Gym Fitness for Women

are there any serious bodybuilding gyms in central london?

Far too many serious gyms have turned into 'spas' aimed at people looking to prance around on an elliptical machine or go to a pilates class. I've watched my gym deteriorate and lose more and more free weights to make room for ANOTHER elliptical machine. Not only that, but the members are now obviously different and the vibe that used to be there is gone. But most gyms are becoming like this. Are there any serious bodybuilding gyms left?

Public Comments

1. yeh your right its getting harder to find real gyms nowa days, the gym i went to has just closed down leaving me to goto a crappy lifestyles gym i guess were just going to have to put up with it or be lucky enough to find one in your local area :(
2. Kiwi_Fella03-02-2005, 06:19 AM All you fellaz who live in London, well east London to be specific, I recommend taking a look at this gym. http://www.muscleworksgym.co.uk/index.htm London has the biggest amount of pansy, girly gym's I've ever seen. This is only the second gym I've been to in London that is a proper bodybuilding gym. The other one was in Seven Sisters. Their very rare too find here. When I first took a look around at this gym, I damm near shed a tear at the equipment and gear they had, you know, like more than one bench press, smith machines, squat racks, leg presses, the simple things. You'd be surprised how many pansy gyms in London dont have any of this stuff. For example, theres a chain here in London called Fitness First. I think I read another thread on here saying how ridculous their gym was regarding using weights and the overall attitude of staff there. Well, Fitness First is exactly the same. Their equipment consists of 1 bench press, 2 benches, their heaviest dumbells total a whopping 40kgs aside, BUT, they have every damm cardio machine you can ask for, just great for bodybuilders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- placebo03-02-2005, 06:49 AM Wicked. Thanks for the link. Reps given. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruhanv03-02-2005, 06:56 AM I live in South London and workout before work in the mornings so this spot would be a bit too far from me. Gotta tell you I used to live in the US and trained at the World Gym in Paramus, NJ. It was a free weight paradise! Moving to the UK has been really frustrating. My wife was a personal trainer at the time and it used to get on her nerves that you could pretty much do cardio and a few machines. Right now I go to gym (Fitness First) around 6ish in the morning because any time after 5pm, you have to stand in line to use the free weights! Don't even get me started on the personal trainers... You guys in the US don't know what you have unless you lose it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kiwi_Fella03-02-2005, 07:42 AM I live in South London and workout before work in the mornings so this spot would be a bit too far from me. Gotta tell you I used to live in the US and trained at the World Gym in Paramus, NJ. It was a free weight paradise! Moving to the UK has been really frustrating. My wife was a personal trainer at the time and it used to get on her nerves that you could pretty much do cardio and a few machines. Right now I go to gym (Fitness First) around 6ish in the morning because any time after 5pm, you have to stand in line to use the free weights! Don't even get me started on the personal trainers... You guys in the US don't know what you have unless you lose it! Yeah I used to take the gyms for granted when I trained in other countries (New Zealand, America, Australia) In London if your serious about lifting, your in for a shock to try and find a decent gym. Ruhanv - Where do you live in Sth London?, I went to a great gym near Seven Sisters tube station, I forget the name though. Alot of pro's train there and they have an extensive amount of equipment and great attitudes. Feel sorry for you with Fitness First, f**k I hate that place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- placebo03-02-2005, 08:12 AM If anyone happens to live in Ilford, there's a decent gym in Green Street (I think that's the road anyway, the one where all the shops are Indian/Pakistani owned) above the burger bar. Not as good as the one posted by Kiwi Fella, but much better than the Fitness First type gyms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruhanv03-02-2005, 08:19 AM Yeah I used to take the gyms for granted when I trained in other countries (New Zealand, America, Australia) In London if your serious about lifting, your in for a shock to try and find a decent gym. Ruhanv - Where do you live in Sth London?, I went to a great gym near Seven Sisters tube station, I forget the name though. Alot of pro's train there and they have an extensive amount of equipment and great attitudes. Feel sorry for you with Fitness First, f**k I hate that place. I live near Clapham Junction. The thing is the Fitness First is less than 1 block from my house which obviously makes it easier if you go twice a day for instance. I guess it's about grinning and bearing it until we move back to South Africa, the US or potentially Oz in the next year or so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tetsu.03-02-2005, 09:04 AM bristol is pretty lame for gyms also.a couple of them have free weight areas but these are taken over by groups of blokes trying to impress each other, with games like who can bounce the most weight of thier chest and other pastimes such as taking a simple isolation excercise and turning it in to a fullbody workout (those guys are so creative). got i'm glad i've got a home gym. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uber-neggR03-02-2005, 09:05 AM If anyone happens to live in Ilford, there's a decent gym in Green Street (I think that's the road anyway, the one where all the shops are Indian/Pakistani owned) above the burger bar. Not as good as the one posted by Kiwi Fella, but much better than the Fitness First type gyms. Do you mean Green Road? Is it hidden behind a house? And for anyone to talk about gyms in east london, thier is only one...... Wags Bennett Gym. Yep, the same gym were arnie lived and trained for 3 yrs is still standing. With many free (Old school) weights and thousands of old school bber pics all over the wall. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kiwi_Fella03-02-2005, 09:09 AM Do you mean Green Road? Is it hidden behind a house? And for anyone to talk about gyms in east london, thier is only one...... Wags Bennett Gym. Yep, the same gym were arnie lived and trained for 3 yrs is still standing. With many free (Old school) weights and thousands of old school bber pics all over the wall. Never heard of this joint? Do you know where in East london this gym is? I wouldnt mind going and checking it out -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uber-neggR03-02-2005, 09:37 AM Never heard of this joint? Do you know where in East london this gym is? I wouldnt mind going and checking it out Forrest Gate. Thier is a bus stop close to mcdonalds (next to the cross section of roads). DIRECTLY opposite that bus stop is a big old building next to an old church. This building and church are put together to make the gym. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- placebo03-02-2005, 09:45 AM Do you mean Green Road? Is it hidden behind a house? Green Road, I think that's it. Head past the train station towards Sainsbury's. That road. I believe it's opposite a petrol station, above a burger bar. I trained there for a couple of weeks last easter, so I can't quite remember where exactly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABC_BOXER03-02-2005, 09:50 AM I goto a great gym, the couple who own it are natural competitors, his wife is a pro. great for advise etc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RU_Star03-02-2005, 09:56 AM Looks like the sorta gym that you'd get anal raped in -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Haider25403-02-2005, 11:03 AM I go to a gym called Flex Fitness. They have a tiny corner for cardio stuff and about 6 times more space dedicated to weight. DBs ranging from 1kg to 75kg. Atleast 4 leg presses. 1 Incline Bench, 1 Decline Bench, 1 Flat Bench, 2 Smiths, 2 Cages, about 4 benches just lying around for DB presses and what not. 3 Lat pullies....list goes on and on, perfect BB gym. Well what do expect, it is run by JD Dawodu https://www.powerstar.de/gallery/profis/images/jd_dawodu_102001_10s.jpg https://www.powerstar.de/gallery/profis/images/jd_dawodu_102001_05s.jpg Great gym, It's in Wood Green, North London. http://www.flexfitness.co.uk/ the website is a bit shabby and out of date but the details are correct. Or mike_t (20-01-2008) If you want a reasonably priced fitness centre this is a great place. It has a large well-equipped gym with the latest equipment and this includes seperate free weight areas for the more serious bodybuilder. In the swimming pool area there is a sauna and steam room, and an all-inclusive membership is only £45 per month, or £38 for students. There is also the added bonus of having no contracts, membership is on a month-by-month basis. Overall, good value for money! Tags fitness, gym, swimming, leisure centre helpful (1) well written (1) Comments (0) Offending content? 256 glitterba... Compliment glitterbangles (31-10-2007) Putney Leisure Centre is a nice relaxed gym, with friendly staff who are always there to help you with any questions. It's clean, well equipped and with a swimming pool. Being a council leisure centre the membership rates are decent although you can pay as you go if you don't want to commit to a full membership. I'd recommend trying out the classes as they're fun and they keep you going back! Tags fitness, sports, gym, classes, swimming helpful (0) well written (0) Comments (0) Offending content? 201 Nicky Compliment Nicky (24-10-2007) If you dont like the big commercial gyms this is perfect, the staff are nice and it