King's Sport & Wellness - Strand Gym

Negative experience: I had really high expectations, as this gym is highly rated at the time of attendance (4.4), and I had bought a gym pass for the day online which seemed to be incredible value for £8. The gym was oversubscribed at lunch time which is pretty normal in central London gyms. I was told that I could use the gym lockers "on the gym floor" and buzzed in, I was asked questions about my student ID even though I had bought an external user pass. I wasn't directed to the lockers however they were easy to find on my own as the gym is not large at all. I wasted 5 minutes opening each locker with no lock, only to find someone else's belongings inside. I had no choice but to carry my small back pack onto the gym floor so I could finish my workout in my lunch hour, as the changing rooms are not easily accessible unless you have a permanent pass and I had belongings I didn't want to leave unattended and unlocked. There are 6 squat racks, but no dedicated bench equipment, so you will have to find a spare bench to move in place (or remove it) and set up as required. There is minimal space between the racks which makes it awkward to load and unload the weights from the bar. They have 3 unisex self contained toilet, and one disabled toilet. The one I used had no paper towels, I had to dry my hands on my shorts. The crowd is logically young as it primarily caters to KCL students and staff, one member, visibly unwell, spent their entire session projectile coughing into the small poorly ventilated space. Another, interrupted my bench press to ask me if I knew how to squat. I was then interrupted by someone else and asked to remove my bag from the gym floor, when I stated there were no lockers they offered to take my bag. However, I had to decline as there is no way to identify the gym staff and it wasn't the same person who I talked to initially, and felt quite uncomfortable that someone wanted to take my belongings. I finished that set and left. Not a great experience unfortunately. Unless budget is your only concern I would avoid.

Fantastic experience: Located inside a beautiful building (Bush House NW) in Aldwych, this gym has excellent facilities and friendly staff; can't go wrong if you're at Strand or LSE. Can get busy in the afternoons. It is quietest every weekday morning at 7, particularly Fridays.

Positive experience: I am King's student and the gym is the best thing about the uni. It has dedicated space for women to train (except of Wednesday). The classes are also fun. A drawback is the restrooms are often filthy. I should add that recently they impose new rules about class attendance and cancellations. These new rules are not well communicated and you can only lift the penalty manually by coming to the reception desk. So I changed the 5 stars to 3 stars. Edit: Wow, the zumba class just cancelled in one minute before 7. Everyone was already in the hall. Since the start of this semester, I feel the main training space are mostly full, while the women only space is often booked in busy times. While during the semester break, no classes are held. I think it is unfair for members who are here the whole year and not using the promotion. The promotion (pay 7 or 9 months in advance to pay for the whole year) might increase the numbers of the members, the capacity is limited. I start to think to move to other gym.

Fantastic experience: Very friendly and always willing to give help and advice. Anyone of any level are very warmly welcomed

Positive experience: Good gym but only allows a day pass for outsiders

Fantastic experience: THE GYM IS WELL EQUIPPED ...CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL DECOR AND DESIGN...AND VERY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WORKING FOR YOU BEHIND THE COUNTER

Positive experience: Lovely team and fairly new equipment, but it gets a bit too busy at times. I paid for the year, you won't find a better deal than this, but need to be a student.

Positive experience: Nice rooms with good floor mats and other equipment. Just found it to be extremely cold if you are standing around.

Fantastic experience: The place to train in London

Fantastic experience: Had very helpful service from Frank !

Fantastic experience: Fantastic

Fantastic experience: Great student gym

Positive experience: Good facilities admin have gone down the toilet since management changed hands.

Fantastic experience: Excellent gym and allows day pass also

Fantastic experience: One day (it was a Tuesday) and I wanted to start to work out to lose the fat. I left the gym unamused considering I was still morbidly obese. I was told my numerous men online that going to the gym once would rid my excess fat instantaneously but instead it just made me fatter. There were so many fit men there and I was getting upset due to the fact that I weighed 300 pounds. I also farted in a burger king.

Positive experience: The changing room is always smelly because there’s no ventilator. But the staffs are quite friendly and the gym is quite cheap with a lot of facilities and it never gets over crowded.

Negative experience: Making up rules - no entry to the gym after 21:30 (presumably because they’re too lazy to clean up). What about those who only have time later in the day for a short workout (well within working hours). They also kick everyone out 10 minutes before closing and viciously stare you down if your training is nearing that red line. The gym WORKS (for customers) until 22:00. You don’t kick people out because you’re lazy and wanna leave yourself. Students don’t want to work - who would’ve thunk?

Fantastic experience: friendly and helpful staff :D

Fantastic experience: nice

Positive experience: Friendly staff, great free weights and rack, what more do you need, just wished they would fix the showers in the mens. Only 2 of 4 worked properly last time I checked.

Positive experience: The equipment is really good quality and there is a very friendly atmosphere from both gym-goers and staff. The only downside is that it is very small and they sometimes blast music too loud.

Positive experience: State of the art equipment and the ambience is quite professional. It could use with a touch more interaction between the trainers and gym users but this can be attributed to the covid-19 pandemic.

Fantastic experience: Top notch classes and virtual classes.

Fantastic experience: Many racks, heaven for lifters :)

Positive experience: Friendly gym in the Strand. Mainly student clientele but open to all. Clean, decent range of equipment and reasonable prices.

Negative experience: The security here are horrendous. I was trying to leave the building and I went out the wrong exit and found myself trapped in a courtyard which is supposed to be a fire escape. The security guards lauphed at me and said it isn't their problem. I had to wait a long time until they opened the gates for a taxi. I then complained to the guard at the reception once I finally escaped and he couldn't care less.

Negative experience: I've got to give this a 1-star review because although the facilities were excellent, really clean and very friendly, the class I booked and paid for never took place and I was never informed of cancellation. I wasted £6 I was charged for the class and also my time and money travelling into central London. I'm really disappointed :/

Fantastic experience: Nice and quiet

Fantastic experience: Super friendly gym!

Fantastic experience: What a gym! This place is so slick. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. Can't believe how cheap it is too!

Fantastic experience: What an amazing space. Where to begin... The spin studio is like a boutique spin studio with a sick sound system and lights. The yoga studio is so peaceful and really spacious. The gym floor is so big! Haven't seen this many squat racks in a while!!

Fantastic experience: This gym is awesome. It's like a boutique facility for just a fraction of the price, amazing sound system, 4 studios and one hell of a coaching team!

Fantastic experience: Great gym, great people, great gains

Fantastic experience: Amazing new gym in central London! Fantastic gym equipment and the studio spaces make for an incredible experience - Ride, Les Mills, Hatton Boxing, Pilates... They have it all!

Fantastic experience: This is almost too good for a uni gym. It's super modern, and in such an iconic building!

Fantastic experience: Awesome new space!