Fitness First

Fantastic experience: "I had the pleasure of being assisted by Peter Joseph at Fitness First, and I couldn't be more grateful for his exceptional support. Peter went above and beyond to assist me with my membership, answering all my questions and ensuring a smooth and seamless experience. His professionalism, knowledge, and friendly demeanor made the process easy and enjoyable. I highly recommend reaching out to Peter if you're looking for guidance or assistance at Fitness First!"

Fantastic experience: Incredible facilities and kind staff

Negative experience: 19/12/2024 Absolutely sickening and terrifying behaviour displayed by the management/staff at this branch. I actually witnessed them gang up, physically assault, shout racial abuse at a gym member and pushed him out of the gym! I have reported this to the police because it’s totally unacceptable for anyone to be treated like this. Earlier reviews mention events of the same nature and it’s evident nothing has been done about this. I would AVOID this gym if I were you!! SHAME ON YOU FITNESS FIRST FOR HAVING VIOLENT AND RACIST STAFF TREAT VALUED MEMBERS THIS WAY!!

Negative experience: AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where do I even begin… Let’s start by making it clear that this review is specific to the Fitness First London Bridge Cottons location. I’ve been a Fitness First member for years, both in the UK and Australia, and my overall experience has been positive. Sure, some facilities are a bit dated, and repairs on the sauna or steam room can take longer than expected, but having been a member of several other gyms over the years, I know these issues are not uncommon. However, my experience at the London Bridge Cottons location was truly unforgettable—and not in a good way. My partner and I visited the site for a tour having recently moved to the area and it seemed great at first and we were excited to look around! The tour was led by an official Fitness First sales representative named Jake. who promised us an exclusive deal: if we signed up on the spot and canceled our current gym memberships, he would enroll us in a “student membership” for six months at £85 per month, rather than the standard £120 per month option for a 12-month membership (we clearly told him we were not students). Jake assured us—complete with a wink—that he would “sort it out.” It seemed like a good deal, so we signed up! Fast forward to month number two, and we discovered that our memberships had automatically increased and had been switched to the standard £120 per month rate. When I called to query this, the manager, Hatim Al Abbadi, told me to come in and discuss it in person which I thought was a bit odd. When I met with him (in person) he explained that Jake “was no longer working at Fitness First” and admitted he couldn’t discuss the situation over the phone “in case it was recorded.” He then confirmed that Jake had lied to us and signed us up on false pretenses, referring to him as “a typical sales rep.” Despite acknowledging the issue, Hatim informed me that we were now locked into the full 12-month membership at £120 per month, rather than the 6-month, £85 membership Jake had promised and signed us up to. He vaguely assured me that he would try to “sort it out” at some point later on down the line, but, for some reason would need to wait for new members to sign up. Weeks went by as I repeatedly contacted the gym for an update. Each time, I was told by reception that Hatim would “get back to me ASAP.” He never did. I called over 10 separate times, not so much as an email back.. When I went back to the site in person (after calling ahead to confirm Hatim would be there) I was told he was now “off-site all day.” To make matters worse, I recently underwent spinal surgery following a back injury, which will keep me out of action for at least a year. Naturally, I needed to cancel my membership. Despite sending over 20 emails, calling numerous times, speaking to 8 different staff members, and filling out 3 separate cancellation forms, no one responded. I had to call head office consistently for over 3 weeks and speak to accounts and beg them to patch me through to memberships in order to rectify —this, despite providing direct proof of my surgery from my spinal surgeon in various emails & a doctors note confirming I’m no longer able to gym for foreseeable - addressed to both the membership team and the Cottons London Bridge team. The level of incompetence and unprofessionalism I’ve encountered here is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. To have an official sales rep sign new clients up under false pretenses, only to change the terms after signup with no option to cancel, is not only unethical—it is, quite frankly, illegal.

Fantastic experience: I had a fantastic experience at Fitness First! The facilities are clean, well-maintained, and equipped with everything you need for a great workout. A special shoutout to Maria, who was incredibly helpful and kind. She took the time to answer all my questions, made me feel welcome, and even gave me some great recommendations tailored to my fitness goals. Her professionalism and friendliness really stood out. Highly recommend this gym—thanks again, Maria!

Negative experience: If you want to pay for a sauna and steam and never be able to use it - this is the perfect gym for you. Facilities are ok but it’s overpriced, especially because the sauna and steam are always out of service, and if you’re lucky to catch it on a day when it’s working, it’s not hot. Staff will tell you this is normal and happens at other gyms…it doesn’t. Staff churn rate is also high, suggesting not a good place to work. There’s a handful of staff that have been there over a year, otherwise it’s a revolving door.

Negative experience: I wouldnt recommend this gym if you are looking for a top end gym. I needed a swimpool near me as I was training for an Ironman. It was always crowded, from 7.30 to 9.30am and from 4.30pm onwards. I used to share one lane with other 2/3 people - remember, this is a 25m swimming pool with 4 lanes. When I asked management if a booking system could be in place, they instead suggested me to come 12noon when is the least crowded. Which is not a suggestion for most of us who work 9-5. Machines have been broken for MONTHS, and no updates or serious actions are taken. When they have classes, you will be sure you wont have mats available, the functional area is no longer free and even some machines are taken. You compete with classes during peak times. However, the worse to me is how management don't take complaints seriously and instead try to offer you how amazing the gym will be with high end AI equipments coming soon. Honestly, if the basic is not working, why would I need fancy AI equipments to tell me muscle mass? My PT is the one keeping there, staff is mostly really good. Leaving the gym in the next month, unfortunately, as many many members.

Positive experience: Good gym with decent equipment. The classes are great with variety and some very good instructors. Nice staff..most especially Eden who went above and beyond this Friday to find an item I'd lost in the changing rooms. I really appreciated it!

Fantastic experience: Fitness First London Bridge-Cotton Great Management,Staff polite and helpful ,Clean-Great Vibe.

Fantastic experience: Staff are quite welcoming and there’re loads of classes for options.

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym the vibe is amazing and good amenities. I train with a Eyad a PT, him and the staff are friendly and always have a laugh. Definitely worth coming in

Fantastic experience: Best gym I've been at, it's a premium gym a perfect place to train if youre looking for good equipment and amenities ( sauna ,steam room and pool). The staff are super helpful and friendly they always have a good laugh, feels like family. I highly recommend this gym

Fantastic experience: Best jim in central London for value cleanliness facilities opposite London Bridge train tube station great value for money great personal trainers highly recommended

Fantastic experience: Sofija is the reason why I joined, she advised on the pricing and showed around, really helpful. The gym location is also nice, and the sessions are good (I highly recommend ROX with Valter)

Fantastic experience: This is a fantastic gym. Everyone are very helpful and it’s well equipped. I felt welcomed and at ease to work out alone without being pressured. Rae , Jacob , rocky, boris, jack, Lara, Constantine and the swimming instructor mark was people who stood out for me from the moment I came to the gym.

Fantastic experience: Great glasses and instructors, Rox classes are great for cardio and stamina , Jacob and Valter are great

Fantastic experience: Love this gym, been going for almost a year now 4-5 days a week. The equipment is good but could be better, at times certain machines are out of commission for a while. Pool, sauna and steam room are great, hot and good size. Best thing about this gym is the people, members and staff are great. I regularly talk to staff members and get top notch customer service from them. Staff members like Elaine are great, she is knowledgeable and very helpful which makes a difference. Great community in the gym.

Fantastic experience: Incredible team of people and well equipped space for a great workout

Fantastic experience: The staff make the gym! As seen below, Rae as friendly as ever.

Fantastic experience: Lovely staff and plenty of equipments.

Fantastic experience: Amazing service, clean, great equipment and friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Highly recommended, very nice and clean gym and very friendly stuff

Fantastic experience: Great reception staff and new equipment. Sauna and spa is beautiful.

Fantastic experience: I've been to many gyms around London. This FF London Bridge is by far my favourite! The pool, sauna, and steam room are just perfect. The staff are very friendly. The GM there is a great guy and very helpful, especially when I lost my watch and he kept it for me. I definitely recommend it.

Fantastic experience: amazing staff, manager Hatim is really cool

Negative experience: Save your money… it used to be a good value for money, it is not at all anymore. In terms of equipment, cleanliness, staff, members, you’ll find the same in a 30£/month gym and you’ll be able to bring a friend couple of times a month without paying a day pass… It all starts with the staff that is not able to answer to a “Hello” when you enter the gym. Most of the time you’ll find them in the middle of the entrance joking, fighting or flirting with each others. I guess if you’re a woman it will be slightly different as they will all come to you to ask for your instagram or phone number, gentleman behavior surely. The locker rooms are old, many are in poor quality and not clean. The machines, when they are not broken for months, are old and not very sophisticated. It was good maybe 10 years ago it’s not anymore. There’s only one leg press, one lat pulldown, no seated row, … very poor equipment for that price. The water fountains are not really working, even the wifi has been down for a good month and not fixed. Let’s not talk about the very aggressive marketing strategy that makes the gym now extremely busy from Monday to Thursday. It seems that the members also slowly became more and more disrespectful. Very noisy, not using towels or cleaning after themselves, groups of 3-4 guys fighting in the middle of the gym all of that encouraged by some of their friends in the staff. Probably some serious and professional management would be needed here… Finally now it becomes more and more usual to close 15-20min before the normal closing hour. In short if you don’t use the pool on a regular basis, save 70% of money by joining a cheap gym. For +100£/month this has sadly turned into a scam.

Negative experience: This is meant to be a gym on the more premium side, but the here has been my experience the last few times I’ve been there: There were no mats available for a good 10 minutes in the entire gym, as there was a class taking place and all the mats were used up by that. Two of the sinks and one bathroom in the ladies room were not functional. Some machines have been broken and out of use for MONTHS. When I told this to the staff at reception, they didn’t say they would pass it to management or do anything about it. You could go to a gym that charges a third of this one and get the same quality, if not better.

Negative experience: Among other things, they have a poor customer service. Tried to charge me more despite having a corporate discount. It’s taking me more than a month to get tue extra paid back. Avoid.

Negative experience: This was at one time a premium gym with a great reputation, and now has sadly become a bit of a sad joke amongst the members. It’s slid into serious decline, and I wouldn’t recommend it except if you’re intending to visit it like you would a museum. The swimshorts dryer is broken, the steam room is broken, most of the water fountains are broken. Everyone sits in the sauna, without water, wondering how they’ll get their soaking wet shorts home. There aren’t any studios, so classes take place in the open gym. No real admin staff, just personal trainers who are asked to stand on the desk - it’s not their fault, but they have no idea what’s going on and have no way of contacting head office. A lot of the showers smell a bit like egg. Lockers are somehow all always occupied even when the gym is empty. Shower by the pool only runs cold, and seemingly has never run hot - one very old member claims he had a hot shower there 10 years ago but no one believes him. The area for stretching is about the size of a large double bed, otherwise you have to put your mat out on the gym floor somewhere and let people walk over you. Once I was in the sauna in the middle of the day, and the cleaning team came in and opened the door and began cleaning. That sums this place up pretty well. My membership price went up by 50% without anyone contacting me, and once they picked up the error they were unwilling to refund me. In an ever globalised world with instant live chat features, fitness first had one customer service email, and they ‘do their best’ to get back to you in 10 (TEN!) business days. Staff on the desk acknowledge that it takes a long time, but they don’t know how to contact them either, and there’s no phone number. Rumours abound that they don’t actually exist. What was a really good place to workout around 5 years ago is now more of a social experiment than a gym, and you should save your money. You will notice after this review that fitness first will suggest I speak to in-club staff - this is by design, the in-club staff can do nothing because they are all personal trainers, and can’t get in touch with management. Once you speak to them, they tell you to email customer services. After that, it’s 10 business days until you get a reply to speak to in-club staff. All the while, algae continues to envelop the shower block and more equipment breaks.

Negative experience: When they contact you for a survey, saying your feedback is valuable, it’s frustrating to see that some machines have been out of order for weeks or even months and that they are not getting repaired. The sauna and steam room are rarely as hot as they should be, or they don’t work at all. Wipes for cleaning the equipment are often unavailable, you have to go through the whole gym to get some and no one seems motivated to refill the dispensers when you go to the reception to tell someone they are empty. People are not showering and go straight from exercising or sauna to the swimming pool. Despite paying £105 a month, it feels like there’s no budget for hot water in the showers…

Negative experience: Entered a 12 month contract with the guarantee of 3 months half price. No discounts were then applied and they are attempting to refuse my exit from this contract. Avoid.

Negative experience: My working laptop, wallet, jacket has been stolen in the man changing room. All they said was sorry we can't do anything about it. Apparently it happen several times and they didn't want to install a camera in there.

Fantastic experience: I Very strongly recommend this gym. Incredible pool, which isn’t crowded with very good water temperature. Great street workout facility. Welcoming staff that are knowledgeable and always ready to help to optimize your training regiment. I personally recommend coach Jacob (PT) who coached me weekly. This was all during a very difficult internship I had and coach Jacob helped me get back on track physically and mentally. He also enabled me to push myself like never before. If you’re looking for a gym, I highly recommend fitness first cottons!

Positive experience: I think this gym should change all the machinery... They are too old for the price of memberships. Pure gym is cheaper but they have got the last technologies machinery. I'm supposed that the members can't see this.

Positive experience: Facilities at this gym are great - it’s spacious (though awkwardly laid out), has a huge variety of equipment, changing areas were clean, and seems worth it if you prefer to work out on your own or with a trainer. However, the two classes I attended were a total disaster, especially compared to the classes at other Fitness Firsts. One was a virtual class and started 20 minutes late due to technical difficulties. It’s ridiculous that classes take place at such an expensive gym without even a single instructor physically present! The staff aren’t the friendliest and generally did not have a clue what was going on. I visited this gym as my regular branch was closed for renovation but will not be returning.

Fantastic experience: I used this facility when learning to swim with Mark Trude. It is state of the art, you get everything from high quality changing room, shower facilities and also hair dryer and free towel.

Fantastic experience: I really like this gym. Good equipment, great swimming pool, sauna, steam room, good showers. Nice people

Fantastic experience: I’ve been at Fitness First for a few months now and it ticks every box. Shout out to Maria and Jacob for the amazing customer service

Negative experience: Quite a disappointing space. Sauna and steam room always broke, old disgusting towels, no stretching space. Getting in contact with Fitness First for any type of membership queries or problems is impossible. I will not be renewing my contract!

Fantastic experience: Nice swimming pool and saunas. Possibility to play squash !! Friendly staff and great value for money.

Fantastic experience: I come to Fitness First for my swimming lessons with Mark at Learn to Swim. I’ve now had 4 lessons with Mark so far and I am already so much better with my swimming and breathing techniques in the water. Mark is an incredibly kind and patient instructor and never fails to crack a few jokes through the session which definitely puts you at ease if you’re a bit nervous in the water like I was! I look forward to our lessons each week and will definitely be purchasing my 3rd pack of 4 courses through the easy to use app. If you’re looking to learn how to swim, I would genuinely not hesitate to book with Mark. You will learn so much just from the first session! I would recommend him to any member at the Fitness First gyms and beyond

Fantastic experience: Love working out at Cottons fitness first, the classes are great very much into FF core, bootcamp HYROX and ROX super thank to Santi, Elisa and Valter for the great motivation to join classes and during workouts. Thank you Fitness First Team

Fantastic experience: Been coming to Fitness First for a while now and honestly have no complaints. Great staff specifically Jacob and Rocky. The quality of the space is 10/10 and always able to use any equipment without having to wait long. Honestly would recommend.

Fantastic experience: Big thanks to the Rox crew,and a big shout out for Jay, Jacob and Stefan,they always bring a lot of energy to the classes, always mixing it up and keeping it fresh and challenging well done guys.

Fantastic experience: Been going to FF cottons for a few months now. 10/10 would recommend. Top quality, very good equipment for any type of workout, lovely pool/spa area with sauna and steam rooms. Jacob, holly and Maria and the wider staff are always very happy to help whether it’s a question about working out or just general queries.

Fantastic experience: Good range of equipment, great pool, awesome staff. Jacob is wonderful, always going above and beyond - he's the reason for 5 stars! And Rachel who does "Zumba" is incredible!

Fantastic experience: I’d like to a huge thank you to Jacob who welcomed me with open arms. He showed me the whole facility without rushing and took he’s time explaining how everything operated. The place was clean given it was rush hour and had a really good experience on my first day testing the facility for the first time. Huge thank you Jacob!!

Negative experience: 07:30pm, rush hours, not a single towel available, and the bins overflowing of used towels; more staff onsite than members using the facilities, every single one in the chit-chat and the gym upside down, with upset clients due to the towels situation. The whole thing is just a mess. Disgusting...

Negative experience: The reason I am giving one start is very simple, the gym follows a predatory system where they over-contract to maximise profit. The downside of this is that clients are not able to user the services the gym is supposed to provide, unless the client shows up at strange hours such as 6am-7am or 10am-11am. I've showed up, believe it or not at some of those hours, and it seems others were doing the same thing as me to be able to workout, and I literally gave up going to this gym, literally wasting £1k. Main thing I don't like about them is that they follow the year contract abuse, where even if you would want to end the contract you will not be able to, unless you paid already for the full contract, or will have to pay for the full duration, even though you were not able to use their services AT ALL on outside working hour time windows. They will reason that you can use their services, but at certain hours, but to do that basically you will have to quit your job. That is why this is a predatory system, and monthly systems were enforced by law, so that the most you can lose is £100, not £1k. Lesson learnt, but me or anyone I know will never join this gym ever, and I hope this review will discourage others from doing so also, unless they change their policy and allow to end contracts fairly, as they clearly know they are over-contracting. Gym area is way too small for free weights, not what someone would expect from a £115 per month. Showers damaged and not ever fixed. Pool is nice, but got ear infection after my first swim. (clearly not clean enough) Gym trainers take priority on machines over normal clients when they train their own clients, for some reason. Other than the above, the gym is ok-ish, but expensive for what it offers.

Negative experience: Very disappointed of this gym ( FITNESS FIRST) I have signed for six months for £80 but from my bank account they have take £ 115. I have send many messages but no one answer. I never recommend this place . Never go there again . Shame on you! No even facilities, nothing work properly there . Shame on you

Fantastic experience: My regular gym, great vibes can get busy in the afternoons but I dont mind. Swimming pool is quite warm which is okay in the winter, but tough in the summer. Love the classes, love the rox room and cool staff. Enjoy chilling in the sauna and steam after and having a chat. Could do with some loungers in the pool area and a water fountain!

Negative experience: I have been a member of this gym for a year now, but there are concerning issues that are raising and I see they are being reported by other members, even in these reviews. The entire gym is a bit grotty and in desperate need remedial and decorating work. Although the training space is quite wide, equipment often breaks and is not taken care of for days. There have been some treadmills that have not been working for months now, and still there with a "do not use" sign on them. The changing rooms and showers are, frankly speaking, awful. A lot of lockers have been broken for months, and the changing areas are overall quite dirty and not looked after by staff. The showers are regularly broken, dirty, with mould in different cubicles. Some cubicles have been out of orders for months. The swimming pool looks nice, but what is missing is a sign to ask to shower before getting in: unfortunately, users get in the water after having sweated in the steaming room or sauna, so if you swim you would unfortunately feel the sweat. There is a column around the pool that had broken tiles for, I would say, more than 6 months, with tape around it. Although staff are nice, it is frustrating to see how very few of them greet you at reception, and it is even more frustrating to see how many of them are around and yet training equipment are not in order and changing rooms are untidy. I don't want to point a finger as, of course, the blame goes to users as well for not being tidy in first place, but we pay a fee to be in a gym that should function and be nice. Maybe the problem also goes back to fitness first and the contract they have with staff, but despite of that there is an evident lack of care for that facility.

Negative experience: Echoing other recent comments here, I only have negatives to say about Fitness First Cottons (ironically the “flagship location”) The biggest issue is hygiene and no hot water. The club and facilities are often dirty and unkept, and the hot water has barely worked over the past two months. I’ve emailed back and forth with the club manager and despite his replies saying it’s being fixed, it never is. I appreciate he may be doing all he can, but at some point corporate has to step in and update the facilities. I will be passing my complaints on to the Omsbudsman as at this point the club is not providing the services it agreed to in the membership agreement.

Positive experience: Have been using this gym for a few months now, even though it is usually packed, there are enough alternative machines/equipment that you can get a decent workout. Don't expect a warm welcome - the reception staff are completely ignorant - most times there are 2-3 standing about chatting amongst theselves or doing nothing and still don't bother to acknowledge you when you check in. The personal trainers on the other hand are very nice.

Positive experience: My membership was transferred to this branch when my original branch was closed down just under a year a go. As a gym, it has everything you need....swimming pool/Badminton court/Studios and a wide arrange of equipment I could spend all day listing. They also have a wide arrange of classes you can take at various times day that works for you. I find the staff to be professional and friendly and the instructors very knowledgeable of the classes they conduct. The swimming pool is one of my favourites to use, though you have to time when to go due to it getting busy etc. You an finish of with a nice sauna or steam in the rooms provided. The shower facilities can be a bit of a let down as they do tend to have issues with cold water not working. All in all, I've come to like using this gym as it fits into work life balance.

Negative experience: Been here as a member since 2 years ago. It is not the first time and I believe it is not going to be the last time for short of towels every morning! Does it make sense? Does the club management team actually listening to the feedback at all? (Also not mentioning that the hot water issues)

Negative experience: Been a member of the gym since 6 month, had hot water issue in the showers multiple times, the management team does not bother to text people/give heads up about the issue, people can go to nearby gyms if they knew about the problem in advance, but such a lazy team they have

Negative experience: I am so unhappy and I recommend anyone looking for a gym to look at other options as you will end up unhappy, especially with the terrible customer service they had as I have sent quite a few emails explaining my situation and they just don't care and they say they cannot do nothing and that I cannot cancel. Is this for real? Below I explain all the reasons why I am so disappointed: 1-The hot water has not been working on the showers at the club that is nearest to where I live and which is Cottons Centre at London Bridge and the one I frequent the most for being closer. This is the main but not only reason that makes me want to cancel the membership I have with them as it has been more than 2 months!!!!!! at Fitness First Cottons Centre club (London Bridge) and still nothing has been done about it and this is just unbelievable. Staff won't tell you how long it will take to get fixed and I just feel like being ripped off because I am paying money and I have the feeling that nothing works well and even the hairdryers many times won't work. 2-The gyms are always very cold, no matter where you go inside of the gym including the changing rooms is always super cold. I have mentioned this to the staff and they said that they will increase the temperature but nothing seems to change and it is not pleasant to exercise in those conditions with your muscles cold and especially in this very cold city. 3-Music is super loud, I understand that most of the people get motivated by rhythmic music to work but the level at which you have the music at your clubs is quite unpleasant. 4-The sauna and especially the steam room is always super hot, which makes it impossible to remain there inside and as soon as you go in you just want to get out. As well, I have shared this with the staff but nothing is ever done. 5-Many times I would come to the clubs wanting to use the steam room and it is out of service and it always takes at least a week and many times two to get fixed with staff not being too concerned about it. 6-The clubs are super crowded and they just keep signing up people which again doesn't make it really pleasant to stay or even to go to the gym and if anyone is dissatisfied they won't even allow them to leave like they are doing with me!!!! which feels like a terrible customer service experience and a completely rip off!!!

Positive experience: Although this gym is a little more expensive than others, it’s well worth the price. There are boxing bags, a swimming pool, spin bikes, yoga studios and a sauna. Not to mention two floors of multiple gym equipment. The only criticism is that less expensive gyms have deodorant, dry shampoo, hair ties and cotton swabs in their bathrooms but you’d expect a more expensive gym to have these amenities. However, based on the equipment and classes available alone it’s worth the extra expense.

Fantastic experience: Been going to this gym for 3 months about 4x a week and I really have no complaints other than the weight section could be slightly bigger. Staff are cool enough, facilities are good, sauna + steam room. You can’t go wrong

Negative experience: This gym offers me 3 months at half price. The first month I went because they charged me what they said at half the price but the next month they charged me and the third month the normal price I think they tricked me and now I want to cancel because it seems wrong to me that they do that and they don’t give me solutions The truth is, I do not recommend this company since what it offers is a deception.

Negative experience: My recent experiences at Fitness First Cottons have left me with mixed feelings about this gym. While it has its merits, the overall atmosphere and facilities have room for significant improvement. One of the glaring issues is the apparent lack of renovation. The gym seems to be stuck in a time warp, with outdated equipment and an overall worn-out appearance. The need for a facelift is undeniable, as the aging ambiance does little to motivate or inspire a fulfilling workout experience. The air-conditioning woes only add to the discomfort. Inconsistent performance leaves some areas feeling stuffy, hindering the overall workout environment. Moreover, the unmistakable scent of smoke wafting in from outside, presumably due to people smoking in the vicinity, further diminishes the air quality within the gym. Hygiene concerns have also raised red flags during my visits. The hot water supply in the showers is consistently problematic, making post-workout cleansing an uncomfortable task. Additionally, discovering green algae in the showers is not only unappetizing but also raises questions about the gym's commitment to maintaining a clean and sanitary environment. While Fitness First Cottons may still cater to those seeking a basic workout routine, the aforementioned issues undoubtedly impact the overall user experience. The management should consider investing in a comprehensive overhaul to address these concerns and bring the gym up to modern standards. Until then, potential members may want to weigh the pros and cons carefully before committing to a membership. UPDATE!!!!! Despite my initial hopes for improvement, my discontent with Fitness First Cottons has only deepened in the weeks following my review. The promised contact from the club manager never materialized, and it’s been a frustrating three weeks of radio silence. Regrettably, the problems persist within the gym, specifically concerning the shower facilities. An alarming nine out of twelve men’s showers are out of order, leaving patrons with an acute shortage of functional amenities. The lack of hot water exacerbates the issue, making it an uncomfortable ordeal after a workout. What’s equally disheartening is the repeated false assurances from the reception. Every time I raise the concern, I’m told that the showers will be fixed by the end of the week. However, this has become a month-long cycle of unfulfilled promises, and the inconvenience is exacerbated by the fact that no advance notice is given about the ongoing issues. Peak times have become a logistical nightmare, with approximately 15-minute queues forming just to access a functioning shower. This is not only inconvenient but also unacceptable for a fitness facility of this stature. The reception’s failure to proactively inform members about the persisting problems only adds to the frustration and compromises the overall experience. Fitness First Cottons needs to address these issues promptly and communicate transparently with its members. The continued neglect of basic facilities and the unfulfilled promises from the management paint a disappointing picture of a gym that falls short of meeting its members’ needs and expectations.

Negative experience: Poorly managed and maintained, but due to the large number of corporate contract members in the neighbourhood there’s limited incentive on them to improve. I won’t be renewing, I got it heavily discounted due to my FF closing down. Even then it’s not worth the money. They’ve run out of towels multiple times (and sent no alert to members) which, if you are cycling/running to work and reliant on the facilities before work is tricky. Their answer ‘try tescos to buy a towel!’ Spin bikes are top of the range but c. 20% are often broken. Tried trax class once… instructor was 15 mins late and rest of staff made no effort to resolve. Haven’t used the pool/sauna - if that’s what you’re going for it may still be worth it.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant Trax session with Jacob today! Very professional coaching and super motivating! Enjoyed all the other classes and gym facilities too!

Positive experience: The gym has good facilities but is far too expensive. The sales team realise this but handle the matter poorly. I was asked directly why I was considering the local PureGym for a less than half the membership fees. This put me off applying completely - even more so than the costs!!

Positive experience: Really good equipment and amazing classes but what a letdown the issues with the showers.. no hot water or very little and its been going on for weeks now. Despite multiple reports, the issue is still ongoing. Some are even out of order and the ceiling built up mold. Needs addressing immediately not acceptable considering the monthly fee.

Fantastic experience: Genuinely the best and most complete fitness centre in the area. Friendly, helpful and efficient staff, also big up for Jacob, one of the best out there.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been training with Jack Morrissey for the last few months and can’t thank him enough for his help! I had a session once a week, and it was really the highlight of the day, Jack has always motivated me and pushed me to do my best but equally he listened to my feedback and never overly pushed me if I had a bad day and wanted to take it a bit easy. He is a perfect trainer if you are just starting out and not sure about your gym routine, he is great at creating the exercise plans and the areas that you need to focus on. Moreover he has a great personality and super easy to talk to. I definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: Happy to join this gym after taking Mark’s swimming classes! And took one TraX challenge guided by Jacob, he is very nice, professional and engaging. Very nice experience.

Negative experience: I’ve been a loyal member of Fitness First for over 6 years. I called around 6 weeks ago to explain that I am moving out of London to care for my Mum who is terminal with cancer. I explained that as there is no Fitness First in my home town I would no longer be able to continue my membership. The lady I spoke to was very understanding and said that’s absolutely fine I could cancel it and that was the end of our conversation. A week or so later I paid my final payment for the following month and as any sensible person would do I cancelled my direct debit for any future payments. A month later I received a message saying my direct debit was cancelled and I was in arrears and need to pay. So I called the club again and spoke to a lady who explained my membership hadn’t been cancelled and that it could only be cancelled by the app (this was NOT what I had been told previously), she then directed me to a membership services email to resolve this for me. Despite explaining to Robyne in the membership services team multiple times that I was previously assured my membership would be cancelled and that there must be an error at their end, they are now claiming there is no record of a cancellation and they are demanding payment. On top of this they are refusing to cancel my membership until I pay. Apparently the terms of the membership agreement (which I have never received a copy of) clearly states the proper cancellation process so it is irrelevant what advice I was given by staff. Disgusting treatment towards someone who has been a loyal member for several years and who has already given over a months notice. It’s so frustrating, I am being penalised for being told incorrect information. If I was told the correct advice when I originally called I clearly would have followed to proper cancellation process! The last thing I need to deal with right now is this rubbish. I have received zero compassion or apology for their error. When I am able to return to London I will NEVER use Fitness First again… avoid avoid avoid. Edit: Shortly after posting review I received and email rectifying the issue.

Fantastic experience: Fitness First is my happy place where I can come to relax and destress after work. The FF Team are incredibly kind and encouraging and their energy is infectious. Jacob, the manager, is an absolute ray of sunshine and is always ready to help clients and regular gym-goers alike achieve their goals and fulfil their potential. The gym facilities are extensive and maintained to a high quality. The changing rooms are kept very clean and there is a continual supply of towels.

Negative experience: This gym just can’t seem to get the basics right… In the two months I’ve been here, there was no hot water on several occasions for more than a week. Today, there were no towels. These are fundamental to running any gym. I don’t know how much longer I can justify paying Tier 1 prices for this…

Negative experience: Due to maintenance my home location was shut and there wasn't a location with equivalent services I could use. So despite paying over £100 monthly I have no suitable gym to go to today. They will shut down the gym for 'maintenance' but fail to tell you which other gym with equivalent facilities and closing time you can use. Now I have to travel significantly far to find a gym and it doesnt even have the facilities I am paying for, when Fitness First have other locations which would be more convenient and have the facilities I am paying for. Hours of my Saturday wasted trying to find another gym, and even more time wasted travelling there, and I cant even go for a swim. Not a nice experience. Annoying considering I am paying over £100/month, but I can't use my services due to 'maintenance'. A simple solution would be to let me use any other facility seeing as my one is shut due to 'maintenance' but obviously nobody bothered to think of that despite us all paying over £100/month at Cottons.

Negative experience: Don’t book your squash courts here. Called to book a court, and was told it costed 20 pounds for 45 min a court. Came back the next day and the reception wanted to charge 40 pounds a person (5 minutes before we started the session). We told them what was told on the phone (20 pounds a court) and they said “we can 20 per person” (more expensive than a court in Mayfair). Lack of communication, clarity and a complete rip off price-wise.

Negative experience: Been a member here for 15 yrs, and the fees go up every year but the gym doesn't get any better - its really frustrating they don't invest in basic maintenance. Their bikes are always broken (in the spin room and on gym floor), the instructors mics break and it takes 3 to 4 weeks to fix it (not fair or safe work conditions for instructors!), and recently no hot water for a week. The description above brags about their 'performance cycling area' but only 1 of 3 bikes in this area work, and its been that way for months! Staff are generally nice though, and a couple of super experienced and attentive instructors (eg Julia & Valter) make up for it. I go here because it's convenient, and just good enough. Update:Jan 2025 - the latest update to the app forces you to enter unnecessary info, just to get to your membership barcode and enter the gym, and yet they can never be bothered to update the class schedule with instructor changes or cancellations. The app is only to continuously take data from members, but doesn't give back up to date info

Fantastic experience: I've been going to this gym for circa 6 months. Pros: - The gym is clean considering the amount of members that go there. The staff that maintains the gym is going above and beyond. - The staff members are very friendly and approachable. - By extension, the classes that are offered here are great and included in the membership. Depending what you're into, there will be a class that will fit your fitness criteria or there will be something that will get you out of your comfort zone. - Very diverse workout areas for any of your fitness needs (swimming, boxing, crossfit, body/power lifting etc.) - Provided towels. Cons: - The gym has more members than it can accommodate and sometimes it is difficult to get your workout in at around 17:30/18:00 without having to wait. - Maintenance. Be it the cable machines, sauna or hot water, it takes circa 1/2 months to actually get something fixed. - This gym does not have a rowing machine, and the weightlifting area is generally small for the amount of people that go to this gym. - There's only one belt which you can use to attach weight to your body. I would expect there to be at least two. This Fitness First gym is less facility developed to the ones I've been to, such as the one in Holborn (which recently got closed), Tottenham Court Road & Clapham Junction, which is odd considering it is the most expensive on on their list. TL;DR Good, can be better.

Negative experience: Generally a good gym however I’m leaving 1 star because the gym has had no hot water for a week and it’s virtually impossible to complain or get any kind of action. Sort this out! It’s completely unacceptable.

Fantastic experience: I joined FF Cottons just over a month ago and have had a really positive experience so far! Special shoutout to my PT, Jacob, who has been extremely supportive and brings great energy not only to each training session, but to Cottons overall. Thanks to the challenging but varied and informative sessions with Jacob, I’ve become more comfortable and confident in and around the gym, and I’m feeling fitter and stronger each week. Jacob always encourages me to push beyond my mental limits (especially during the TRAX Games challenge today), and I often leave each session feeling proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish, especially as a beginner in the gym. If you’re looking for a friendly gym community and an awesome PT, I would definitely recommend FF Cottons and Jacob!

Fantastic experience: Super gym - PT’s are always incredibly welcoming and friendly. Gym always clean and great environment to work out it. Shout out to Jacob and Alessia who are great with members. Top gym, would 100% recommend

Fantastic experience: Definitely one of the bests alongside Baker Street. If you are a Tier 1 member do make sure you visit.

Fantastic experience: A large and friendly environment with a good vibe. I have been a member for a number of years helping me improve my mental and physical health. I would like to highlight Jacob who is my PT. He is always on top form come rain or shine. Making a challenging work out rather enjoyable ;-). Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been training for many years, different gyms but Fitness First Cottons deserves a 5 * review. The gym has not only everything you need but the best staff members you can ask for. Special thanks to Jean Paul who’s always prompt to help and delivers very good quality classes.

Fantastic experience: Great gym located in the heart of London. Thanks to Santi for a great Hyrox class

Negative experience: Joined with no contract, £169/month. Wasn’t able to pay the direct debit monthly price £125/m, as they don’t guarantee that payment will stop without rolling over to the next month and there is no guarantee you’ll get your money back if it does. Wanted to cancel the day I joined after using the pool. Was told to email customer service. Emailed them right away. They responded 5 days later saying there won’t be a refund since I used the club more than three times. Sounds reasonable (I did come to club while waiting for their response). But nobody explained that to me neither upon joining nor after asking a direct question when wanting to terminate (should’ve read all the small fonts I guess), front desk person just advised to email the customer service. If they responded sooner, I would’ve gotten my money back which I assume not what they want.

Fantastic experience: Shout out Jacob. Really bringing the energy to the place. Been going to this gym for a while now but getting more consistent thanks to the likes of Jacob and Alessia, really bringing a vibe. Great environment to train, can’t get caught slacking when the challenge clip board comes out. The tips and conversations are already paying off after a couple of weeks. Really appreciated.

Negative experience: Hi, membership services, I went to the club today to ask for help with my membership and tell them I am no longer in the city working to ask what to do. There is a guy with a tattoo and bold head was so rude to me he ask me to get out of his club that he not going to help me. He shout in front of and treat me very badly. I always though people work in the reception is help people. But he only ask me card to get the payment after that he start to shout, I had to call my husband my body was trembling my god I want a cancel my membership. He said he was the owner but if you are owner you have to treat people with respect. Be careful with a guy with a tattoo in this club he treat very bad behaviour scream to leave his club. I hope god can save him. I also have a problem with login to the app nobody help

Fantastic experience: Been coming here since May with my partner and it’s always a welcoming experience. Gym has every facility you can need! Not only had it helped my physical wellness but also my mental wellness and has allowed me and my partner to become more confident. With the help of Jacob, Simon and Alessia to name a few I’ve come on leaps and bounds since I’ve started. I look forward to extending my journey!

Negative experience: I really enjoyed the gym I’ve been going for over a year and the staff are friendly and the gym has everything you need. It’s just a shame that the fitness first membership team are not helpful at all and thief’s and liars. I sent them a message to freeze my account for 1 month and they say they didn’t receive even though I know 100% that I sent it on their website.

Fantastic experience: This review is for the swimming lessons with Mark at Fitness First London Bridge Cottons. Mark is such a wonderful teacher, focusing exactly on what you need and want and adapting easily to your level and goals. He gives very useful advice and carefully prepares the lesson beforehand so you can get the most out of it. I have made tremendous progress in my technique after a few lessons, especially compared to the several years of group classes I took as a child. He is also very encouraging and nice to be around, I am always looking forward to my swimming lesson.

Fantastic experience: It's been a year since I've been going to fitness first and ive love the gym, good range of equipment and huge range of facilities. The main thing that stood out to me was the community the PT are very friendly and always say hi when you walk in and a experts in there specific feilds. Jacob has been amazing, he's always there to help and support even if it's small pointers e.g form and rest times. If anyone is looking for a PT who actually knows his stuff, great energy and just has a good vibe in London please check out the fitness first cotton's and ask to see Jacob. He makes you want to go to the gym and give it your all

Fantastic experience: I have recently started using Cottons after the closure of The London Bridge gym. Luckily my PT Jacob moved as well and is as brilliant as ever. I can't recommend him highly enough. He has transformed my fitness and is a fantastic motivator.

Fantastic experience: The gym is very comfortable and vibrant. It has everything you need for a good training session. Jacobs classes are really well structured and he’s very positive, funny and always helpful. He brights up my day!

Positive experience: You have to go before 4PM (and be out by 5) if you don't want it to be packed. Dark inside without windows and very artificial lighting, either neon white or red/green make it look like a dungeon. If you don't mind that and you can get it for 50 pounds a month it's a fair deal. I like the having everything together: Gym, Pool and Sauna. Plenty of cardio machines and weights but only one hyper extension bench which is often busy. Pool also often busy with 2+ people per lane. Sauna temp is 75 degrees and can fit 5 people; steam room is bigger can fit 8. Towels and shower gel are provided. Bring padlock, flip flops, shampoo, deodorant.

Fantastic experience: Great induction session with Jacob Abraham today. Was guided to just the right training for me. Very knowledgeable across many areas. Beautiful gym with amazing array of equipment

Fantastic experience: It was a great HIIT class with Jacob by the river, outside city hall just next to Tower Bridge, great stage presence, awesome music, positive vibes, full of energy. Highly recommended if you want to have a good workout in the sun by the river :)

Fantastic experience: Great class today with Vijune. Great energy for a Sunday morning. Special shout out to Jacob who is also a great instructor and always so welcoming and positive. Also Taz has been so helpful with any queries I have with my membership. Awesome team for a Sunday. Lastly, I would like to mention how helpful, outgoing and good vibe Jean Paul is, so well done for such an amazing team

Fantastic experience: Great gym! Enjoyed classes with Jacob- he’s professional, passionate and committed. His classes are motivating and fun, no matter your fitness level he’s always there to support and guide. Wish there were more classes with Jacob- boxercise or Rox for example.

Fantastic experience: Jacob is an incredible personal trainer - 100% recommended! He will definitely make you laugh and is very welcoming. He lifted the treadmill to find my headphones, amazing guy!

Fantastic experience: I was about to write a review for the other London Bridge Fitness First to learn that it closed in April! I will still post as the team and the manager Jacob may still be working at FF. This is what I was going to say - "I really like the layout of this gym, it’s quite small but each area is nicely sectioned over the floors and there’s a big variety of equipment to grab if you’re doing your own thing on the mats. The team have always been super friendly and upbeat which makes such a difference at 6.30-7am! Jacob the manager is awesome, after doing his class I had a question about improving wrist strength, I assumed he would explain 1 exercise with some advice but he gave me a good 30 mins of his time got the equipment out and showed me exercises that would help! His care and knowledge was truly great. I haven’t been to this gym in awhile as I move around London, but looking forward to going back as it’s always a great experience."

Fantastic experience: I left gymbox in Elephant and Castle for this gym, and it is better in every way. On a student price, the quality of the gym equipment, the size, pool and spa facilities are great value for money. Everything is clean and well maintained, and you shouldn't struggle to find space for your workout. The gym is rarely full to capacity even at peak times making workouts enjoyable in the busiest times. The staff here are extremely friendl, helpful and knowledgeable, helping with any query and making joining simple. Shout out to Taz who spent a long time helping me with a payment issue. Thank you!