The Best Boutique Gyms To Try In London

It's unusual to go to a gym class where everyone makes notes, but Lift Studio LDN, the female weight training community, is different. Their mission is to teach women the fundamentals of how to lift, while getting stronger and supporting each other - training for ‘nourishment, not punishment’. 

And the notebooks? They let you track your weights, reps and progress. It’s a world away from some of the fast-paced classes I’ve been to, where if you look away you’ve missed the latest move: here there is a strong emphasis on form. Of course, it also means that outside the class you are better equipped to tackle a weights section, which can be intimidating for even the oldest of gym hands. 

The classes at their Clapham studio are intimate - half a dozen of us in mine - and the instructor Kati makes sure everyone is following along for every rep. We do some familiar moves, like hip thrusts (but with a bar bell rather than the free weights I am used, to and with far more weight) and some I’ve never seen before, using a barbell hinged to the apparatus to lever ourselves up and down while balancing in an arabesque.

It’s engrossing and enjoyable, and the group is friendly and welcoming. With cute, humorous touches - there are boobs painted on the kettle bells, and a cut-out Taylor Swift watches over us - this is a fun, welcoming space;  but they are certainly serious about weights.

If you're obsessed with boxing, then Kobox will be right up your street. Dubbed a 'fight club meets nightclub' and often frequented by models like Jourdan Dunn, this gym will help give you abs of steel. The high intensity boxing-based classes combine heavy bag boxing routines mixed with strength training.

Basically, F45 studios offer 45 minute-long functional circuit training sessions (hence the name) that work your entire body. Exercises are demoed by trainers then repeated on screens so that the staff can focus on correcting your form and motivate you throughout the work out. So, it’s sort of like having a personal trainer - but with the added atmosphere of group training.

Expect to improve your energy levels, metabolic rate, strength and endurance. And, if you want even more motivation to train, you can join one of F45’s Eight-Week Challenges, where trainers focus on tailoring your work outs to suit your specific goals goal by creating bespoke food plans and recommending exercises. We won’t lie, F45 is tough. But if you stick with it, (and the enthusiasm from the trainers makes it hard not to) you will 100% see results.

Equinox is an elite fitness club that houses a boxing studio, yoga studio, cycling studio, pilates studio and a spa. The gym hosts 122 innovative group classes a week, too, so it's great for training with a friend. And of course, the locker rooms are decked out with complimentary Kiehl's products and chilled eucalyptus infused towels. Dreamy.

Newly launched KXU is London's first pay-as-you go fitness concept that combines strength, stretch and cardio fitness classes with supportive nutrition and wellness therapies. The modern, state-of-the-art gym is set within Chelsea's vibrant Pavilion Road community. Spread across three floors, the gym boasts impressive group workout spaces, a café, rose-gold changing rooms, a spa, an infra-red sauna and a cryotherapy room. Could you even ask for more?

If you love boxing and want to master your jab, hook and upper cut, Box Clever Sports is the place for you. This raw boxing gym is situated in an urban disused car park in Ladbroke Grove, making it perfect for those who want an authentic boxing experience. The gym offers an array of classes from technical one-to-one PT sessions designed to really sharpen your skills, to interactive group sessions that will raise your heart rate through the roof.

Based in Kensington and frequented by the likes of Ollie Proudlock, Rosie Fortescue and Millie Mackintosh, Core Collective offers pay-as-you-train classes with some of the best personal trainers in the business. From HIIT training to weightlifting to spin classes, there's something to suit everyone. Plus, post-workout, you can hang out and refuel with nutritious food in the gym's award-winning kitchen.

Bored of your normal gym, and looking for something with a bit more spunk? Hipster gym 1Rebel will be your new BFF. It features slick, futuristic studios which host a variety of high intensity classes from boxing to cycle, meaning that you can sweat your way to a whole new you.

After a hardcore workout that'll leave you sweaty, but feeling incredible? Head to one of the Psycle London studios, where you'll be challenged to push your boundaries both physically and mentally in barre, HIIT, yoga and spin classes. Our recommendations? A 60 minute spin class that's definitely worth sweating for.

There's a reason why Barrecore has developed a cult-like following in recent years – it promises real results in just a few weeks. The workouts are challenging, yes, but suitable for all fitness levels and, as they're low impact, are great for those looking to build strength without overdoing it on the cardio. Supportive trainers are on hand to guide you through everything and, without a doubt, you'll want to go back again and again.

Located in the heart of Chelsea, luxury boutique studio FLEX is changing the way we workout in the capital – with light-filled studios, FLEX is the antithesis to the dark and hectic workouts of 2019 London. Three first floor studios provide the perfect environment for yoga, circuits, Paola's BodyBarre, and 'Peach for the Beach' – a class designed to tone glutes and abs perfectly pre-holiday, while the neon-lit basement Spin Studio houses state-of-the-art Keiser M3i bikes, giving riders full stats throughout their session. Expert personal trainers are on hand daily, and state of the art EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) is also available. EMS sessions pack a personal 1hr 45minute workout session into just 20 minutes.

Globally recognised boutique studio UN1T has taken strength & conditioning training, systemised it and brought it to the public to create the World's most complete & effective boutique studio workout. The workouts are designed around 3 core pillars: Strength, Conditioning & Mobility. The sole purpose is to improve each member's individual performance. UN1T is shifting the obsession over body composition to performance, with the belief (and proof) that with increased performance comes aesthetic changes; a much healthier approach that promotes longevity, better mental health and fitness as a life long pursuit. UN1T's training method is a structured program based on science, following structured cycles with 3 different phases, the same system that athletes use to achieve results. Members are tested before and after each 12 week phase to show their progress, which keeps them & UN1T accountable. Expect a full body burn that'll leave you feeling physically & mentally stronger.

Located across four different studios in London, Digme offers everything from spin classes to yoga. One class costs £22, or there are plenty of special offers which crop up – and you can even pay with Klarna to make it more affordable. If you're not based in London or can't get to a class, no problem, as Digme offers at-home workouts, too. Easy peasy.

Located in Westbourne Grove, X-Pilates is a welcoming new health hub that offers reformer classes, mat pilates, personal training, physiotherapy, massage, nutrition, challenges and retreats. Sessions are kept small, with space for 12 people in each studio, so expect plenty of attention from instructors. This may look graceful, but expect your abs to burn .

If you like your workouts to be high energy, fun and with a banging soundtrack, Boom Cycle is the place for you. With an emphasis on making your workout feel as good as possible, there's none of the competition that exists in some other spin classes, meaning you can just switch off and enjoy yourself while you work up a sweat. A friendly, welcoming environment, this is especially good for first timers.