Written by Becky Lima-Matthews
Want to break a sweat rather than your overdraft? Here are some fun, free and cheap ways to stay fit in London that don’t involve pricey gym memberships.
Free Fitness Activities
1. Get fit and do good with GoodGym
Get involved with your community, meet like-minded locals and get fit with this fabulous win-win option.
Social enterprise GoodGym started with a chance meeting between founder Ivo Gormley and a housebound older man called Terry; Ivo began combining regular runs with visiting Terry twice a week for a chat. Now volunteers all over London and the UK run, walk or cycle to do group tasks in their local community as well as regular visits and one-off smaller ‘mission’ tasks for older people, such as a spot of gardening or DIY.
Venue: Across London
Cost: Free; donations very welcome (£9.95 per month suggested)
More info here
2. Work out in the fresh air with Our Parks
Our Parks is pretty much made for this article; their slogan is ‘Get fit for free!’ and they operate across a huge number of locations all over London. There are even some Rise and Shine early morning classes that you can stream live and join in the comfort of your own home.
All you have to do is register on their website, book a class and turn up. All classes are delivered by a fully qualified professional and cater for many levels and types of fitness, from seated fitness to street dance to yoga. If you are strapped for cash and want to improve your fitness in a social atmosphere, this has it all.
Venue: Across London
Cost: Free; donations very welcome
More info here
3. Walk, run, or anything in between with Parkrun
If you don’t fancy trying a new exercise routine solo, dip your toe into this running lark with a relaxed and inclusive community parkrun. You can just turn up and watch to start off with, then join the mixture of people who walk, jog or run the 5k route on a Saturday morning. There’s no time limit or first/last places. Register on the website to find one near you.
Venue: Across London
Cost: Free; donations very welcome
More info here
4. Join the resistance at an outdoor gym
There’s an increasing number of parks with free outdoor gyms and fitness trails in boroughs across London, like these in Hammersmith & Fulham; a quick online search should give you a list of the nearest ones to you.
Venue: Across London
Cost: Free
More info here
5. Save on the class, then browse the store
Several of the big-name sports stores in London run everything from free fitness apps to in-store classes; check out the options at Sweaty Betty.
Venue: Across London
Cost: Free
More info here
Cheap Fitness Activities
1. Join the hooping revolution at HulaFit
Have so much fun that you forget you’re building your fitness levels and core strength with a hula hoop class. Hoops are provided, laughs and moves are model’s own. Go with a friend and get 20% off if you book as a pair with code DOUBLETROUBLE.
Venue: All Saints Hatcham Community Centre, New Cross Road and Telegraph Hill Centre, Kitto Road, both SE14
Cost: £11.00; nab 50% off your first class with code FIRSTCLASS
More info here
2. Shake it like a Polaroid picture with daytime clubbing
Forget bossy aerobics teachers and complicated routines; if you’re going to get sweaty in lycra, do it with attitude. Over 30s can get down to dance floor faves, rare grooves and absolute bangers from the 80s & 90s from 3pm-8pm on selected dates – check the website for details.
Venue: The Roxy X Studio38.London, 1 Rathbone Place, W1T
Cost: £13.50
More info here
3. Check out London’s cycle routes on a rented bike
If all of the above isn’t enough for you then here’s a quick something extra for the cyclists out there. It costs just £3.00 to hire a Santander bike for 24 hours, with each separate 30-minute journey being free of extra charge.
There are 1200 rental bikes that are parked at 800 docking stations all around the city, currently emblazoned with red Santander logos. You can hop on and hop off as many times as you like within that 24-hour period—just stay within those separate half hour periods to keep it at £3.00 (and make sure you dock them in their stations properly!).
Venue: Across London
Cost: £3.00
More info here
4. Trial gym memberships
If, from time to time, you want to workout and follow it up with a dip in a heated pool or a steam in a sauna, then take advantage of the introductory offers that these large gyms offer. It’s worth rotating around for a few free top-of-the-range workout sessions. Stay there all day and that’s great value.
Be aware though that you’ll have to remain steel faced and immune to their inevitable sales interrogation. And they might make you pay for a locker/towels.
Article first published 12th April 2019; last update 20th July 2024.
