Gym Reviews

I have been coming to Good Vibes for over a year. I started just before my birthday having put in lots of weight in previous months. I like all the trainers here, they really encourage you. it was because of this friendliness that I came back.

I don't get bored of the classes and at only 25 minutes is it easy to do my 3 sessions a week. I lost one and half stone, 5 inches off my waist and 3 inches off my chest and bottom.

Clothes that I couldn't once get over my hips are now loose on me, it's a great excuse to go shopping. My husband is delighted and it's great to get attention from other men again!

Virgin Active, Regent's Park branch is nicely proportioned gym, despite being a little small. If its using a ladies-only section, classes or running then it'll be fine. However, if its resistance training then it might not be suitable.

The free-weights area is small and can get frustratingly crowded so be prepared to wait a bit for a bench/machine to be available. having said that, the clientèle are respectable and you won't get small groups of young lads hogging the bench press for ages.

Overall, its nice but I do additionally use the bigger Virgin gyms for a proper free-weights work-out.

Jubilee Hall Covent Garden is truly unique. Right on the square, it is situated away from busy traffic and on the top floor under a huge glass roof, where you can enjoy an abundance of natural light and ventilation.

The gym has a lot of character. It was built in the Victorian era and the grand double height space could easily accommodate a train station, an exaggeration of course but people get what I mean.

This is a friendly gym,where you will find many loyal staff and clientele who have been associated with the gym for 15 years or more!

So to the point, is it any good as a gym? In the last year they have installed new equipment and introduced a range of new classes, some with exciting choreography incorporated, the majority are free to members.

At peak times there is rarely an issue of waiting for free equipment. The changing rooms have also undergone some improvement; they are pleasant and clean with adequate showers and saunas. Although the gym has got more popular and there have been an increase of lockers they could put a few more showers as there is usually queue for them at peak times.

Overall a gym I would never want to leave and I travel from Brixton!

I have been coming to Good Vibes for over a year. I started just before my birthday having put in lots of weight in previous months. I like all the trainers here, they really encourage you. it was because of this friendliness that I came back.

I don't get bored of the classes and at only 25 minutes is it easy to do my 3 sessions a week. I lost one and half stone, 5 inches off my waist and 3 inches off my chest and bottom.

Clothes that I couldn't once get over my hips are now loose on me, it's a great excuse to go shopping. My husband is delighted and it's great to get attention from other men again!

Considering the location it is a good sized space, with half taken up with cardio machines - running machines, cross-trainers, rowing machines, bikes and steps, and even when the gym is at its busiest there are generally a couple going spare.

There is also a comprehensive set of weight machines, and a good well equipped free weights area.

For those who like classes there are 2 studios, one for spin classes, and one for a variety of other classes which run through the day and evening, and are included in membership.

I've been a member of Soho Gyms for many years and I would definitely recommend the gym without any reservations. They don't charge joining fees and offer various flexible memberships to suit the different needs of members.

The staff are always helpful, friendly and knowledgeable, and most branches have a very good selection of cardiovascular machines, resistance machines and free weights.

The Freedom Plus Tag membership also enables one to train at all the branches, which is great for those who do a lot of travelling within London for their work.

Didn't know gyms like this existed til I left my last gym of 7 years to come to Virgin. Bit more plush, and it's HUGE! Very plentiful in space. I do not use any of the classes, but I can see the the class rooms are enormous and usually in full capacity when a class is in full swing (I always run past them in with head down in shame - those classes do look fun, but TIRING!)

On the gym floor, there are modern machines for virtually every muscle group, with abundance of space for using a bench. There are 2 sets of dumbells so there need not be any drama if someone has pinched all the 12kg's

There are cardio machines aplenty for running, cross training, rowing, and that one that females (and the occasional guy!) does for their bum!

The changing rooms are also pretty big, with plenty lockers, so no need for those undignified lunchtime scramble.

This gym also includes a large swimming pool, a rather nice large hot tub, steam rooms, squash courts and a nice chill out area where you can buy very tasty food! (I am not on commission! honest!)

The staff are professional and friendly - even the personal trainers seem to know what they are doing!

*highly recommended*

The gym is located below the Station concourse and despite being a bit hidden it is a gem within the Fitness First chain in London. At Platinum level - it offers a large cardio training section and also a separate machine room with large free weight section.

The staff and the trainers are generally easily approachable and it being a City based gym, most of the clients are city types of a younger generation. Less attitude more fun work out.

The changing rooms are large and fairly clean, though the sauna breaks regularily and the showers/toilets could be kept cleaner.

I have been coming to Good Vibes for over a year. I started just before my birthday having put in lots of weight in previous months. I like all the trainers here, they really encourage you. it was because of this friendliness that I came back.

I don't get bored of the classes and at only 25 minutes is it easy to do my 3 sessions a week. I lost one and half stone, 5 inches off my waist and 3 inches off my chest and bottom.

Clothes that I couldn't once get over my hips are now loose on me, it's a great excuse to go shopping. My husband is delighted and it's great to get attention from other men again!

Wow, how exciting to be back at the gym and enjoying it.

Gymbox Bank is nothing short of exciting. The reception staff are very friendly and it only gets better. The place is huge and despite arriving at peak time when all the city workers are turning up there is still plenty of space to workout and no queue for the machines.

The changing rooms are the cleanest I have seen at any gym, from the inside of the lockers right through to the shower cubicles (which incidentally you can swing more than a few cats in!).

The gym is situated inside an old bank and goes two floors underground into the depths of the old vaults. There is a large weights room, two studios, cardio machines area, boxing ring and cage fighting ring and a few hidden workout areas too.

Workouts are accompanied by resident DJs spinning some tunes but not too loud that you can’t hear your own music if you choose. Cardio machines also have handy iPod adaptors as well as TV screens.

Membership is worth every penny.

A basement building with a nice layout.

The changing room is not really spacious and can get easily over-crowded.

A good variety of machines and a decent free weights area.

No swimming pool but there is steam room with the shower area. They could do with cleaning the changing rooms a bit more often.

Probably one of the nicest looking gyms ive seen with nice sized pool, gym, studio, treatment rooms.

The problems ive discovered since being there for about a year and a half was the air conditioning constantly breaking down as well as cancelled classes every week and coakroaches in the building due to it being in a tunnel.

Its a shame because its in a great location but these issues need to be resolved as there are lots of gyms in the area for people to join.

The location of this gym is of close proximity to all of the amenities that Elephant and Castle has to offer. The gym is segregated into spaces comprising a weights room, a cardio room, dance studio and courts. The gym has an adequate amount of cardio machines, a plethora of weight machines but not enough free weights to support an experienced training programme.

Facilities include: big courts for basketball, badminton, squash and tennis and, unfortunately, a defunct swimming pool. There are a wide range of gym classes for people to choose from, including aerobics, step, body pump, legs bums and tums but sadly, no spinning.

Overall, I would give this rating of 6/10

Having opened mid February 2008 the facilities are all still very new and the membership level yet to become properly established.

They offer studio based classes which has a good range of classes and I would expect this to grow with the membership base.

Borough branch is their new 'spa' concept and so they offer a mixed sex sauna and steam room as added relaxation facilities. The changing facilities are spacious and functional with basic amenities.

A basement gym that has recently been refurbished and now with an amazing layout.

Good selections of machines, swimming pool and free weights area. The gym also has both a steam room and sauna.

The gym is also very clean and one of the best gyms I have been to alongside Cannons in Paddington.

Large, spacious gym with plenty of equipment, so there is no fighting for anything like treadmills or cross-trainers!

Friendly staff are always on hand for any questions or tips on training

Can get busy late afternoon/early evening with people training after work, but generally quiet daytimes and weekends.

Paris Gym is one of those places where you wouldn't know it's there unless you're in the know! This is a shame because as far as gyms go.... this is one of the best south of the river. From the moment that you step into the secluded entrance just off the Albert Embankment you can see that this place means business. The actual gym is underneath the railway, in the arches with the entrance on the opposite side of the railway to the main road. Please note that as Vauxhall has become a mini gay village in the past couple of years this has meant that Paris (gym) is advertised as a gay men's gym, and although not exclusively gay, it does mean that it's exclusively male.

To start with, this place opens from 6am through until 11pm (with peak time being between 4.30pm-8pm normally and last admission being at 10.15pm), and upon entry I don't think there has been a single time where there isn't a 'hello' from the friendly staff. The gym is split into 4 sections; two arches with both free weights (43 pairs of dumbells and 12 fixed barbells) and machines (76 weight-training stations) + a section of cardio machines (e.g. tread mills, rowers and step machines -19 cardio stations in total), the locker area with showers and sauna and a stand up sun bed (also now available are the spray tan system), a room for cardio and taught/ led classes such as Yoga, Pilates & Body-Sculpt. Then finally a small room (located in the second arch) which is used for different things each day (e.g. hairdressers, massage, sports therapy, N.L.P. (Neuro linguistic therapy), etc.).

Outside of peak time it's normally quiet enough that you rarely have to wait for equipment unlike many of the inner-city gyms. But like most gyms you find that at peak times you may have to wait a little, but due to the comfortable surrounds combined with a relaxed atmosphere you can easily start chatting the guys around you (and being a gay gym means that there is less worry homophobic reactions). Failing that the wonderful staff are equally good for conversation of that little bit of help when needing to figure out how to use a particular piece of equipment.

For those needing a little push in training there is an array of personal trainers that are able to help you build your perfect body all with different approaches and different strengths, as well as contacts for life coaching and dietary assistance. The gym also has a small selection of equipment available to buy, such as gloves and lifting belts. They also have a convenient bar (non-alcoholic) with an array of drinks ranging from coffee (instant or ground) to protein shakes and even creatine supplements. All the dietary supplements are also available to buy in larger tubs, so effectively you can try most of the supplements (for about £2.50 - £3.00) before you want to commit to buying in bulk (tubs normally range between £25 - £32 on average).

If you want a relaxed gym that caters for the modern guy who wants to a proper gym without the generalised sudo testosterone fuel of an inner city gym, that manages to have those final touches to make it both serious and relaxed at the same time - check out Paris gym.

A fairly modern sports facility which includes a gym, large swimming pools (one funpool and one 25m training pool), squash courts, fitness classes, etc

Changing and locker facilities are quite basic, but it's local to me so I shower when I get home.

The staff are very knowledgable, friendly and always willing to help if you need some coaching or assistance.

Fitness First in Streatham is a new venture and long-awaited.

With a power plate, treadmills, elliptical trainers, computer-games bikes [that you can race each other on, and go someway to relieve the boredom of motionless cycling], spinning room, dance studio, steam room, sauna, great pool, nice changing rooms and lots of weights, free coffee, movies, newspapers and really friendly staff all make this a lovely place to visit and be a member of.

My only critique would be that they still don't have any dance aerobic classes.

Great gym, big open plan layout, friendly staff and decent facilities.

I work out here about 3-4 times a week and although it's busy you can always get on something.

The spa area is excellent with two saunas, steam room and jaccuzi pool, perfect place to relax after a hard workout.

I have been coming to Good Vibes for over a year. I started just before my birthday having put in lots of weight in previous months. I like all the trainers here, they really encourage you. it was because of this friendliness that I came back.

I don't get bored of the classes and at only 25 minutes is it easy to do my 3 sessions a week. I lost one and half stone, 5 inches off my waist and 3 inches off my chest and bottom.

Clothes that I couldn't once get over my hips are now loose on me, it's a great excuse to go shopping. My husband is delighted and it's great to get attention from other men again!

The gym is always well populated and the machinery always in good working order.

The weights area is always clean and I have no problems in using the apparatus. It could do with being a little bigger to allow for more people.

The change rooms are always clean and the showers are too.

The pool area is small which puts me off swimming a little bit but it is clean and accessible.

The main area is large enough for the cycling and running machines, separate area for free weights and large enough space enough for abs workout

Layout a bit odd, Locker room and showers are quite dated

Amazing basement building, brand new gym and really good layout. Big space for cycling and running but not much room for free weights.

The changing room is large enough not to feel over-crowded when busy and amazingly well kept

Great swimming pool with sauna and steam room.

Rarely too crowded, good variety of cardio and weights and a nice pool. Lots of classes. Dry sauna in the lockers (single sex) and wet sauna by the pool.

Long opening hours - good if you like to work out late. Locker room has had a recent makeover - fit for purpose. Towels provided.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff - very approachable and always around. Free PT session monthly with membership.

Above average price but guess it reflects the area, but worth it if you go regularly and use all the facilities.