I live a good swim. And here at the Kentish Town Pool I get to have a good swim in a beautiful…read moreenvironment. The main pool here is one of the Victorian-era swimming pools and it's really quite magnificent to swim in it...especially when at certain times of the day the sun hits the water just right. I use the Better Health App to sign up for a swim. I avoid the busy times - early mornings and evenings - and so most of the times I share the lane only with a few other folks.

A fabulous new gym at a price to…read more suit everyones pocket : love it!

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!

Forgot I was allergic to water. The water burned. Not a pleasent experience. Accidentally swallowed…read moresome water. Am now patronised from ankle down.

Park Lane Leisure Centre is set between Muswell Hill and Crouch End Broadway, and offers a wide…read morerange of leisure facilities. They have a gym, and hold fitness classes of all types, I have a few friends that take the classes here, but have never taken any myself. My friends have been going for quite a while so they must be quite good. I do however go to park lane for other reasons. In London, you do not get many out door pools, probably due to our great climate. There are a couple that I know of, one being in Hampstead Heath, and the other at the Park Road Leisure Centre. On the weekends, especially during the summer holidays as a teenager, I was here all the time. It is a great place for youngsters to meet and socialize and get some exercise. On those sunny days it was great and was the highlight of my week. The outdoor pool is only open from may to September, and if it is raining during those months, they also have an indoor pool, so no need to worry.

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

Wanted to simply look at the metal architecture of the pool whilst walking the park, an officious…read moreugly clown of a Parliament Hill pool admin staff member with her iPad insisted we pay to enter even though we were only to be there 5 minutes. Unfriendly and rude Parliament Hill staff individual adds to the poor experience of what is a public place. What a miserable bunch of pratts.

This is a lovely Lido situated close to Gospel Oak overground station on Hampstead Heath. But be…read moreaware for young parents/infirm people that the Gospel Oak platform is very high and served by steps only. The lido is one of the biggest in London with a pool that is around 90m long by 30m wide. The lido is divided into a children's section on the sunniest third of the pool complete with slides and slopes down to the water to allow for safer bathing. There is a fountain at this end but its enclosed to prevent people from climbing onto it. The pool is popular with families and young people who come to sunbathe on its terrace and to splash around. So for those who like do lengths may be frustrated by the frolicking adults and children. There are plenty of life guards around to keep order. The Lido is served by a cafe which sells smelly burgers and obviously has not been updated since the complex was built in 1938. Its crying out for a refurbishment to improve the facilities. The range of food needs to be improved as tastes have radically changed since the thirties. So it loses a star for that. The changing rooms/cubicles are gloriously retro painted in bright colours. But for those seeking a bit of privacy while changing may feel little embarrassed. A lovely lido to enjoy a hot summer day without ever having to worry about planes!

I have tried the swimming pool - it's got a decent size and the water was definitely warm (perhaps…read moretoo warm for my taste, it's good for relaxing but if you swim for more than 5 minutes your core body temperature generally hot!). The staff were really nice and supportive. The changing rooms were clean and actually quite nice. I did not try the gym but it looks overall fine, albeit a tad small for my taste. Overall worth going if you are staying at the hotel or need a spa/pool/gym in the area, as I'm not aware of any other swimming pools near Marylebone station.

terrible it wasnt clean and was gross staff was rude telling me if i did not like i then i should…read moreleave so overall it was bad

A workout within a workout? yes, that's possible at the Virgin Active Gym here in Crouch End!…read moreBecause, in order to get to the changing rooms, you already have to climb up a flight of stairs and then, in oder to get to the actual gym-floor, you have to get up even higher...now that's what I call ingenious... Anyway, this gym features everything that you need: plenty of treadmills and other cardio-equipment; all sorts of weight-machinery (which I still have to figure out how to use properly); a separate work-out area for women; separate studios for cycling and other classes, as well as a swimming pool (which is not huge, but will do). What I don't like here is that you have to pay for your towels. Especially, given that I already pay an all-gym membership at the more-expensive Barbican gym...that's not logical in my opinion! But, for the last few visits, I always put on an innocent face and said "really? I didn't know and now didn't bring any money..."

Have you ever heard of a gym that is located out of the city centre yet has high end equipment,…read moresmashing customer service, spacious in all areas with so much to do as well as it being affordable without all the hassle and fights for the squat rack? Maybe? Well I'm sure there are a few located around somewhere but being a new member of Virgin Active Crouch End is something that I am proud of as it ticks all qualities mentioned above. First things first is to make it clear that Virgin Active Crouch End never used to be as swanky as it is now. Having had a £3million makeover sets it ahead of its other branches. I decided to converse with the receptionist before leaving the gym and I mentioned that this gym reminds me of the Virgin Active: Classic Collection (Mayfair) which used to be my gym a year ago and to my surprise she informed me that the makeover was thought about and designed to look like the Virgin Active Mayfair branch. The key benefit about this gym is that you are paying a MUCH cheaper price but with the same features as it's high end branches and that's what I call a bargain! In regards to the gym and overall customer service I couldn't rate it any lower than 5 stars. Brand spanking new technogym equipment, a very spacious gym floor with loads of equipment which means no waiting around during peak times, the steam room can fit 14 people comfortably as well as the heat ensuring that you're in and out in a swift time. The sauna is very spacious too with great lighting and design and the 20m pool has the same qualities and style as the Virgin Active Mayfair gym with the added customer service being on point. I am yet to try out the classes, but, after witnessing a few commencing on the gym floor I can ensure myself that I will be working up a sweat. ***An out of city gym with the same qualities, features and customer service as a central London gym. New equipment, a quality spa area and a spacious surrounding will leave you wanting to come back as often as you can as well as a café with plenty of seats and computers will have you hanging around for hours. Virgin Active is not just a gym, it's a health club and the next step to achieving a better mind, body and soul and I am proud to be a member of one of the most favoured gyms around the UK***

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...

Excellent swimming activity and tuition center for children and adults…read more If you want your children to learn to swim this is the place to bring them.

A great family day out…read more The Leisure centre offers several swimming pools; a family pool ( with wave machine), an olympic size pool and one with high diving boards. The centre also has a childrens activity area away from the pools and offer crafts and play time while parents wait. The Leisure centre is within Mote park which has a variety of playground equipment to keep the little ones entertained.

Maidstone Leisure Centre is just located outside the town centre in Mote Park, which is about 5…read moreminutes away. The Centre offers several swimming pools, a great family pool with a wave machine and log flume, a brilliant olympic size swimming pool and another with driving boards. If you don't fancy swimming, and have small children, then polar adventure is a great place to take the kids to play, with a large soft play area and ice hill slides. Its also a great place for kiddies birthday parties. The leisure centre also has a large multipupose sports hall a great gym facilities, and a health suite with sauna and spa. Great place for a family day out!