Virgin Active

My first non-​restaurant review!
I actually really like this gym. It has massive high ceilings, is airy and I never have to wait to use cardio machines. They’re not stingy with towels — you can pick up 2 or more as they don’t monitor it (I used a fitness first where you got just one). Showers and changing rooms are generally pretty clean though showers sometimes smell a bit.
There ARE a lot of kids around but they have adult-​only changing rooms so I just always use them. I haven’t used the swimming pool so can’t comment on that.
The only downside is that the best classes get booked up very quickly so you have to be very on it. But it’s easy to book online (6 days in advance) and then you can just cancel if you make plans closer to the day of the class.
The classes themselves are of mixed quality — really depends on the instructor. Most of the instructors are great with really high energy. I find them challenging too and the best way to work out as otherwise I don’t push myself. The instructor didn’t turn up to a class once which was very annoying as I’d waited around for it, but at least it’s only happened once.

This Virgin Active is certainly not one of the better ones in the city, but because of its location, I do go from time to time, as it’s close to my work. The facilities are pretty decent, but I tense up every time I set foot into the locker room because there are a ton of kids running around, which isn’t very fun. I personally go to the gym to de-​stress and quite frankly, 20 screaming and crying kids, latching onto their moms makes me want to turn around and leave. The workout machines are ok, but sometimes malfunction (touch screen won’t work, the timer will freeze, etc). But the staff is really friendly and helpful, so that’s quite nice. In any event, I’m just glad that this gym isn’t my home gym, but I am grateful that this one is close to my work.

New refurbishment makes this place amazing and I love how its one of the only London clubs above ground.

This place has gone downhill since my last review.
I really loved the place for the pool, but they’ve turned it into Disney. I pay a lot of money to train, and at times I’ve been forced to swim in one lane with 8 other adults.
8 adults paying to swim in one lane? Lame.
¹⁄₃^rd of the pool is otherwise taken up by kid lessons and another 3^rd is for family splash time, even though they have a kid pool as well. Management is «aware of the situation» but doesn’t do anything to address it. I now go out of my way to other VAs.