Hello there, this is a message to the members of the Holland Park Tennis Club. I am a tennis player…read moreand I would love to have a chance to play on grass one day! Since I am not a member myself and I am only going to be in London for the next 5 weeks, I was wondering whether I could play with one among you and so fulfill this little dream of mine. Thanks for your kind attention, Nino

This place is so much more than a tennis club; it's my second home. Tennis clubs and I have known…read morea few can be elitist, cold places, full of cliques and rules. Take Hurlingham, where if you're not wearing 87% white, some haughty octogenarian will shuffle over and delight in ticking you off. And where despite the fact they boast dozens of often deserted, pristine courts, you can't book for more than an hour. And don't get me onto the 10-year waiting list. HPLTC is infinitely friendlier with far more sensible rules. What makes it special is the fact it's small enough to encourage a community feel, but not so small as to feel claustrophobic. The grounds are also wonderful. If you don't have any outdoor space at home as I don't you can while away summer days with a few sets on grass courts, before collapsing with a newspaper and Pimms in a deckchair on their generous lawn. The club, tucked away in Holland Park, has a unique atmosphere and is the type of place where you can turn up alone and find someone to chat to and probably play with. There's a club night on Wednesday with a dinner afterwards, a singles league, tournaments, barbecues in the summer and a dedicated core of regulars. Really, if you're tennis-mad, as I am, there's no better place to be on a sunny day...and no better tennis club in London.

I used to play quite a bit of tennis when I was younger but then I got older. A while back I…read moredecided that maybe I'd quite like to take it up again but on a smaller court, where I could have a few drinks either before or after and not be completely and utterly destroyed for days. Things had got bad with the fitness and the tennis. So that's when I decided that badminton might be the answer. After considering the options in the local area I dragged a friend down to one of their open sessions on a Sunday evening. It's £10 for about two hours and if you're new you get lessons in with that. Not cheap really but it's good to see if you like it enough to continue. After that you can either join or try table tennis, an even smaller court. I didn't end up continuing the badminton for very long but actually did really enjoy it here. It's an ultra friendly club, very neighbourhoodly, a little bit suburban and most members are either older or very young. Good indoor racquet sport options though for cold weather adverse. Gym too.

A brief study of previous clubs I've been to…read more Nearly all of the badminton clubs I've had the pleasure of gracing tend to subscribe to various extremes. These can be applied to the temperaments of the people, the quality of the play, the poise and precision of post-play banter, height, width and length of the hall, and the quantity of shuttle cocks. Because without enough shuttle cocks we might as well be swatting flies as a form of sweaty recreation. I recall two clubs in particular in Maidstone in Kent. I can't remember what they're called. I forgot them successfully. The first one interested me, because even the worst of players acted in a godlike manner. I left this club. The second abomination had a hall so small, and a ceiling so low that I'm convinced the dwarfs stranded outside wanted their wedding reception back. Why the Wimbledon Racquet & Fitness Centre is a 'keeper' in my view? Beyond expectations frankly. Lockers (which require only £1 deposit) and have enough room to keep all you groceries, a child of average height, a jacket, a brief case, and anything else associated with a burdensome modern lifestyle. The halls (playing space) is huge, immensely well kept and there is ample space allocated for those who wish to watch including (can you believe) more locker space near the court. But never fear, there aren't endless opportunities for the humble and nimble to spectate gormlessly at the sidelines. Whatever skill level you happen to be; whatever your racquet wielding disposition; you'll get regular on-court action. And advice to improve your game. The opportunities for improving your technique are constant, and the trainer's timekeeping sharp. For example on Sundays from 5 to 7pm the Beginners & Improvers Session takes place. This is £6 to members and £12 to non-members. The coaching sessions and playing sessions mix in perfectly. Either you can train (the coaching is excellent) or play mixed (or non-mixed) doubles games. There is also the Open Session on Friday which cost me, as a non-member, £12.50. But that's for over three hours of solid badminton and half time snacks (often delicious Chelsea Buns, doughnuts and Apple Turnovers). And hot tea. This is all thrown in to the price. If you haven't got a racquet they always have a good quality piece of equipment to hand - no extra charge or renting fee etc. Excellent stock of badminton goods to buy. I purchased my court shoes from the club for roughly 30 quid (excellent quality - superb in usage). Sublime cushioning. They're good. There are gym facilities. Full membership includes unlimited use of a fully equipped air-conditioned gym, unlimited use of saunas and changing-room facilities, and a free gym induction/training programme. Massive bonus: they're not (I repeat not) cliquey like a great many clubs. Anyhow I could go on and on. And you (doubtless) want your evening to yourself. I recommend the place. You can find out more here: http://www.wimbledonclub.co.uk Words: Phillip J Cogger

This is a brilliant tennis club with two grass courts and three hard courts. The membership is…read morerelatively cheap and the clubhouse is comfortable and there are some fun events over the year including fireworks displays and BBQs in the summer. A added bonus is that they enter the ballot for Wimbledon tickets each year so you have a great opportunity to bag some tickets if you get involved with the club. It is a friendly, fun club for youngsters as well as adults of all ages with opportunities for coaching sessions and club nights where you can get together to play with your friends.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the tennis, by a Queen's Club member, yesterday and it was a…read morereal treat. The seat was comfortable, the view was great and the tennis - especially the Nadal-Nishikori match - was riveting. The Stella Artois is a great prelude to Wimbledon - good for spotting future stars (18 year old Nishikori is definitely one to watch, as is young Latvian, Nilgis). The venue is more intimate and welcoming than Wimbledon; if you can get into the Clubhouse - with its vibrant buzzing and friendly atmosphere - it's easy to bump into the players and celebs. Ticket prices vary according to the day you attend, although they're not cheap, you get decent value for your money and they're easier to come-by than their Wimbledon counterparts. If you fancy popping-along late in the day there's a possibility of buying returns for just £5 and you'll have the opportunity to still see a match or two.

I used to live nearby the tennis club and used to get free tickets after a certain time to the…read morequeens tennis. It is always such a treat to be sitting in the sun, a glass of pimms and watching some pro athletes knock it out. It's small and intimate yet you still get to see some top stuff. The staff are always friendly enough also: overall great experience!

I work on the Strand right in the middle of London and it often surprises me that there are these…read morehuge cavernous gyms hidden right in plain sight! The Covent Garden branch of Nuffield Health is just one of those places and it's a truly special gym. The gym is on three levels. The first level has what appears to be offices and a dedicated spin studio, the next has the smaller studio, free weights area and changing rooms and right on the bottom is where the main gym floor lies along with another (slightly larger) studio and the pool/spa area. Yes this gym has its own spa - more on this soon! There is a lot of equipment for you to choose from so it's unlikely that you'll ever have to wait for a bike or a running machine if that takes your fancy. Personally I prefer trying out different classes and was able to squeeze in a pilates one during one of my two visits. There's no need to book and all classes are included in the cost of your membership so there's no extra cost for these either which is great. But the real pull for me is the pool and spa area. I don't know of any other gym in the area with such great facilities. Sure the pool is a little on the small side but it's never over crowded and you won't find it full of children like the LA Fitness one. The sauna and steam room are also a great size and perfect for unwinding after a hard session as is the jacuzzi pool where I spent far too much time floating around in.

Covent Garden Fitness and Wellbeing Centre is a truly stunning club made all the more impressive by…read moreits central location. It boasts one of London's largest state of the art gyms coupled with an expert personal training team, health MOTs and exercise classes ranging from body pump and spinning to yoga and aquaerobics. The swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms are complemented by a relaxation zone where you can indulge in an Elemis facial, deep tissue massage or other holistic body treatment. this club is so much better since Cannons was bought by Nuffield.

This is a new gym, so has some good facilities. There's a (slighly small but perfectly formed)…read morepool, gym, squash and badminton courts and even a climbing wall. The changing rooms are comfortable and the sauna by the pool is definitely one to try. Proabably a bit pricey if you don't go to Imperial though.

Inaccessible gym? Come join the Rainbow Leisure Centre. This is the council owned and managed…read moreleisure centre of Epsom. In terms of payment, there are 2 options pay whenever you come or sign up for a membership card. The gym is above the pool. There is also a sports hall for members to use. There are classes held at the gym and kid activities too. What is not to like?

Fees at your local posh gym too high? Don't need expensive coffee bar? Over-trendy snooty members…read moregetting on your nerves? The Rainbow Centre is what you need! The Rainbow Centre is the council run leisure centre in Epsom. You can either attend and pay as you attend or become a member which reduces your entry fee and allows you to book courts. There's a 25 metre pool with some hot tubs in the swimming area. A large sports hall has different activities at different times but I usually play badminton though you can join things like a 5 a side league. There's a well equipped gym upstairs. All available for a fraction of the price of one of the posh chains. Another cool thing is that they offer discounts to hospital staff. If all you need is a sports facility, the Rainbow Centre will meet your needs

I used to go to this gym but stopped when a male friend of mine told me that one of the personal…read moretrainers informed him that male staff watch women get changed in the dressing room from the boiler room.

I am writing to you to compliment the high calibre of staff here at the YMCA. This morning a…read morefemale lifeguard (on the 7am shift), checked in on me to see if I was alright. My swimming cap was not covering my ears (which the audiologist told me to avoid getting water in them). She noticed me pulling on it in the deep end of the pool. She went above and beyond to see if she could find a spare cap for me in the back room and from reception. I do not know her name. However, I would like to give positive feedback about her. She left at 8am when changing over with Gary. I would like to give feedback about Gary who does life guarding in the pool area. I have had the pleasure of knowing him since I joined your club in April 2021. Whilst I was swimming and reached the wall at the deep end of the pool, he introduced himself to me and asked if I was OK with him keeping watch around the area, to which I replied yes. I asked him if he was a swimming instructor, as well as a life guard and he confirmed yes. My initial impression of Gary was one of a professional and friendly person who takes his job seriously and who cares about members' safety. I felt reassured and also confident that I would be in an environment with friendly staff. It is now April 2023 and I can say that my first impression of Gary remains of high esteem. I enjoy speaking to him and have observed he is well liked by other service users (as people always greet him when they arrive and leave the pool). My most memorable times at the YMCA have been when Gary, Sinead (the swimming instructor) and Warren (both of whom I have not seen in a long time), have been on shift. I can say without a doubt that their presence makes attending the YMCA even more worthwhile. They are kind hearted, enthusiastic and encouraging!