Julie's is the best dance studio in the midlands. Two of my grandchildren and my niece attend and…read morehave been doing so since they were 3. I know of ex students of Julies who have gone on to great things, all down to Julie and her team. The annual show at the Civic Hall is always something to look forward to and never disappointing as are all the shows that the students work so hard to put on . . . they're amazing and so talented. And it's not just for the girls . . . my grandson loves it!

This place is great. I felt so welcomed when I dropped-in for a Flamenco class. The teacher was…read moregreat and I stayed for two classes. If you have been to other studios, you know what to expect regarding coming into the class at the right time (as people are leaving the previous class), tucking your bag away, and stretching in a space of your own. This studio is really cool. It was an old bath house! It has loads of space. You feel like you belong, and it just runs like a great dance studio.

I went along to a breakdance (yes, you heard right, breakdance) class at my local dance studio and…read moreboy was I in for a workout.... I'm a pretty fit kind of gal - go to the gym regularly, eat my veggies, all that kind of stuff, but nothing prepared me for this. I arrived, somewhat sheepishly, at the Fame-esque studios and became gradually more terrified as I walked past room after room of people, perfectly in time, pulling some moves I could only dream of. I arrived at my studio and found that I was not the only person whose age began with a 3 - thank the Lord. Everyone was very friendly and soon swapping stories of their dancing experience. Luckily many were practically nil or fell into the 'I haven't done anything since school' category. To be honest, once you get in there, you're concentrating so hard on remembering the routines and trying not to break your legs/arms that you really don't care what everyone else is up to! Lana was our instructor - a half-woman, half b-boy phenomenon who really looked the part. Bandana, cap on sideways, baggy pants - she had the whole look down pat. And she was lovely. By the end of it I was exhausted, my knees hurt and I certainly wouldn't be pulling any of those moves on a dancefloor near you, but I was on my way. I'm looking forward to the next class already.

I'm not a great leisure centre user - I usually find them too clinical and indoorsy. However, this…read moredoesn't do a bad job at all. It's clean, the staff are friendly and there are lots of things on. It's got a real community feel to it. One word of warning is that because there's so much going on, it's often a good idea to phone up in advance, in case you turn up for a swimming session when the pool's booked for a lesson or something else. The 25m pool has lanes, which is a refreshing change, but can be a bit daunting if you're not a very fast swimmer. I recommend going at a quiet time of the day or using the learner pool for a bit if you feel a bit self-conscious. The changing rooms are just about warm enough and the chlorine's not too strong. Apart from swimming there's a variety of facilities: - Fitness suite - Dance studio - 3 squash courts - Sports hall - Therapy room There are lots of classes and clubs to get involed in, such as basketball, volleyball, 5-a-side football, health/fitness classes, racket sports and various dance classes. They do postnatal sessions, activities for the over-50s and kids' parties. Prices are very reasonable especially if you have a Slicecard. Kids under 17 can swim for free.

I am a member of this gym because I want a place to use fitness equipment, and membership here is…read morecheap; this gym continually dissatisfies me, but I'm unwilling to pay the exorbitant rates of the Virgin gym nearby. This gym is more like a community center than a commercial gym; it's very children/family oriented. There are often annoying adolescents playing (I use the word deliberately) on the equipment in the fitness room. The bathroom/changing rooms are woefully unventilated. Ventilation is a big problem in the fitness room as well - even one or two people working out in there and the atmostphere becomes absolutely fetid, especially in the winter. Also, the music in the fitness room tends to be played quite loudly, in spite of the fact that the vast majority of people working out are wearing headphones. The Fusion parent corporation is somewhat clownish - eg, they send me harrassing emails to renew my membership for a month prior to the date of expiration, and when I attempt to renew at the service desk in the gym a week before that date, I learn that it's impossible to renew until _after_ the membership has actually expired. If there were another option nearby that wasn't punitively expensive and tiresomely country-clubbish, I would run for it. But there isn't. Again, however, seems to be an excellent place for families, and the prices are low.

I had the opportunity to attend Zumba classes at Mango Academy and I really enjoyed the class and…read morethe work out. I have done quite a few Zumba classes and I have to confess this is the best work out so far! I definitly recommend Mango Academy for a good sweat!

Neither fancy nor run down, I'd not shy away from another performance at The Oxford Playhouse - and…read moreneither should you - but I'd set my expectations accordingly. Having bought advance tickets to a very good, creative, evening performance (Moby Dick) I was surprised to see how casual the Playhouse's interior looked and felt. It wasn't just the presence of a lot of children in the audience but also the sale of ice cream in the theater at intermission. This is not a theater experience that one should feel the need to dress up for; it's sort of the opposite of that. If ancient yelp reviews are accurate, The Oxford Playhouse is an attractive option for Oxford students. As a visitor to the town, I'd not call this a "must" but after a day of doing "whatever" it offers a comfortable finale.

I really love the Optin program and it's a great way for students to see good theatre for a…read morereasonable price. It's near the Ashmolean Museum which makes it a great way to end an evening of sightseeing.

Rhythmics offer all sorts of dance classes for children and adults alike…read more There four studios - including two large main studios, that hold classes in ballet, tap, street dance and ballroom to name just a few! There is also a coffee shop and waiting room. All of the classes are lead by qualified UKA instructors. There is also the option of booking a private 1:1 lesson - which is perhaps a good idea if you are looking to build your dance confidence before facing the masses! Rhytmics also offer examinations throughout the year. They stage various shows and attend competitions across the country. There is also a well-stocked dancewear shop onsite.

Tucked away in Greenwich, SE London is the Borough Hall which houses the excellent Greenwich dance…read moreagency. If you are interested in contemporary dance and you don't fancy going to The Place, the GDA is a great alternative. They have currently working directors and choreographers teach professional contemporary dance classes in weekly slots in the mornings. This means you are getting cutting edge instruction and connections to the professional world. If you are not a pro don't fear they have beginners and intermediate classes on Tuesday evenings. These classes are perfectly paced for a deep and thorough development and understanding. At the GDA you can choose to do adult drop-in classes, workshops or book onto courses. GDA is not only about dance, so it is a good idea to keep up-to-date with what is happening on the website. They often run martial arts, salsa and yoga classes

Yep, hell freezing over and me reviewing a dance school…read more I started Capoeria classes last week and I'm having a pretty awesome time already (another class tonight, yay!), but I like it here. It doesn't feel too... dancey. I'm not a dancer. Despite doing dance classes at college, it's not something that I do naturally - as my teacher is finding out. But he's pretty cool. Maybe one day I'll stop turning left instead of right. The staff are friendly, the dance studios are huge and I'm not made to feel like I shouldn't be there, even though I'm probably slightly out of my depth. I've paid £37 for the classes (think that's for six) and might even do another class after I've finished these. I like it here. They do everything from ballroom to lindy hop to street dance, so you'll find something to suit you, even if you've got two left feet.

Westminster Sports Centre is open to everyone - not just students from brookes! Also its not one of…read morethose gyms that is only open to members - you can buy a single swim or gym session without signing up to a membership! Its one of the cheapest gyms i've been to and the by far the friendliest. It has a number of facilities, including a 25m swimming pool, a 55 station gym, two squash courts, a large meeting/training room, badminton facilities, basket ball facilities, a number of tennis courts, 6 outdoor pitches and an 18 hole golf course. The pricing of the memberships are very competitive. Don't expect to pay more than about £25 per month for most if not all of the facilities. Locals get discounts (as well as service men & women) and can knock up to a quarter of the price. Prices range from £16 to £48 per moth depending on the degree to which you wish to use the facilities. Phone up to check availability. The swimming pool is kept to about 30.5 degrees centigrade. The gym is large and spacious and airy. It can get a little hot later into the evening but there is air conditioning (which i've been told is being improved). The squash courts are the best i've played in. The centre offers a number of classes that can be found on their website, including spinning which is well run and is usually in the air-conditioned training room. The staff are friendly and are always up for a good chat! Its always nice to come in from a long day at work and see a smiling happy manager behind reception. The place is kept clean and tidy by a team of dedicated lifeguards and cleaners who if asked will always help you out. There are only a few negatives: the car park at the moment is a hassle - as i gather it, the university don't like people parking and have a barrier system in place. The bad side of this deter ant on us as customers is that we have to get a token from reception, for every time you use the facilities. This is a hassle to begin with but you get used to it. If you don't think you'd like this then you can always ride your bike/moped/push bike to the centre; which provides bike storage by the barrier to the car park. Or alternatively you could catch the U1, which stops on the campus by the teaching facilities. The other negative is that sometimes its frustrating to see managers or reception staff sat behind reception doing nothing (browsing facebook/ playing games/ texting) whilst the cleaners are in the gym, and the lifeguards on poolside. Admittedly the centre is never that busy, but its plain to see there are jobs to be done to tidy the place up a bit. If not just in the reception area? Anyway over all its a great little centre that not that many people know about and really has a family/friendly feel to it. I would definitely recommend it and its always there to try.

It's a big shame, but it has been ruined. My children have both used the swimming lessons there for…read moreyears very happily. Unfortunately, there is a new incompetent manager (Stuart McC) there. When my daughter progressed to the end of the swimming lessons with 2 lessons to go, we informed Stuart that we would like the refund for 4 lessons that were still pre paid. He explained that nothing could be done about the 2 lessons that were for the end of the course (fair enough). However, he could refund the remaining 2 lessons....in 57 days time at the earliest because he was 'short staffed'. I have been a manager for years and this does not wash. When produced with a letter he signed himself saying that you could get a refund, I received a nonsense email filled with bluff, jargon and no substance. Still curious as to whether it will take 57 days to get a £16.00 refund. Personally, I wouldn't sign up to any sports membership here whilst this incompetent manager is in charge, unless you want to find yourself in this situation over any membership fees.