Having walked passed the gates to York Hall I was pleased to have a good reason to enter through…read morethe boxing entrance tonight - my first ever Book Slam, and what an amazing experience it was. Not quite sure where they hide the swimming pool mentioned by so many other reviewers as the main space is dedicated to boxing. Tonight's event made the most of it with a number of boxing-related performances. Once we found a seat at this sold out event, we joined the food queue. Big disappointment as they had stopped serving and we missed out on jerk chicken and lamb stew. Unfortunately, the promise of taking orders for the interval turned out to be an empty one ... Joined the drinks queue instead and enjoyed a liquid dinner of cheap wine - from tiny bottles - they had run out of full sized ones ... classy drinkers these book reading folk! Somehow this slight sense of chaos went well with the surroundings which reminded us of better times long gone. It was a magical evening alround.

I got to York Hall to swim, having found that it's run by the same people as manage Ironmonger Row…read moreBaths so I'm automatically a member of both centres as well as loads of others, which is awesome. Compared to shiny new refurbished Ironmonger, York Hall is a bit grotty. The changing rooms look fairly dirty (bring flip flops!) and your 20p for the locker is not returned. Also it's 20p for a hairdryer! I also didn't really like that there were fairly old boys getting changed in there with their mums. I'm not particularly precious about that kind of stuff in general, but it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. The pool itself is huge and the medium lane is 3 lane widths which means you have an overtaking lane. I thought this would make my swim a lot easier than at Ironmonger where there's a lot of traffic but you tend to get people randomly floating about which messes the whole thing up. I don't understand why (a) they don't figure out they should just go to the giant designated slow lane and (b) why the staff don't say anything. Stressful. Overall though it's a very good pool and as it's super convenient to me I'll keep going. The whole historic/boxing side is really cool, too!

Cubicles in swimming changing area extremely dirty. Clothes left in cubicles whilst owners in pool…read more The floor surrounding the pool dirty also on steps into pool has dirt in corners

As local community leisure centres go this one is clean and welcoming. But then again it should be…read morehaving had a recent 6 million pound refurbishment. Despite all this money it still suffers from the same sort of shortfalls all these places do. For example, there are only 2 changing cubicles in the mens changing rooms (can't comment on the ladies changing rooms without the police being called), and a ridiculously small viewing room for the numerous Dulwich mums to sit/stand with their double buggies and watch their little darlings tread water and swallow most of it, to name but two. You get the feeling that the pool has suffered in order for the authorities to be able to fit more facilities into the one site. It's only this latter point that prevented me from giving the site 4 stars.

This place was previously known at Fullwell cross swimming pool or Fullwell Cross Baths - it was…read morerecently taken over and has been changed to Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre. They have had some refurbishment done to the place and have redone the changing rooms. The showers and bathrooms are quite presentable and it is quite encouraging to use the facilities there now. The have the swimming pools, swimming lessons, gym, steam and sauna and personal training. They also have a small cafeteria where you can enjoy a drink or a snack. All in all it is an excellent addition to the facilities that are available to the local community.

This centre is so unexpected - you'd never think to find somewhere this flash on the Downham…read moreestate! There's a huge pool, a very new gym, classes and Costa Coffee. Downham library is also in the building, and a Health Centre. The creche is the best - great value for money and amazing staff - both my children have to be dragged out of there. My favourite classes are spinning with Ellie and Hi-Lo Aerobics. The only down side is the car park - you can only park for 2 and a half hours - be careful as it's done by camera and if you go over you get slapped with a fine automatically. With so much to do in there, it's easy to spend a lot longer there - I always have to run out and re-park!

I would have to say that the swimming pool at the Downham Health and Leisure centre is the best…read morepublic swimming pool in the borough of Lewisham! It's still pretty new as it was built nearly three years ago and has been maintained well ever since. The swimming pool has got a great viewing gallery and the swimming pool looks out onto the the green fields of Durham Hill! The gym facilities are of a good standard too - I was pleasantly surprised! They do not have a sauna, steam room or jacuzzi though, but they do have fitness classes. I recommend the Spinning sessions - they are very popular, but very punishing for the legs! I would recommend that you travel there by bicycle (there are lots of places to lock your bicycle outside the Centre) or use public transport, because the parking is very limited. If you're lucky to get a space, the you only have two and a half hours otherwise you get fined £90 - so be warned!

It's been a while since I have been to here but the last time I found the whole centre to be a…read moregreat place. The prices are as you would expect (not the cheapest but not the most expensive). there is a full size swimming pool with diving boards. Check to see what times they section off part of the pool for 'swimmers' as opposed to the kids etc. the gym is as good as any I have seen with lots of equipment so not too much standing around waiting for the bech press etc. There are also qualified insrructors on hand to ensure you get the most out of your time. Regular classes are held in a number of different rooms, check out the website for listings.

This lesiure centre has been in Hornchurch for years! They recently refurbished it and now its a…read moregreat place to take my kids swimming! The gym facilities are great to

Westminster Lodge has been newly refurbished, and is in top shape for the fitness-conscious of St…read moreAlbans. They've done an absolutely bang up job here, and, even though I was only here in a caring capacity, it doesn't take a genius to see it would be a brilliant place for a membership. The addition of Verulamium Spa - a beauty retreat - harks back to St Albans in its Roman heyday. Get involved and check it out. Though prices for food in the cafe are ludicrously expensive. Got to pay for it somehow, I suppose...

As of November 2008 this leisure centre is still standing but I know that there are plans in the…read morenext year or two to knock it down and rebuild. As it stands it is a fairly old fashioned leisure centre but serves its purpose. There are 2 swimming pools, one shallower learner or children's pool and one for lane swimming and more advanced learners. I know 2 children having lessons there and they are learning quite well under the staff's supervision. There is a viewing gallery and a cafe upstairs and in the reception there is a small amount of swimming equipment for sale. I know there is a gym there which is cheaper than private gyms, and it's smaller too, however as I said before the whole lot is being refurbished.

I've been to many a gym in my time in London but from all my experiences, I'd say the Wandle…read moreRecreation Centre has been my best. There aren't a heck of a lot of classes here and this is not the most high-tech gym you'll ever exercise in but what it lacks in facilities, it makes up in customer service and atmosphere. I always find those gym fanatic types quite a put-off when I'm working out! I don't want to be staring at the hardcore gym bods whilst I'm flabbing and wheezing on the machines, luckily there is hardly a pretentious gym goer in sight. I always see a host of regulars and friendly faces which I like. The gym gets quite busy it seems on a Monday evening (perhaps the post weekend guilt complex sets in?) but there always seems to be just enough room for you to get on a machine or do some weights. I love my local gym and would encourage anyone to join this one, especially as it's so affordable too!

This is a great facility; it has several large floodlit football pitches which are astroturf. It…read morealso has a small gym and weights room and a sports hall. The sports hall is one of the few in the local area which you can book for badminton over the phone without having to be a member. They have peak and off peak rates, the off peak are pretty reasonable.

Seven Islands Leisure Centre is a great option if you are looking to escape those pretentious type…read moregyms where you feel you have to go in and look amazing whilst working out! I am a regular here and have to say am very happy. I pay around £46 per month for full membership and am not tied to any contract and also didn't incur any admin charges which makes for quite good value! The gym offers a great selection of classes (my favourite is the Wednesday evening dance aerobics) which are all also open to non members at a price per class fee. The gym itself is ample - you sometimes struggle to get on the cross trainers at peak times but this is generally the case with most gyms. The pool is great and the centre also provides great swimming classes for children. Be warned though, there is no sleek decor or anything ultra modern about this gym (e.g. they are yet to install GHD's in the changing rooms!). It does what it says on the tin and that is just fine for me!

My partner and I pay a total of £75 per month to use all the facilities at Seven Islands including…read more5 other locations. Seriously. You're not going to get that anywhere in London and probably not anywhere in the G7 countries. That's a seriously good value for a pretty darn good neighborhood. There's an air-conditioned exercise studio and the classes are quite good. They also have a small running club and other common sport interest groups. The weight training room is very well equipped and has been recently refurbished using a £1mn investment. There's a water fountain in between the cardiovascular area and the weight training room. The locker room could use a scrub, but all functional. A refundable £1 to use a locker. There's a 33m swimming pool with a shallow and a deep end, and while I don't swim, everyone seems rather happy splashing around. 1 on 1 instruction is also available. Overall, seriously good value for money.