The cult workouts are divided between intervals on the treadmill and strength training on the floor. Each day at Barry’s they focus on a different area from the full body (upper or lower) to chest back & abs. If you’re looking for high-intensity interval training that will push you to your limits, look no further.
Price: £53 (3 class newbie pack) or £24/class
Locations: Multiple London Locations! East, West, Central, Soho, St Pauls, Canary Wharf
FLEX Chelsea – an award-winning boutique fitness studio offers a variety of low-impact and yoga classes including Power, Slow Flow, Fit Flow, Fire Flow, Dharma and CBD Yin. Peach for the Beach, a glutes-focused workout for peachy posteriors has to be a member’s favourite though!
Cost: £22/class
Location: Chelsea
The immersive qualities of the classes (screen, music and darkroom), allow you to focus on your fitness rather than looking at other people around you or worrying about your pace. If you’re looking for a post-lockdown fitness challenge or something that can complement your current workout routine, FLY LDN is the perfect space to let all your thoughts from the long day melt away.
With classes including Base Flow, (specifically designed for beginners, postpartum practitioners and those recovering from injury), Slow Flow (an immersive mellow flow class set to an uplifting playlist meditative, aimed at busy business people who really need to tune everything out). For beginners or anyone looking for a slow-paced, low-intensity class) and Dynamic Pilates (designed to improve flexibility, strength, posture and alignment).
Price: first-class intro/ £10, or Individual classes/£17
Location: Aldgate
Written by Kaya Cheshire for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International