Strength and Conditioning gyms in London

**superbadger** · 03-02-2012 06:14 PM

I'm starting a job in London sometime between August-October of this year and I'm looking for a good workout facility.

I've come to the conclusion that the traditional Fitness First/Virgin Active/Bannatynes type of gym is not suited to my needs. What I want is a strength and conditioning gym with Olympic platforms as well as power racks, benches and good barbells and bumper plates. In addition to that, I'd also like the place to be a sports center that has a place to throw shot put as well as some sort of plyometrics equipment.

I've heard that Lee Valley might be the kind of place I'm looking for and some university facilities are also suited to these needs. Does anyone know of sports centers/gyms that meet these requirements? I will be working in finance so Canary Wharf or around there is where I'll be working so the place shouldn't be too far from there or from a place that is a reasonable communte from the financial district.

Anyone know anything good?

**LewisIngram** · 16-02-2012 12:18 PM

Hi superbadger,

I can suggest only several good clubs IMHO which I've visited ever:

FitSpace Gyms
Fitness First
LA fitness
and
Sohogyms

All these gyms are good and rather cheap.

Cheers,
Lewis

**dope540** · 16-02-2012 01:39 PM

brunel uni has a pretty good set up

**hailtotheking** · 16-02-2012 02:08 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by LewisIngram

Hi superbadger,

I can suggest only several good clubs IMHO which I've visited ever:

FitSpace Gyms
Fitness First
LA fitness
and
Sohogyms

All these gyms are good and rather cheap.

Cheers,
Lewis

None of those are proper S&C gyms, and they wont have the stuff the OP said, like weightlifting platforms.

The only proper strength gym i have ever been to with weightlifting platforms, proper weightlifting bars, chalk pits, indoor track for spritning and sled work, throwing area, etc. is at Crystal Palace heavy weights room. You would need to see Keith Morgan there if you wanted to train there.

**dope540** · 16-02-2012 03:18 PM

httk's suggestion is better than brunel uni. no sled work there but they do have a 100 sprint track, sand pit for making sandcastles when you're bored and a high jump area. good oly room set up there as well.

**craig1014** · 16-02-2012 05:09 PM

Ive used the gym at Lee Valley - 6-8 lifting platforms, 3-4 power racks. Seiko/eleiko bars and weights, so good quality. There is also at least one indoor shot circle, as well as at least one outdoor one, as well as plyo mats that you can use. There are boxes in the gym you can use for box jumps, or hurdles by the track for hurdle jumps. There aren't that many machine weights at all, maybe a leg press, hamstring curl and calf raise machine.

Obviously there is then a 60m indoors straight (where Brunel has 120m) and an outdoor track.

Its decent enough, just not sure what the opening hours to the public are.

**reggae_ryan** · 22-02-2012 03:47 PM

Muscleworks in bethnal green if you're in east london is a pretty serious lifting gym i understand.
The reebok gym in canary wharf is pretty good but not sure it has everything you're looking for.

**JamieSawyer** · 13-03-2012 05:42 PM

One of the most kitted out facilities for powerlifting/strongman/ and somewhat olympic lifting is Genesis gym in Wembley. Home of Dave 'Bulldog' Beattie. Worth a look!