What you’ve been waiting for: the big gymbox review 2025
My honest 2025 Gymbox London review after 82 classes around 5 locations. From boxing to aerial, pricing to booking - here’s the full verdict.
1) GYMBOX CLASSES: WHAT’S ON OFFER?
Gymbox has the most varied timetable of any London gym, with only Third Space really able to compete. Over the past months I’ve done holistic classes including Barre, Reformer Pilates and Yoga; fighting classes (predominantly boxing); spin classes in two different formats; calisthenics; lifting sessions (both light and heavy) and even some aerial work.
Pilates, barre and yoga
Gymbox’s Reformer Pilates classes are, sadly, the weakest part of the line-up. Instructors follow along from a screen with minimal room for personality, and the pre-programmed music feels AI-generated. On the other hand, their mat Pilates classes have been consistently good - especially Vaun’s classes in Holborn. I’ve enjoyed the Barre classes too, but they’re very different to the classic style you’d get at somewhere like Barrecore, with more of a dance-based feel than a sculpt focus.
spin and reppin’
Spin is a strong point. Studios are sleek, instructors are engaging, and I like that they offer two types: the classic push-up-filled “Bike & Beats” and the more training-style “Power Battle”, where you compete against the other half of the class. It’s rare to find that variety in one gym.
I’ve also really enjoyed Reppin’ and Reppin’ Lower. While these won’t build your glutes in the same way as heavy lifting, they’re perfect for anyone wanting to transition into strength training but who isn’t yet confident with the movements. They’re low-weight, high-rep sessions where you’ll get used to squats, deadlifts, chest press, overhead press and more. Doing these regularly over the past few months has given me the confidence and base strength to lift heavier on my own, and just getting used to holding a weighted barbell has been invaluable. Kylie Bond’s classes in particular are excellent.
boxing and aerial
Where Gymbox truly excels - and where it stands out from other London gyms - is in its fighting and aerial offerings. Even the boxing fitness classes have a strong emphasis on technique, so you’re actually learning to box properly (very different to the cardio-heavy style at 1Rebel’s Rumble). Matteo Albanese’s classes in Holborn are brilliant, and he is great at working with complete beginners too - just remember that you need to bring your own boxing gloves and wraps. They also offer Muay Thai, which I intend to try soon. The aerial classes are also great, and even as someone who prefers both feet firmly on the ground, I found myself hanging upside down from ceiling loops within a few sessions. These classes have a great community vibe and are hard to find elsewhere.
2) what could be improved?
There are a few classes which would be fantastic. Hot yoga or hot pilates would be great, a more traditional barre class using a barre, rebounding classes, and strength for runners. Another frustration is the one-hour cancellation policy. While it’s flexible, it means you often see last-minute dropouts in high demand classes like spin or reformer, which is frustrating when they’re so hard to book in the first place. In many studios there are also minimal numbers of specific classes each week - for example, Finsbury Park only has one Calisthenics class on a Monday evening. If you aren’t free that day of the week, you simply cannot do Calisthenics.
3) The gym space
The facilities vary a lot by location. Finsbury Park and Farringdon are fantastic. Mirrors in the squat racks at Finsbury Park are brilliant, and the equipment at both is new and well-maintainted. Holborn, by comparison, feels a lot more dated although there’s still plenty of equipment. All locations have saunas, and Finsbury Park also has ice baths. Some locations have red light therapy, though it’s tough to get a booking.
4) The booking system
If you’re at Finsbury Park, prepare to move fast - Reformer Pilates classes can sell out in under 30 seconds, but all classes will sell out within a few minutes. They desperately need to add more classes. I’ve never had an issue getting into a class in any other studio with the exception of aerial classes in Farringdon, which are also popular. However, nothing on the scale of popularity that Finsbury Park has.
5) pricing
Gymbox often runs promotions, sometimes offering free months or discounts for upfront payment. If you can wait for a good deal, pay annually and/or are a student, you can get a great deal.
Example (As of August 10th 2025):
Non-student, all access, £1,188 for 14 months = £84.86/month
Student, all access: £780 for 14 months = £55.71/month
Non-student, Finsbury Park only, 14 months = £73/month
Student, Finsbury Park Only, 14 months = £48/month
When you compare that to Third Space at upwards of £260/month, it’s exceptional value.
6) The lowdown
Frankly, you aren’t going to get better value than Gymbox if you want both bespoke classes and gym floor. You may find studios with better classes if you have specific interests, such as Psycle or 1Rebel, but it is rare for a studio to offer such a range of classes and also gym floor access and sauna. You’d realistically be looking at somewhere like BXR or Third Space which are easily triple the price of Gymbox.
I really enjoy their classes, I think there’s great variety, and the staff are friendly. The only issues I’ve had are with the guest pass rules (whether they can attend a class is not clearly explained) and booking certain classes at peak demand. My biggest Gymbox class booking tip? If you want to do Reformer Pilates at Finsbury Park, set a recurring alarm - or just hang around an hour before and snap up last-minute cancellations.
Did those student offers catch your eye? Here’s my fitness guide for students.