I'm a fan of unusual & weird places and I would says that the New Docklands Steam Bath is…read moredefinitely high up on this list. I've first heard about this place when I was telling a friend about my wonderful experience at the Turkish "Hamam" in Dalston. My friend listened attentively to my story and then told me about this place in the docklands...I started doing some research about it the very same evening. Let me preface the following paragraphs by saying that I really like going to saunas: I treasure the whole spa-like experience that goes along with it. Yet, I'm not a fan of the high-end spas that have popped up everywhere these days. I prefer the down-to-earth saunas where locals go and where you don't have to save up for months for a single visit. The New Docklands Steam Baths fit this bill perfectly: upon my arrival I already sensed that I had discovered something unique. The bath is located in a very much deprecated area; many Londoners probably wouldn't set foot here. Outside the place I saw many black cabs parked as well quite a few Mercedes. Once inside I found my way to the café-area where the register is. I paid £14 plus a £10 deposit for the locker key. I went to change and dressed up in my bathrobe and my pechtemal (a traditional Turkish towel used in hamams) and then I ventured down into the baths. And let me tell you: it's gritty down there: not in a dirty and disgusting way though, but because of the kind of characters you find there and the way they interact with each other. I first walked around and familiarized myself with the localities: two dry saunas, and various steam rooms with varying degrees of humidity. While doing my online-research about this place I came across an article, in which the author talks about the two main sauna traditions being nurtured here: The Russian tradition of 'Venik' where you first heat up in the sauna and then beat yourself (or each other) with oak or birch branches that have been dried first and then soaked in water. And then there's the Jewish bathing ritual of "Schmeissing", where the men take turns in scrubbing each other down from top-to-bottom. This is done where one guy lays down on a bench in the very hot & steamy room and the other guy lavers him up, using what looks like cleaning mop and it works like a giant shaving brush. The "Schmeissing" seems to be a very ritualized and cliquish undertaking. I was talking to a regular, who mentioned that these guys are a club and meet regularly. According to my source, there's even a pecking order and it's quite hard to become part of this club. The Russians or Eastern Europeans seem to be less organized, but during my visit they would all arrive in pairs or small groups. They would all wear these funny felt hats, which protect the hat from the intense heat. (Note to myself: I need to get one of these!) When I arrived I was reading about the possibility of booking a massage. My inquiry with some of the locals resulted in the following answer: "Yeah, talk to Simon, the heavily-tattooed guy who's relaxing in the steam room over there." Non sooner advised than done. I went up to Simon and he told me that he'd be happy to give me a massage in about half-an-hours time. Deal! I made the best use of the 30 minutes and went into the hottest sauna and beat myself up with oak branches... Turns out that Simon had actually grown up in Germany and so we chatted in German for some time. Then he suggested that I should just relax and let him do his work. It was really a very nice massage and I felt great afterwards. I paid £15 for a thirty-minutes massage. (60 minutes would be £25.) Aside from the Jewish and Russian men, there's a third group of men here: the can drivers (my guess). They mostly sat in the common area, chatting and washing themselves ritually. It's really a funny bunch that hangs out here...including myself! All in all, I find this to be a wonderful oasis of some old-world London. I'm so glad that a place like this still exists. I might not become a regular, but I will certainly be back!

I went with my boyfriend recently and we had a great time. The regulars were really welcoming and…read morefriendly, offering advice as to which of the steam rooms to use first etc.. We both left feeling relaxed and 'floaty' We're fans, and would definitely go back for another steam.

This centre in south London is unbeatable! Only wish it was more accessible as it is a nightmare to…read moreget to on public transit. The location is massive but easy to navigate around. You enter upon a massive reception area, lockers to the left and adjacent are toilets and changing rooms. But as I am writing during covid times, the changing rooms are not available at the moment! Through the main doors you enter upon the roped walls and lead walls. To the left is the stairs that go to the first floor. Continuing on the ground floor the back area is a traverse wall and bouldering section. The first floor holds a cafe with some seriously yummy eats! Their paninis are pretty great as well as their sweet treats. They've got a variety of drinks as well. There's a decent amount of seating space and behind all that is another bouldering section. The staff are great, the community is awesome, what more can you ask for?

The Reach is a new (as of January 2010) climbing wall in the Southeast London area (Woolwich)…read more Located in an industrial estate, the premises offers a huge amount of space, which has begun to be filled with exciting new climbing walls and artificial boulders. I visited with a climbing partner on the opening weekend (free climbing = yay!) and although the place is clearly not complete yet, there are plenty of walls completed to keep you occupied for a long session. The climbing is already quite varied, with slabs and overhangs at various angles, and some volumes added to the walls. There are lead areas and top ropes, and one of the slabs is at a very nice angle (I would have loved to have a go at a ridiculous speed climb up it), has been painted with a mural, and was being used for children to climb. At the same time, the lead area boasts some very steep and difficult routes, so I don't think that anyone could have nothing within their grade to go at. At the time of my visit, there were no featured walls (i.e. moulded to approximate the shape of rock and quite common at newish climbing walls), but there are plans for some. A campus board area is also apparently on the way. Hopefully some more efficient heating is also on the way, as it was very cold inside on the opening day. I mention this as you might want to take a large jacket with you, not to put people off going - if you're a climber in the UK, then you won't mind the cold! I do think this will improve, and if it helps, the changing rooms were nice and warm. Possibly the most important feature of a climbing wall is the cafe (climbers being extremely partial to hot drinks and cake) and so a makeshift cafe offering very reasonably priced snacks and drinks had been set up for opening, and I think the cafe as a whole will be complete very soon. The cafe is located on a mezzanine level, on which the main bouldering area also rests. While we were there, we heard one of the staff discussing a huge boulder which was unfinished at one end of the building, which is going to be on a pivot so that the whole boulder can be tilted, creating new problems, which seems like a really cool idea. Although I live on the other side of London, I will make another visit to The Reach, and so might update this review as new areas are completed. I would definitely recommend this wall for people who live a bit closer than me, or work in the area. The staff were really interested to see what people thought of the new wall, and seem like they are really trying to tailor the wall to climbers' wishes. If you've not climbed before, you need to ring them before you go, to arrange for a course to acquaint yourself with the required skills, but existing climbers can register any time they are open, at the reception.

Somewhat off-putting how stingy Brooklyn Bowl is with their bowling time allowance as their 30…read moreminute slots are timed to the limit and you're told to pay extra if you run over the allotted time even if your game hadn't finished. The food is presented well and quite nice actually but in retrospect, it's probably not a good idea to eat while you have a game of bowling since you are under timed conditions. Tip: make sure you arrive early to collect your bowling shoes and know which lane you have been booked onto before your 30 minute run down of the clock starts.

We found this venue a little sad. We were here around 11pm on a Saturday, and they had an…read moreadvertised Michael Jackson vs Prince "dance-off" with a DJ. Well, the floor was deserted, and the music/video combination didn't make sense. The screen would show a minute of MJ, minute of Prince, minute of MJ again, but no connection with the music, which was occasionally by either of them (but not matching the video) and occasionally something else. I didn't get it. The Nutella milkshake is delicious, but even though we were the only people at the bar, it took them a good ten minutes to make our shakes. The bartenders were all just standing around talking, doing nothing. Is this place meant to be American themed? Didn't feel American at all. Would not return either.

I did a Parkour introduction coaching class and it was really really cool!…read more To set it up I had to call several times and ended up emailing because they took my email down incorrectly. However, they more than made up for it with a really cool class. I was there with my brother and my 13 yr old nephew and the teacher was awesome at including us all into the class. He quickly got us doing some pretty cool stuff and made sure to make you feel very safe. Really really enjoyed it and if it was slightly more convenient location I'd do this all the time! I'd so so recommend for teenagers and children as a great way to work out and feel mega cool. Also cool for groups like stag and hen dos. It's a real work out so definitely dress lightly and expect to be exhausted by the end! My legs and arms felt like complete jelly by the end!

Parkour has always captivated my imagination. When it first became "a thing", as a Londoner the…read moreidea of free running and traversing through the urban landscape had immense appeal. Unfortunately knowing my strengths and limitations (especially injuries), it always seemed like an immensely difficult thing to get into. The people here do a great job providing an educational bridge into that world. What initially seemed like an extended jump/squat gym class seamlessly transforms into the beginnings of a parkour run. I found myself getting more and more adventurous throughout the itierations of obstacle courses, which was precisely the point. As taster for beginners, it left me wanting more.

Up at the O2 was an amazing experience! It's a relatively easy climb and the payoff is great…read moreconsidering you get incredible views of the Thames and the London skyline. Getting to the O2 is easy. There's always the tube- the station is literally right there, or by ferry. We took the Uber Boat from Greenwich and it was a scenic way to get there. I was pretty blown away by how extensive the O2 footprint is. Not only is it a huge arena, but it also has an outlet mall and a ton of restaurants attached to it. The check-in site for Up at the O2 is easy to find as it's not too far from the main entrance. You'll want to arrive a bit early to make sure all your release forms are filled out beforehand. Once your group is called, you go through a brief video introduction followed by time to use the restroom and then you are assigned shoes (if necessary) and a harness. Next, you are provided with a bin to place your personal belongings since you are only permitted to bring your phone. The bins are locked away, so no worries on bringing your purse or backpacks- they are secure . Next you get a more detailed briefing on safety and how to get into the harness We had an extraordinarily talented guide by the name of Dan who was funny and was a real delight the entire time. He was engaging and thoughtful. Really blown away by how awesome he was. It's like he was born to lead climbs at the O2, lol! Before embarking on the actual trek up the O2, there's an opportunity to pose for pictures before you go up with their photographer You'll later have an option to purchase after the climb. The climb itself is on a ramp that is on an incline and it's almost like a trampoline-like material. You are harnessed and tethered to a rail the whole way up and down, so it feels very safe. Once you reach the top, there's pop music and a jovial atmosphere as everyone gets to take in the amazing view. There is an option to purchase water or champagne before the climb and they'll have it waiting for you at the top. We had opted for the sunset climb and we saw incredible views of the city. We even got to witness a marriage proposal at the top- very special indeed! After descending, you have the option to purchase photos of your climb in various packages. Even though it's a bit cheesy, we totally did because it was nice to have some reminders of this fun experience. I would totally recommend Up at the O2 for something fun and off the beaten path to do in London. So glad we did it!

This was on the 'to do list' when we planned our trip to London. Sounded exciting and the pics we…read moresaw reinforced the excitement. Once we got to the O2, to be honest, the dome hike was honestly underwhelming. However, we had to do it. Not terribly expensive and they have all the necessary gear to include shoes which they make almost everyone wear. They have light jackets with zipper pockets and thing grippy gloves to borrow. They have free storage bins they secure too. Must be at least 18 OR accompanied by an adult and sign a waiver for everyone participating. You watch a short safety video then they move you into another room to get the gear on. Quick gear check and up you go. Wasn't rainy for our trip but it was a cold and windy January day. Obviously the wind can get pretty gusty being up in the air and along the river. Overall I was pretty underwhelmed. Thought it would be higher and that there would be better views. The tour guide was great, funny and helpful, but the view was just a different angle of a bunch of high raises. You can't see any of the major London attractions from here because of distance and high rise buildings blocking the view. It's worth doing if you have the time, money and minimal expectations. This is not an adrenaline thing (at least not for someone that has sky dived and walked across other major bridges)

The only bonus was it was quiet…read more The receptionist was rude and seemed bothered by my being there. Chanhing rooms where okay but the shower was just a boiling hot hose. The pool was dirty. It was like there was loads of sand in it. Very weird.

This is the Mecca of Bodybuilding in South East beasts roam around in this place and if you want to…read moreget super jacked 3D this is the place for you. It has two gyms one with more machines and cardio equipment for lightweights and another gym with more free weights for the heavyweight beasts that pump iron like Dani Colban the legend himself famous YouTuber. Closing times are a bit early but we can improve on that no worries.

This is a friendly local and convenient leisure centre. Colfes is actually a private school…read more However their sports facilities are so good that they hire these out to members of the public. It includes a great swimming pool and gym. They run great fitness classes. I have atteded the yoga classes and it is a great way to de-stress after work! There are different types of membership opportunities to suit different circumstances. They also have a lovely new cricket pavillion and cricket green. All in all a lovely local first class fitness centre!

From the owner: Welcome to Colfe's Leisure Centre, the best independent leisure centre in SE London/Lee/…read moreLewisham/Greenwich providing amazing facilities, at affordable prices. Memberships from just £31 per month with no contracts. One month and family memberships available, all conveniently located in Lee, Lewisham. Access to Swimming pool, Gym, Free Fitness Classes including yoga/Pilates/spin, Free Court/Pitch Hire including badminton/table tennis/ basketball/outdoor tennis. Facility/room Hire including theatre/pavilions/halls/pitches/sports grounds/classrooms. Free parking, priority bookings. All located in SE London/Lee, close to Lewisham and Greenwich. Also on offer-Children's football, badminton, tennis and basketball coaching, children's swimming lessons, adult badminton and tennis's lessons in SE London.

If your after a bit of water sports action, this is your place…read more Visit website for more info

So this is my local gym- and whilst I mainly detest gyms and the thousands of ripped muscles…read moresurrounding me, this is one of the better ones. It looks out over the waterfront, and you can run on the treadmill feeling like you're walking on water which is a bit disconcerting but kinda cool. It's clean, the changing rooms are reasonable and the staff are very friendly. By London standards, it's a reasonable cost per month, and you get access to a ton of classes and other local gyms/pool too. Surrey Docks Gym also leaps and bounds apart in terms of quality from its neighbour, my swimming pool nemesis, the seven islands leisure centre. Not a 5* because it opens at 7am which is way too late if you want to get in a whole hour's workout before work. If it could be open from 6 or even 6.30am that'd be brill.

It doesn't look like much when you walk in, but don't let that fool you. This place is massive!…read moreIt's bouldering only FYI. First thing you do when you walk is check-in and you'll see the first boulder. It's built with wood so it's slick, but the rest of the gym is much better and textured. Upstairs there's loads of lockers, feel free to bring your own lock. There's an entire built in table that goes down quite a ways with stools and outlets so you can study there or downstairs by their little shop/cafe. As you walk in more you'll see the training area, with a great board, loads of campus boards, bars and other essentials ya need. There's a slab wall, on the other side has a traverse area and next to it is a circuit wall. As you go further there's more variety, loads of overhanging, slab, and good features. Their system is on the V grade and by colour. Overall a pretty cool place to check out! Not too far of a walk from the Bermondsey station.

This is the best bouldering gym I've ever been to…read more This place just opened three months ago, and according to its website has "over 11 000 square feet of bouldering, dozens of circuits offering hundreds of climbs" and "is one of the biggest climbing facilities in the UK." Which I definitely believe - I've been to 20 or so climbing gyms in the US, Canada, and the UK, and this is definitely the biggest bouldering gym I've ever seen. The staff's friendly, the prices are normal, and the facility is just so friggin' enormous, I still can't get over it. They lay their routes out according to color, so basically there are eight or so colors of holds, and all the routes set within each color fall within a certain range of difficulty (e.g. V1-V2). Each color has 30 or so routes associated with it, so you're looking at 240 total bouldering problems right there (assuming that I remember the number of colors correctly). 240 bouldering problems! That's fucking insane! The gym I go to in san francisco has, like, *maybe* sixty! And that 240 figure isn't even counting the ~30 bouldering-comp problems The Arch had up when I visited! They've also got plenty of other training gear - a bunch of hangboards, a moon board, a training board, just all sorts of crazy stuff. If you like bouldering, you have got to go here. This place is the best.