My experience with Ultimate Performance (UP) has been excellent. My trainer, Mike Roson, is…read morefantastic and has helped me every step of the way. He's designed my workouts, he's defined the shape of my meal plan with targets for each of the main macronutrients while leaving it up to me to choose the foods to achieve those targets, he's easily contactable for any questions that arise while I'm away from the gym, whether it be related to training tips or supplements to use to aid recovery. The gym itself has top notch equipment and since every client in the gym is working one-on-one with a personal trainer, I've never experienced overcrowding. Oh, and make sure not to miss the (chocolate) protein shakes after your workout! Bottom-line: it is expensive and requires discipline, but UP will give you what you need to almost guarantee results as long as you commit to their program. And you and your trainer will define what "results" means for you. Areas to improve: no overnight lockers means you must bring everything with you each session. Given the high-end product they offer and the price point, I'd love to see the protein shakes included as complimentary ;)

Where the excuses stop and results begin". This was truly my experience with this gym. There is no…read morefaf. A pure results-driven gym. Location: Great location. Right in central London, so it's likely to be close to your office. Facilities: The gym is fully equipped with all types and variations of equipment. Training schedule: I came in as slightly experienced in weight training. However I still learned a lot and saw quite a big transformation within 12 weeks. Price: The reason why I have rated 4 instead of 5 is because I found the price to be quite high relative to other gyms.

I have often found gyms to be cold and impersonal, and unless i have trained with a friend, have…read moregenerally not enjoyed the experience. I much prefer the activity i.e. golf, snowboarding, cycling where I get the health benefit and the actual enjoyment. However despite my initial misgivings, I signed up via a qype offer, and I have been extremely surprised; I have found myself really enjoying the experience, though the 20 to 30 minutes after the session I find absolute beagony due to my inherent lack of fitness. The trainers are friendly, always mindful and engaging, however they do push you without resorting the drill sergeant tactics. Curiously, you will find yourself trying to beat or at least push yourself to get the most of of the experience and to match the expectations of your trainer. Having researched some prices of other gyms, this is by far the best I have seen in terms of value, and allied with the new equipment and the friendly staff, it seems a no-brainer. I would definitely recommend it to someone wanting to push themselves to lose weight, gain muscle or in my case just improve my level of fitness a bit.

I have always been active and always a member of a gym, but I never quite achieved either the…read moreweight loss I was always striving for or the toned physic and was getting extremely de-motivated. A colleague of mine then recommended I visit IgnitePT and see what I think so I went to take a look. My initial goal was to lose around two stone I had put on since turning 30 (a little while back now) and to coincide the weight loss with a holiday to South Africa. If I am honest, I didn't think it was a realistic goal as I had attempted it in the past and the weight simply didn't reduce to the extent I wanted which was really disappointing. I was working out, putting hours into my gym sessions but really poor results. I signed up and had to keep a food diary which was regularly reviewed. The critique was tough but very fair and it became a learning experience / re-education to what I should eat and drink and when. It was a surprise to me how often I should eat and was strange to have a recommendation to eat more often but it allowed me to feel nourished and gave me the energy to rise to the challenging workouts that came alongside the dietary changes. It also reduced my snacking tendency and a cheat day was built in to keep me on track. A proper exercise programme was then drawn up with a mixture of some personal training, gym work and an appropriate balance of rest. The PT sessions consisted of some tough cardio i.e. circuit style work with working every muscle group. The range of equipment kept it interesting though and the fact that I could see the progression at regular intervals. I would be lying if I said my personal training sessions were a doddle far from it. I have never worked so hard before or felt so whacked at the end of the hour sessions. However once my initial conditioning was out the way I was relatively pain free as I was pushed to a limit but not to the extent that I couldn't walk. The constant changing of the exercises and the fact that I could see definite progression made it all motivational as did the great prompting and encouragement given by my trainer. I am so proud of having lost the weight and love all the compliments I get. Tough bit now is continuing to maintain it but I'm confident I can do it and think that training at IgnitePT was one of my best decisions ever.

I'd only lifted in a gym setting before, but decided to check this place out. Couldn't be happier!…read moreMartin is a wonderful coach, and he helped me transition from high-bar squats to low bar squats, hitting the correct depth. I had to pay a one-time £20 fee to join (after the first couple drop-ins), and each coaching session was £5 (they said they were gonna up it to £7.50). I've only gone on Tuesday mornings (10:30am - noon), and it's few enough people that you can get individual attention from the resident coach, with more than enough racks and benches to go around. Very welcoming to newcomers and full of strong, motivated people!

So i'm a bit of a gym rat / fitness freak and i've been going to this gym since I moved to the area…read moreabout a year ago. It's in a great area and the best thing is that it's open 24 hours a day, which is perfect for me. Over the last few years, due to the recession, we have seen a lot of these cheap gym chains sprouting up and I usually go with the saying 'you get what you pay for'. Now where that's usually proved me right for the most part, it's completely untrue with this gym chain. Monthly rates are dirt cheap, usually around £20 and the gym has everything you could want and need in a gym - state of the art equipment, full range of free weights, stretching areas, changing rooms, classes and PT sessions. Notice I said gym and not HEALTH CLUB. When I go to the gym I like to TRAIN not swim, jacuzzi, play tennis, steam room, spa or play tennis. If that's what you want then this place is not for you, as it hasn't got any of them and you want somewhere like VIRGIN ACTIVE or DAVID LLOYD and the price that comes with it (upwards of £65 per month plus joining fee). When I joined this gym I was shocked at how cheap it was a month as I would have gladly paid double every month as that's what I was expecting to pay at least. It's clean, nicely decorated and has everything you would need and more in a gym. A few recommendations - - Take full advantage of the 24 hour services. I would say to not train after work 6-10pm on weekdays as you will not be able to do what you need to do in less than 2 hours so you may as well not have gone. I go before work during the week and sometimes at weekends and have no problem using the equipment I need. - They don't have a wide range of classes so take a look at what they have on the website and see if they do things you like if thats a factor for you. - Don't get PT sessions here. I've trained athletes and know bad trainers when I see them. Apart from a few, most of the trainers here recycle their sessions and don't make sure their clients are doing the exercises correctly. I think they care more about their money than helping them. Or if you do want sessions here send me a message and i'll recommend the good ones and I promise I don't know any of them personally to just be giving them your business! Apart from those minor points if you live local and are looking for a gym I thoroughly recommend this place!

Good gym for 20 quid a month. It's got all the cardio that you'll need, and if you're an off-hours…read moregym rat, the ideal place for you. Always has been clean for me, and the other patrons are a nice cross-section (read: not full of gym rats). PT professionals I have not seen to be amazing for the price - they seem more just like the contractors who didn't have a job elsewhere - and they cost 50 to 80 an hour typically. Better to head to Pure Fitness or to another big London PT house for that price (and maybe get medical insurance to cover it). The nautilus machines and free weights are plentiful during non-peak hours, though can get a bit crowded with the afterwork crowd. Either way, the gym is great value for money if you're within walking distance.

This isn't your usual cloned fancy fitness centre, it is a great gym for those who simply want to…read morepush weights! Its an easy place to miss with its modest shop front, but when you walk in and down into it's basement, a wide range of free weights and weight machines await you! Its a small local gym that attracts a lot of regulars. everybody is friendly (even if they don't look it when they are towering over you like a mountain of muscle!), but if you start to go there regularly, you will soon learn peoples names and it will feel like home! For me, this does what it says on the tin. Its is nothing fancy, but its a great gym. If you're looking for a fitness first style health club, this isn't for you. but if you just want to push some weights, this is great! it costs around £6 a session for non members, and £4 for members. I was never a member, so I do not know how much membership is, but you must pay a one of £15 intro course if you are a non member.

I was visiting from the US,staying at a relatives house nearby…read more When I asked if there was a gym nearby,I was told yes and we walked up the road .the Young man on the desk was very friendly,and I toured the GYM. it was Great ,a return to Hard Core Gyms that have fallen by the way side in the last few years of fitness,over Power ,Strength, and Size. I came in the next morning and signed up for the week. The other people training in the mornings were Great,Friendly,helpful,and hard trainers.the Morning Manager Andy is Great. After the first week,I signed on for the second week. If you are in the area and want a Great Place to Train ,I HIGHLY RECOMMEND " SQUATS GYM" When I return to visit again I will be back training at SQUATS

I signed up here for a year with the hope of possible entering a bodybuilding competition at some…read morepoint. It seemed good at first, great equipment and some proper training going on. On top of that, there are some genuinely decent people who train there. The bad? Most of the staff are pleasant enough, but there there is a lot of casual rudeness (completely ignoring you while you're waiting to be served, whispering amongst themselves while you are standing at the counter waiting, completely looking through you etc.). The bald guy on reception during the week is regularly rude and disrespectful to members, unless you are a personal friend of his. I have experienced this personally many times and have seen him treat other people like this too. I found it incredible that there was a person with such a negative attitude towards people on reception. The woman who works in the back office (involved in marketing/the management of the gym I think) is also disrespectful and condescending and I personally witnessed her 'whispering' (audible) about customers behind the counter who were waiting to be served. Certain other staff members gossip openly about members, seemingly oblivious that people can hear them - not a great example to set. Unfortunately, the behaviour of staff members is a reflection on the gym and it seemed very toxic. It is important to mention as well that a number of long-term members who are very involved with staff are hostile to outsiders - not just 'not friendly' (which is not expected), but hostile. It seems like the gym enables this type of behaviour. Aside from the negative points raised above, one of the things that shocked me most was the complete absence of any sort of code of conduct in the gym and this should be made clear to members. Attention is given to putting weights back and cleanliness, yes, but aggressive and inappropriate behaviour (not uncommon here) goes completely unchecked, putting members' safety at risk. You can approach staff, but it is very clear that they are not interested and you will be fobbed off, which says a lot. This is a huge negative. The place just feels like a 'free-for-all' where people can do anything, because no rules are upheld. Staff members turn a blind eye to aggressive/inappropriate behaviour, but will look out for their friends (seen first-hand). Apparently, paying to use the gym does not entitle you to expect safety and if you draw their attention to anything, they will react like you are entitled for expecting personal safety on their premises that you paid to use. I had hoped for a much more positive experience, but access to their great variety of equipment did not make up for the atmosphere of the place at all unfortunately so once the year was up, I left. I expect that they will try to have this review removed, which also says a lot, but this review is based on direct, factual experience and I thought it was important that others know what they are signing up for, especially if they sign up for a year and then are stuck in a contract. I also expect to be told that all feedback will be taken seriously, but these are just words - past experience has shown be that issues are not taken seriously there.

This is a men's only gym in true Rocky Balboa style. It is big, dirty, noisy and for serious body…read morebuilders. Numerous body building champions have been through these doors and the personal trainers know how to bulk you up. This is the wrong gym if you want nice shiny equipment, plasma screens and pretty workouts. Muscle Works is for men who want to work hard. Guys who don't mind grunting, sweating and lifting till they can't lift anymore will do well here. They do have cardio machines and a punch bag and good changing facilities. This gym is about weights though. There are plenty of free weights and a great selection of benches and machines. This means you rarely have to wait to use anything. You can pay £5 per visit or £35 per month.

Fitness First in Islington is a Platinum Club, to be honest I'm not sure what that means, this is…read morethe only gym I use. I really enjoy the facilities at Fitness First. I know the locker area and bathrooms will always be clean and that at 6:30 am I won't have to fight to use the equipment I like. At times they don't have the hydro-water I want, I find that irritating. What really gets me mad are people who don't put their free weights back where they belong, and there is a bit of that. But neither complaint is enough to make me quit and find another gym, that's because overall it's a good gym and they've got Gemma B.! To mix it up I do attend classes and work out with a trainer. If you are looking for a class or trainer that will totally work you, go to Gemma B. She is an excellent one to one trainer, the next day I'm sore but when I work with her I get results. She also teaches a couple of classes. Gemma is by far the best spinning instructor I have ever had. Other spinning classes I've taken, I really push myself and by the end I am sweating a bit, but not too badly. With Gemma's spinning class it's non-stop motion and by the end I am not only DRIPPING with sweat, my legs feel like they are going to fall off, now that's what I call a spinning class.

Physiotherapy.. The…read moreonly reason I went to this gym was to see Joe the Physio who has a little room in the basement of the gym. He's a really great guy, chatty funny and he knows his stuff when it come to sports injury. The price is £50 for a consultation and treatment. Then £50 per session after that. Each session last 45 minutes. I had been to a few other places before hand and was appalled by the lack of customer service and disinterest by the physio's. However Joe is a great guy and I can recommend his services! Personally I would not go Fitness First Gym ever, I use H2 Bike Run in Soho, Its Amazing! Read my review for more info on that! ;-)

Anything that gets results is worth the effort and cost, I embarked on a 6 week programme and have…read moredefinitely had great results in a friendly environment. Impressed with using natural body weight for most sessions and surprised at how difficult that can be. Would definitely recommend No 1 Fitness for all levels and abilities. Can't wait for my next 6 week program :-) I've had lots of positive comments on my new look so can't wait to se how I look after another 6 weeks.

No 1 fitness is a great new way to train in 30 minute classes it is just awesome.. check it out its…read morehidden on tower bridge..