If you are looking to boost your endorphins, reach your fitness goals, or find a fun and friendly fitness community in East London, you aren’t short of options when looking for a new gym to sign up with.
In this list of the seven best gyms in East London, we have included budget-friendly options, gyms that will give every member 5-star VIP treatment, and gyms which run fitness programmes that certainly aren’t your run-of-the-mill routines.
After reading this list, which was curated after looking at user reviews, overall gym reputations, and facilities provided, we highly recommend checking out the gyms in person to see if it is the right fit for you.
Many of the gyms included in this rundown of top facilities offer day passes, which can be purchased before you sign on the dotted line of a membership contract. Similarly, it is always worth contemplating affordability – especially if you are signing a six- or twelve-month contract which may be cheaper in the long run but can become unaffordable over time.
How to Choose the Right Gym for You
Never let price and location be the main deciding factors when looking for a new gym. There are plenty of other factors that shouldn’t be overlooked before investing in a gym membership; the main ones are as follows:
1. Equipment Variety
Gym equipment is often the primary selling point of gyms; however, they are not all created equal. Some gyms put a strong emphasis on cardio equipment, while others cater to gym-goers wanting to make use of free weights or exercise spaces. Furthermore, some gyms will be kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment, while more budget-friendly gyms can contain equipment leagues behind contemporary fitness technology!
2. Personal Trainers & Classes
Some gyms offer personal trainers and unlimited classes as a part of the membership deal – but it is not always the case. Both are great ways to keep motivated and transform your gym sessions into a social experience. On the other hand, if you prefer to put on your headphones or earbuds and go solo, there is no need to pay the premium for services you won’t use.
3. Spa and Pool Facilities –
Typically, the East London gyms that also provide unlimited access to spa facilities, such as pools, Jacuzzis, and steam rooms, are priced far higher than those that solely sell themselves on the gym equipment provided. If you think the prospect of heading into a sauna will help you keep making those return trips, it can be more than worth the cost.
4. Women-Only Workout Spaces
While women are free to occupy all the workout spaces in a mixed gym, many prefer to work out in women-only areas. A number of the gyms included in this provided women-only areas, which provide all the cardio and weightlifting equipment needed to carry out a full and effective workout.
7 Best Gyms in East London
1. BLOK London
Kicking off the list of the top seven gyms in East London is BLOK, which has locations in both Shoreditch and Clapton. Both locations are revered for being the most highly rated gyms in East London for high-end fitness – don’t be fooled by the exposed brick walls and metal piping. The BLOK gyms are the perfect option for fitness fanatics who prefer a pay-as-you-go style payment system and prefer to work out in groups.
There is a range of fitness classes on offer, including yoga for anyone wanting to find zen instead of adrenaline, high-intensity Animal Flow classes, and the ever-popular HIIT classes. You can even roll with the punches with the specialised BlokFit boxing classes.
Classes range from £7 for the Clapton location and £10 for the Shoreditch location.
2. Rena London St Paul’s
Rena London St Paul’s gym will leave you in the lap of luxury while taking advantage of the five-star exercise studio and fitness centre, which contains all the latest weights and cardio machines. Functional training and yoga sessions are also made possible by spacious and aesthetically astounding mat areas.
The pool area is decadent enough to rival the ones found in boutique hotels in London; there is also a steam room and sauna to boot. The health and leisure club were built to create the ultimate urban sanctuary where members can rejuvenate mind, body, and soul.
A day pass costs £30; if you would prefer unlimited access to the club, a monthly pass costs £99.75.
3. Equinox Bishopsgate
The Equinox gym group started in New York before the open-plan fitness playground made its way to Bishopsgate in East London. You may have to pay quite the premium to get through the door, but if any of the high-end gyms provide value for money, it is Equinox. There is all the kit you could possibly ask for, and plenty of it to remove the need to queue for machines and weights – even during peak hours!
So you can look the part during your workout sessions; there is also the Equinox gym shop on-site – you may just find yourself forgetting your gym bag on purpose to kit yourself out in the luxury sportswear.
With a £200 a month membership, Equinox doesn’t come cheap, but as the Equinox pioneers say, health is wealth!
4. The Foundry, Old Street
If intense muscle conditioning circuit training is what you need to get in shape and fulfil your fitness goals, The Foundry gym on Old Street will put you through the paces and then some. The Foundry was founded by the professional rugby player and always-in-demand personal trainer, Ben Gotting. He wanted to create the ultimate environment for those seriously serious about fitness; his gym could easily create the next World’s Strongest Man Champion!
The fat-burning workouts are only for the brave; burning more than your fair share of calories is guaranteed when running with generously loaded sandbags and tyres!
Individual strongman sessions start from £20, but if you want to become part of the team and discover the strongest version of yourself, a monthly membership is a great investment at £150 a month. Whoever you are, as long as you share the values of The Foundry team and members, you will fit in and instantly feel empowered and inspired.
5. Third Space, Canary Wharf
Looking for a gym with all the trimmings? Third Space in Canary Wharf will allow you to get your exercise fill. The vast health club was created to provide an escapist haven for adrenaline junkies – it practically comes with its own urban ecosystem. On-site, you will find everything from a spa to restaurants to medical services.
There’s no need to prime your Spotify playlists before you arrive; the resident Third Space DJs will ensure that the sound system constantly pushes out high-vibe hits worth working up a sweat to! You can go at your own pace and find your rhythm while utilising the equipment, or you can sign up for classes where you can enjoy spinning, wall climbing and HIIT workouts in a group setting.
Memberships cost £200 a month; book a private tour to ensure it is the right gym for you!
6. PureGym, Shoreditch
Getting fit doesn’t have to cost the earth; if you are on a budget, there’s no shame in making your face known at the PureGym in Shoreditch. It may not boast the same high-end appeal, but that isn’t to say there isn’t an array of high-quality equipment and exercise classes that are highly efficacious when you use them in your fitness regime.
There are also PureGym locations in Whitechapel and Canary Wharf, where you will find 200 pieces of equipment to work up a sweat on. Obviously, with a budget gym, the price is the best selling point; it will only set you back £20 a month to make PureGym your number one exercise haunt – that is 10% of what it will cost to attend Third Space and Equinox monthly!
7. Gymbox
After the success of its flagship gym, Gymbox has sprawled across East London by opening branches in Shoreditch, Bank, Stratford, Old Street and Farringdon. It may not be one of the flashiest gyms on this list, but it is one of the most unique. The understated décor is an unusual contrast against the soundtracks provided by the resident DJs, and the personal trainers that are always on hand to give you a push in the right direction also help to keep the energy high.
The Gymbox locations are also incredibly inventive with their workout classes. They are one of the only places in East London where you can try Pranayama Yoga, which includes a soul-soothing meditative breathwork technique. If you aren’t a yoga fan, the choreographed swordplay sessions may be up your street. If you are looking for a gym that makes you push harder than your average location, Gymbox is a hard one to beat.
You can pay monthly with a rolling contract or save money in the long run with a three-, six- or twelve-month membership.
