Where Have All the Boutique Gyms Gone? Why London’s Fitness Scene is Shrinking
💔 London’s Boutique Fitness Studios Are Disappearing
London’s rental crisis isn’t just affecting restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs—it’s hitting boutique gyms hard. Every few weeks, another popular fitness studio closes its doors, leaving members scrambling for alternatives.
🚪 Recent closures include:
Boomcycle Holborn – Shut several years ago, still vacant
Digme (Oxford Circus & Bank) – Gone
Frame Victoria – Closed this week
Kobox Marylebone, Barrecore & Reformcore Mayfair and Islington – All closed in January
Doghouse Balham – A much-loved small studio, now gone
These closures are just the tip of the iceberg, and if nothing changes, Londoners may soon have fewer boutique fitness options than ever before.
💸 The Cost of Running a Boutique Gym in London
Just like the YMCA on Tottenham Court Road and the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, boutique fitness studios are being squeezed by sky-high rents.
Unlike flagship retail stores on Oxford Street, which can absorb losses for brand visibility, gyms rely solely on memberships and class fees to survive. Even with classes priced at £25+ for 45 minutes, many studios still can’t cover costs.
One has to wonder—where does all that money go?
🏋️♀️ Who’s Surviving? Boutique Studios That Are Expanding
Despite the wave of closures, some fitness brands are growing, especially in the luxury gym market:
🔥 Third Space (£275/month) – Expanding, but members complain about overcrowding
🔥 Psycle (£325/month Unlimited) – Opening a new Bank location (rumored to be in Digme’s old spot)
🔥 Gymbox (£150/month) – Finally opening their Finsbury Park location (vacant since 2020)
🔥 LevelOut (£260/month Unlimited) – A new player dominating the boutique pilates scene
These gyms cater to high-paying members, but what about affordable boutique fitness options?
✨ The Rise of Smaller, Niche Studios
Not all is lost. The past year has seen a surge in independent fitness studios, particularly reformer pilates studios opening outside Zone 1. Many are Instagram-worthy spaces with welcoming, community-driven atmospheres.
Reformer Pilates: The Trend That’s Taking Over
Reformer pilates is booming, but it’s not without challenges:
✔️ Low-impact, high-burn workouts
✔️ Popular on social media (TikTok & Instagram-friendly)
❌ Expensive to run – Reformers are costly & class sizes are small
❌ Quality varies by studio – 1Rebel’s thin platforms vs. Reformcore’s premium machines
Some studios are switching over from other workouts to Reformer-style offerings in order to cash in on the latest trend. 1Rebel recently announced that its Southbank spin studio is being converted to Reformer, and smaller studios such as the much loved Willow in Clapham is changing from yoga/barre/mat pilates to only Reformer, much to the disappointment of many of its members.
Could Barre Be the Next Big Thing?
Barre is a cheaper, more scalable alternative to reformer pilates:
✔️ Lower setup costs (doesn’t require expensive reformers)
✔️ More accessible – No need for specialized equipment
✔️ Great for muscular endurance & full-body toning
Many big studios already offer barre classes, including:
Barrecore (the OG barre studio)
Psycle (great barre offerings)
Triyoga (recently took on Barrecore staff)
Blok & Frame (solid barre workouts)
Could barre help boutique studios push back against London’s fitness rental crisis?
🛑 The Future of Boutique Fitness in London
Boutique gyms are more than just places to work out—they create communities, energize neighborhoods, and make the city more vibrant.
As wellness trends grow and Gen Z drinks less, many non-wealthy clients are choosing to invest in boutique fitness. But if rent costs keep rising, the future of mid-range studios is at risk.
Without intervention, we’ll be left with:
🚫 Fewer choices
💰 Higher prices
🏋️ A fitness scene dominated by luxury gym chains
What do you think? Have you been affected by London’s gym closures? Drop a comment below or share your thoughts!