Can you keep a secret guys?? Not many people seem to have noticed it yet, but a year and a half…read moreafter the Olympics there's some exciting stuff going on in Stratford again... Yep living near the Park is paying off nicely at the moment - my new local council swimming pool is none other than the Aquatics Centre! It's been open to the public for the last few weeks and I have to say it's a pretty special venue - I still get tingles every time I walk in. It's £4.50 per swim session for an adult and there's an easy peasy online system to book in advance. There are 2 full size pools inside - the Competition Pool for the hardcore swimmers and the Training Pool where they separate the lengths into two 25m sections. Personally I found a 50m pool to be ridiculously long in real life (my superwoman stamina is a err work in progress) so I tend to do laps in the 25m lanes. You choose a pool and a start time online but it's pretty lax once you're in, and you can stay as long as you like. The water is a nice slightly warm temperature and it's usually a uniform 1.2m depth all the way along (though somehow they can change the depth of different sections - the mind boggles!). It's not all lanes - there are also sections of the pool roped off for 'fun' as well as swimming lessons. Also saw signs for a total wipeout stylee 'Splash Time' for kiddies at weekends that sounded like great fun if anyone wants to lend me a child?! The reason it misses a 5th star is that the changing rooms and shower facilities are just not that great. It's spacious yes and there are plenty of cubicles, hairdryers and lockers, but the layout is a little confusing (quite a wander from the lockers to the female showers), they seem to have too many staff/cleaners milling around not doing much, and the showers themselves seem temperamental and need you to wave a hand past every 3 seconds. Is this how Michael Phelps showered?! (*pauses to enjoy the mental picture*) Ahem. Yeah I expected better. So remember to bring your own towel+toiletries, a plastic bag for your wet cozzie (I haven't spotted a drying machine yet) and a £1 coin for the lockers. And please only tell your special friends - the nicest thing at the moment is that it isn't too busy on weeknights! See you there :)

The swimming pool itself is great, most of the time quiet, you can choose your line depending on…read morehow fast you want to swim so that you don't get disturb by other people while swimming. The changing space however is really poor for this kind of aquatics centre - you can really tell you're just meant to come, quickly change, swim and leave. There are few showers and they are quite temperamental. The lockers and cubicles are just not that comfortable to use. So it's a very good pool, but come there for exercise only and not hoping for a full spa experience!

This is the gym that ate all the other gyms! Known as the jewel in the crown of the Cannons group…read more(now Nuffield Health, Fitness and Wellbeing) it is huge, so huge I've gotten a bit lost a few times. The facilities include several work-out areas, including one women only, a dedicated Pilates studio, spinning studio, squash courts, pool, lap pool, health spa area, café and Jacuzzi relaxation area. The changing rooms are massive, spread over two floors with steam room and GHDs. Folks, this place is bloody amazing, but unfortunately they still don't exercise for you. The only downside is they use a token system for some classes which can be pain if you get there late and are kicked out of class for not having one.

Please all present and future members be aware that Nuffield Health Centre cancellation policy is…read morean absolute fraud and they are great experts when it takes to steal money without offering any service: The day you join the gym they make you sign a paper where you agree with their terms and conditions, without specifying that, if you are willing to cancel you need to give 30 days notice otherwise you have to pay a full month membership fee even without using their facilities!!! The real scam is that clause 11*( the cancellation policy) is not even on that paper, but it is just hung on the wall, written with micro-characters and when I joined no one made me aware of that. Long story short, unless you bend to their fraudulent rules, they send you one or more intimidatory letters asking to pay what is due according to that clause (I learned about that policy when I first got the mail and I was incredulous) and then they pass your details to Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions Limited that starts harassing you itself. I was willing to meet them halfway so that I went to the Cousin Lane Centre myself 2 times, asking to send me an email in which they stated that I was willing to close the dispute and that this had to be communicated to C.A.R.S. but do you think I got any help/notification? The manager just kept on saying "you should have read the policy on the wall". These guys...what a great customer service they provide? I am not the only one who had the same issue with Nuffield (check the link below) so again be aware that there are a lot of gyms that survive just because they are in fact stealing money, but I have learned my lesson now, and you? http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5653848

Solid 4 stars. I really enjoy coming here for a swim as they have 2 pools: one indoor and one…read moreoutdoor pool (both are 25m long). They're part of Better Health and so I use their pay-as-you-go membership. The biggest bonus is that this leisure centre is smack in Soho/Covent Garden and thus I can combine a visit here with lunch in Chinatown or I can meet up with a friend for coffee in Seven Dials.

Let's be honest here, i have not tried the sporting facilities here. I wish i could but instead i'm…read morevisiting the osteopath. I was in pain and one of my colleagues who comes here regularly told me they are great here. The osteopath who is taking care of me (Andrew) is really nice and does listen to you and try to distract you from the pain when manipulating your body. He has also been able to give me thorough advice and even email me further suggestions. Anyway, every time i go there, i am drawn to the big glass wall and stare at the outdoor swimming pool. I realised last week that there is also an indoor swimming pool! Generally speaking, the place looks clean and well maintained and all the members of staff i have spoken to are friendly. Hopefully i'll be able to check the facilities further soon and will update this review

Another city pool although this one could use the same funding York Hall had -…read more I imagine at one time this was quite spectacular as a pool - the diving boards are all off limits now and taped up and looking pretty sad - this 70,s building could be amazing -there are minimal shaped balconys wrapping around the pool looking out onto the church grounds now off limits and growing moss!! Fantastic windows - this pool is also used alot. There are numerous scuba diving classes but a separate kids pool for classes. Also for the child friendly aspect there are "family" dressing rooms very handy for the mom with many children of different sexes issue. The busiest time here is lunch time and mornings where there seems to be a bigger number of very fast very serious swimming men -possiby from the city ?? Unlike York Hall there is no luxury spa downstairs - this place is really not in good shape and is quite bare bones A lovely pool just the same if a little shabby.

Took our 3 month old daughter here for her first swim yesterday. It is reasonably priced with…read morefriendly staff. We went to the small teaching pool and used the family changing rooms. The changing area was spacious with nappy changing facilities and lockers very close by. We were allowed to take the pram poolside which was really good. The pool was nice and warm- the baby lasted 25min in the water and was quite happy. Have given it a 3 instead of higher rating as it is quite a dated pool and it was quite dirty, especially given that it was only 10am. We didn't see the main pool so can't comment on that either. I will probably go here again and would recommend to parents to take babies- facilities are so convenient that it is doable with one parent and baby, rather than needing both parents there.

Currently closed for a refurbishment that was long overdue. Great pool to learn to swim in for…read moreyounger kids and used by Anaconda Swimming Club. The deep end is deep enough for learning to dive. We miss this pool as was a handy place for training or just a quick local swim. Good showers changing room basic. No doubt they will be updated as part of the refurbishment Edit: Pleased to say this has now reopened as from Saturday 4 February 2012 although Anaconda no longer use it. Not been back not sure we will be back as all the kids have outgrown it.

From the owner: Enjoy the state of the art gym, studio. swimming pool and tennis courts in the heart of the City of…read moreLondon. The centre is brought to you by City of London Corporation, in partnership with Fusion, a highly experienced sports and leisure organisation. As a registered charity, Fusion continually reinvest to improve and develop what's on offer in your community. So why not make us your first choice when you want to get active?

This pool is only 5 minutes away from my work so recently I have started doing one swim in the…read moremorning and one swim in the evening each week. If you're an adult I definitely recommend going in the morning as the whole pool is lanes and there is plenty of space to swim. In the evening there are a lot more swimmers and if you want to really get your pace up it's difficult as you are constantly having to slow down so as not to hit the person in front of you! Good lockers (the ones where you get your £1 back) and its only £4 to swim which is really decent. Staff are friendly, changing rooms are clean and the pool itself serves its purpose very well! If you have really high standard for your swimming pools I wouldn't recommend this one as it really is just a basic, functional public swimming pool but if you literally just one to get in for a quick half an hour exercise before work then it's a big thumbs up!

So they refurbished and remodelled the changing rooms recently - definitely an improvement but not…read moreenough for another star...the reception area remains functional and basic...guess the budget didn't stretch that far...

The facility is always extremely clean with a friendly and positive atmosphere from the music to…read morethe trainers offering help throughout the gym floor. The pool, sauna, and steam room provide an invaluable benefit to the end of my workout and allow me to unwind after a long day. Wouldn't go anywhere else!

What a great 25m pool, and gym if you want to use for £6.50 per day single entry…read more Friendly staff, really clean facility. No restrictions on using fins or snorkel for lap swimming. Swimmers are super friendly, and considerate. Helped me get comfortable when one lane was too slow for me, and the other a little fast. Food in snack bar is delicious, vegan options, and super friendly staff. Water is perfect temperature for me. I like warm water, this is not too warm, or too cold. You can get in without shivering, but it's not bath water. I'm going to spend a lot of time here! If you have kids there's a play room. Basketball, five a side football, tennis, huge work out rooms. Go see for yourself when in London. It's a 15 min taxi ride from Camden Market. Stephen

This is a new pool. It is generally well run and kept clean, the water is not chlorinaed and it's…read moreall quite warm. Its overlooked by a good but expensive cafe. There are good changing facilities and a whole sports centre and library in the complex. The pool is also overlooked by the gym. This makes it more interesting swimming around as you can look at the various people in the cafe and gym. If you're a Camden Resident you have to take out club membership or you can have a one off swim for the usual price, something over £3. I get concessionary swim rates so it's free for me in the mornings. ou cannot dive as it's only 2 metres deep at the deep end, shallow end is quite deep too at about 1 metre, so not suitable for little kids. They do allow kids with floats in most times, and sometimes it's crowded if you are trying just to do laps. Showers are warm (I am talking about the ladies here but I believe its the same in the gents) and staff are polite. This is a big improvement on the pool there used to be, but unfortunately its' smaller There's a smaller pool which they can vary the depth of - this is usually used for little kids and classes like water aerobics. Very small kids like to play outside in the big water feature which is very shallow and just right for toddlers and tots. There is also a soft play on the site, in my opinoin pretty expensive at about 8 pounds

Super MILLWALL from the Den…read more Had a fantastic time. Going into this I always heard about MILLWALL being one of the grittiest teams in England and having I famous fans. Although not as crazy as I would've imagined, the fans are chanting the whole match, and the atmosphere is great. Stadium isn't as nice as others in the area but there is a distinct local and close-knit feel about the club which is quite nice PRO TIP: Go to box 19 for an authentic MILLWALL experience

A lot of people liked Dirty Den, but not many people would want to see The Nude Den, so I'm not…read moresure why Millwall decided to go there permanently. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I've watched one match at the New Den, in 2011 - it was half full which was a shock, and might be the reason why it only gets 4 stars. I'd heard about the rabid, evil Millwall fans, and seen them so many times away from home, and once in their old stadium as a younger lad. Not the case on the day I was here, but then the opponent was a lowly and unexciting adversary. It's a good stadium though, not as expensive as some of the others in London, by a long shot. I enjoyed my day, I was covered from the rain by the stands, I didn't get stabbed (people used to say that's what happened at Millwall games), and altogether I found it a lot more pleasant and also underwhelming than expected. I'll try it again for a much bigger game, one of these days... to see what the fuss is really about. So when I was doing my first tour of Scotland in 2011, I also hit up every single stadium in the country. My obsession with footy (soccer to Americans) is the reason. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are based on first-hand personal experience, usually from multiple visits. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to most of them yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at many of them, which I will post later. Also, when back in Scotland I plan to take more pix, and add more stadia! So watch this space! *** return to regular review *** They're one of my least fave teams, and even though this stadium was used in Dream Team as the home of Harchester United, it's still not anything special to me with open-ended sides and such. It creates an intimidating atmosphere of course. It was built in 92 for 16 mil, and is the pride of South East London, with a capacity of around 20k. As you can see from the pictures, it's absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere is intense, but it would be better if it filled in the corners.