Guidebook for San Francisco
Entertainment & Activities
I helped the legendary nightclub the Ministry of Sound develop this totally new concept. They’ve converted these awesome two arches under the railway into a new studio space for mind-blowing circuit and strength training with treadmill work thrown in. And you get the best sound system in Europe and laser shows. It’s like nothing else in London.
If you’re with someone who can’t be persuaded to work out, there’s a great juice bar in the next-door arch that serves healthy food but also has a full license. So if your partner wants a drink while you work out, all your bases are covered.
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Ministry of Sound
103 Gaunt StI helped the legendary nightclub the Ministry of Sound develop this totally new concept. They’ve converted these awesome two arches under the railway into a new studio space for mind-blowing circuit and strength training with treadmill work thrown in. And you get the best sound system in Europe and laser shows. It’s like nothing else in London.
If you’re with someone who can’t be persuaded to work out, there’s a great juice bar in the next-door arch that serves healthy food but also has a full license. So if your partner wants a drink while you work out, all your bases are covered.
The British heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is one of the brains—and the muscle— behind this high-end gym and ring in Marylebone. They’ve got loads of famous people on the board, including DJ Mark Ronson and some Victoria’s Secrets models, so it’s the place to go if you like to spot celebs while working out.
You have to be a member to use most of the gym, but they do have drop-in classes downstairs. It’s not somewhere I would recommend for a beginner or, shall we say, a less conditioned client.
BXR
24 Paddington StThe British heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is one of the brains—and the muscle— behind this high-end gym and ring in Marylebone. They’ve got loads of famous people on the board, including DJ Mark Ronson and some Victoria’s Secrets models, so it’s the place to go if you like to spot celebs while working out.
You have to be a member to use most of the gym, but they do have drop-in classes downstairs. It’s not somewhere I would recommend for a beginner or, shall we say, a less conditioned client.
I’m a big fan of this really well-polished gym close to High Street Kensington tube station. If you’re in West London, it’s hard to beat. They have a signature high-intensity interval session called Velocity, as well as spin classes, power yoga, and resistance training. Expect a young crowd and a hard workout.
Afterwards, check out Core’s excellent health food cafe. It’s renowned for its really tasty but healthy Australian-inspired food, plus great smoothies and really good coffee. You’ll find plenty of ways to get the right kinds of protein into your system.
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Core Collective
45 Phillimore WalkI’m a big fan of this really well-polished gym close to High Street Kensington tube station. If you’re in West London, it’s hard to beat. They have a signature high-intensity interval session called Velocity, as well as spin classes, power yoga, and resistance training. Expect a young crowd and a hard workout.
Afterwards, check out Core’s excellent health food cafe. It’s renowned for its really tasty but healthy Australian-inspired food, plus great smoothies and really good coffee. You’ll find plenty of ways to get the right kinds of protein into your system.
Paola’s BodyBarre is a really great ballet barre workout combined with dynamic Pilates and core fitness conditioning. That’s a great mix for strength and flexibility and perfect for anyone with a bit of a dance background or who likes workouts in dance studios. Of several studios, Wimbledon’s has the most classes per week.
If you can, get a class with Paola herself. She’s Paola Di Lanzo and is originally from Australia, and she’s kind of a bit mad in the best possible way. She’s got a really outgoing personality and will make you feel welcome while really challenging you. And all the trainers are at the same really high standard.
Paola’s BodyBarre
55A High Street WimbledonPaola’s BodyBarre is a really great ballet barre workout combined with dynamic Pilates and core fitness conditioning. That’s a great mix for strength and flexibility and perfect for anyone with a bit of a dance background or who likes workouts in dance studios. Of several studios, Wimbledon’s has the most classes per week.
If you can, get a class with Paola herself. She’s Paola Di Lanzo and is originally from Australia, and she’s kind of a bit mad in the best possible way. She’s got a really outgoing personality and will make you feel welcome while really challenging you. And all the trainers are at the same really high standard.
If you’re based in the Hyde Park or Holland Park area, then this is definitely the best place to drop in for a class. They do 55 minutes of high-intensity interval training with resistance training, too, which is a winning combination. It’s not the cheapest—up to £30 per class—but in cost per calorie burned, it’s up there with the best workouts.
You’re only about five minutes’ walk away from Holland Park itself, one of my favourite green spaces in London. Recover there in the serenity of the Kyoto Gardens with their koi carp and waterfalls. It’s always nice to take some time out to breathe between a workout and the next thing.
GymClass
If you’re based in the Hyde Park or Holland Park area, then this is definitely the best place to drop in for a class. They do 55 minutes of high-intensity interval training with resistance training, too, which is a winning combination. It’s not the cheapest—up to £30 per class—but in cost per calorie burned, it’s up there with the best workouts.
You’re only about five minutes’ walk away from Holland Park itself, one of my favourite green spaces in London. Recover there in the serenity of the Kyoto Gardens with their koi carp and waterfalls. It’s always nice to take some time out to breathe between a workout and the next thing.
This gym is an official CrossFit affiliate called CrossFit Worlds End. CrossFit is massive in America and quite cultish—the people who love it go religiously multiple times a week to lift weights, do high-intensity workouts, and other gymnastic moves. It can be really competitive and is an amazing workout. All levels welcome, and if you're brand new to CrossFit they have a Foundation course available.
If you’ve got kids, check out Clip ’n Climb next door, an amazing indoor climbing centre with crazy challenges. Think Cliffhanger meets Gladiators.
Motus Strength/CrossFit Worlds End
19a Michael RdThis gym is an official CrossFit affiliate called CrossFit Worlds End. CrossFit is massive in America and quite cultish—the people who love it go religiously multiple times a week to lift weights, do high-intensity workouts, and other gymnastic moves. It can be really competitive and is an amazing workout. All levels welcome, and if you're brand new to CrossFit they have a Foundation course available.
If you’ve got kids, check out Clip ’n Climb next door, an amazing indoor climbing centre with crazy challenges. Think Cliffhanger meets Gladiators.
This gym is an official CrossFit centre. CrossFit is massive in America and quite cultish—the people who love it go religiously multiple times a week to lift weights, do high-intensity workouts, and other gymnastic moves. It can be really competitive and is an amazing workout. I wouldn’t come here for your first time doing CrossFit, though. It’s for a more experienced crowd.
Anyone can go to a class, and they change every day. It might be arms and abs focused on a Monday, then butts and legs on Tuesday. Weekends are full-body workouts. Just remember that they’re really popular and get booked up, especially early in the morning, so book well ahead.
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Barry's Bootcamp
163 Euston RdThis gym is an official CrossFit centre. CrossFit is massive in America and quite cultish—the people who love it go religiously multiple times a week to lift weights, do high-intensity workouts, and other gymnastic moves. It can be really competitive and is an amazing workout. I wouldn’t come here for your first time doing CrossFit, though. It’s for a more experienced crowd.
Anyone can go to a class, and they change every day. It might be arms and abs focused on a Monday, then butts and legs on Tuesday. Weekends are full-body workouts. Just remember that they’re really popular and get booked up, especially early in the morning, so book well ahead.
I’ll be honest. I’m not the biggest fan of spinning, but this is spinning at its best in a really busy, popular, and inclusive space. You sit on a stationary bike in a basement with pounding music and lights and an instructor at the front. You’ll spin and do an upper-body workout, sometimes with weights, and it’s really effective. They provide shoes.
Don’t go out too hard at the start! Pace yourself so you’ve got a bit of juice in the tank, because although the classes are over quite quickly—they last from 45 minutes—it gets tough, and everyone’s totally knackered at the end. But don’t be put off—it’s great for any level.
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Psycle Mortimer Street
76 Mortimer StI’ll be honest. I’m not the biggest fan of spinning, but this is spinning at its best in a really busy, popular, and inclusive space. You sit on a stationary bike in a basement with pounding music and lights and an instructor at the front. You’ll spin and do an upper-body workout, sometimes with weights, and it’s really effective. They provide shoes.
Don’t go out too hard at the start! Pace yourself so you’ve got a bit of juice in the tank, because although the classes are over quite quickly—they last from 45 minutes—it gets tough, and everyone’s totally knackered at the end. But don’t be put off—it’s great for any level.
These guys started in Primrose Hill in 2000 and now have branches in Camden, Chelsea, Covent Garden, and Soho. I like the Soho one, which has the brand’s great range of yoga in a nice clean environment. There’s a great organic cafe, and it’s right in the middle of Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street, so there’s plenty to do before or after.
Check carefully what kind of class you’ve signed up for. They do standard yoga, but also hot yoga. It’s not like Bikram—they use infrared heat to warm the body more than the air in the room, but it’s great if you want to get an extra sweat on and burn more calories.
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triyoga Chelsea
372 King's RdThese guys started in Primrose Hill in 2000 and now have branches in Camden, Chelsea, Covent Garden, and Soho. I like the Soho one, which has the brand’s great range of yoga in a nice clean environment. There’s a great organic cafe, and it’s right in the middle of Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street, so there’s plenty to do before or after.
Check carefully what kind of class you’ve signed up for. They do standard yoga, but also hot yoga. It’s not like Bikram—they use infrared heat to warm the body more than the air in the room, but it’s great if you want to get an extra sweat on and burn more calories.
This place in East London has a great range of classes, including yoga, cycling sessions on Wattbikes, interval training, and really tough TRX sessions, which use suspension. It’s big with the young-professional Soho House crowd.
If you feel like you’ve really earned it, step out and you’re right on to Spitalfields Market, which is full of great restaurants and little shops as well as probably the best street food you’ll find in the area. Just make sure you earn it at Ethos first!
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Old Spitalfields Market
16 Commercial StThis place in East London has a great range of classes, including yoga, cycling sessions on Wattbikes, interval training, and really tough TRX sessions, which use suspension. It’s big with the young-professional Soho House crowd.
If you feel like you’ve really earned it, step out and you’re right on to Spitalfields Market, which is full of great restaurants and little shops as well as probably the best street food you’ll find in the area. Just make sure you earn it at Ethos first!