The best gyms in London for lifting

The default for most London lifters.

Cheap, open 24/7, and genuinely everywhere — but the sites vary wildly. The big-box branches (Stratford, Kentish Town) have racks and plates for days; the cramped high-street ones become a rack-queue at 6pm. No frills — no pool, no sauna — just weights. Check the specific branch before you commit.

PureGym's twin — same formula, same crowds.

Budget, 24/7, no-frills, and priced to match. The kit at some of the newer sites is a notch above, but you get the same peak-hour crush and the same "is there a free rack?" lottery. Perfectly good for straightforward barbell work if you can train off-peak.

Where London goes to actually enjoy the gym.

Loud, well-equipped, and a proper free-weights floor with a boxing ring — plus the most unhinged class timetable in the city (live DJs, combat classes). Pricier than the budget chains and not 24/7 everywhere, but the kit and the atmosphere earn the step up.

A health club, not just a gym.

Pools, saunas, spa, a full class schedule — the whole package for people who want to swim and steam as much as they squat. The free-weights areas are good rather than hardcore; you're paying for the amenities as much as the iron. Day passes exist but aren't cheap.

London luxury that didn't forget the lifters.

Immaculate kit, pools, spa, climbing walls, and enough recovery facilities to move in — but unlike most premium clubs, the free-weight floors are genuinely excellent. If you want a serious lifting gym wrapped in a spa, this is it. Priced accordingly, and day passes are rare and expensive.

The status pick — beautiful, flawless, eye-watering.

Gorgeous clubs, faultless kit, pools, spa, and eucalyptus towels — and a price tag to remind you of all of it. Only a handful of London locations. Overkill if all you do is pull heavy off the floor; perfect if you want the whole lifestyle with your lifting.