London's Best Spin Studios: A Ranking
If you follow me on Instagram or have ever had any sort of interaction with me, you know I like spin classes. A LOT. At this point I’ve taken so many in London alone that I figured I’d share my immense wealth of wisdom with a lot of people who don’t give a fuddy-duddy (and a half-dozen who do? Too ambitious?). I present: a ranking of some of the most popular spinning studios in town, from my favourite to my least favourite.
If you want to try any of these studios, all excluding Psycle are on ClassPass and you can use my referral link to get £40/$40 off your first month: http://class.ps/imHfv
Classes taken: 2 in Covent Garden
Let me preface this by saying that for the next studios, you’ll see me weighing up the appearance, changing rooms, showers, music, etc. against the actual workout, and factoring it all in as a whole. Another Space is on such ~another~ playing field that the bikes could be set up on a llama farm and it would still be #1. BY FAR. They’re not, though, set up on a llama farm. They’re in a sleek studio 3 minutes from Leicester Square tube station, where the staff are lovely and the changing rooms are well stocked with Cowshed goodies.
As for the workouts, these are without a doubt the two best spin classes I’ve ever been to. In my life. And as we’ve established, I’ve been to a LOT of spin classes. The instructors are so much fun and the choreography is so fast-paced that you don’t even have time to bother about the music. It’s just an added bonus when house remixes of “Valerie,” “No Scrubs” and “Faded” are thrown into the mix. I like the feel of the bikes, but the resistance is very sensitive, so a tiny turn to the right cranks the level up disproportionately — not a real issue, but something to be aware of. This gym was originally not on ClassPass, so for my first class there were only about six people, which was actually really nice. My second class, A.C.P. (After ClassPass, duh), was a lot fuller, but not to a point where it was uncomfortable. Both left me with a massive grin and enough energy to climb a mountain. I don’t know how much energy it takes to climb a mountain as I was always dreadful at physics, but I’m guessing a lot?
Pricing: The intro offer is £30 for 2 credits + 1 “buddy credit,” which is definitely worth doing. After that, a single class is £20, £95 for 5 classes, £180 for 10, and so on.
Locations:
Covent Garden: 4-10 Tower Street, WC2H 9NP
Bank: 40 Coleman Street, EC2R 5EH
2. BESTCycle
Classes taken: 2 in South Kensington
Initially I went to BESTCycle quite reluctantly, so that my ranking would be somewhat comprehensive (you’re welcome), but it was such a wonderful surprise. This studio sets the standard for “diamond in the rough”: their marketing is full of spelling mistakes, their aesthetic is kinda meh and from the outside the studio looks a bit run down. And then you walk in and it’s basically Narnia — sweet and helpful staff welcome you into a state-of-the-art gym with huge changing rooms, where there’s always a free shower cubicle and you can spread your stuff out as much as you want, which is total luxury in this city.
The actual class is just challenging enough that you feel like you’re working hard, but not so much that you feel like dying. Also, v important: the playlist consists of music you’ve actually heard of (including “Side to Side,” which like duh, instructors should be legally bound to play this song in every spin class of life ever). I would say the workouts at Psycle are a bit more fun, but BESTCycle wins on overall atmosphere, comfort and pricing, being cheaper than every other studio on this list.
Pricing: Intro offer: £20 for 2 credits, then £15 for a single class, £42 for 3 and so on.
Locations:
Charing Cross: 1 Embankment Place, Concourse Level, WC2N 6NN
South Kensington: Petersham House, Harrington Rd, SW7 3HD
3. Psycle
Classes taken: 1 in Mortimer Street, 2 in Shoreditch
To be honest, it’s hard for all these studios not to blur into just a whole bunch of spinning wheels and loud noises, but overall I’ve been pretty impressed with Psycle — especially the Shoreditch studio. I loved my class with Sinead, which was just the right amount of challenging and definitely got those endorphins going. Essentially, whether you’re taking spin or barre (I haven’t tried their HIIT classes), you can be sure that you’ll walk out of Psycle feeling like you’ve worked. out. This studio is v expensive and not available on ClassPass, but worth it if you can afford it. That said, the other issue I have with Psycle is that it feels very much like an exclusive club, both from staff and patrons, and the overall atmosphere isn’t as nice as BESTCycle’s. Also, cramped changing rooms where tensions run high and you’re always in someone’s way feel kind of unacceptable when you’re paying that kind of money, IDK.
Pricing: Intro offer: £20 for 2 credits, then 1 credit for £20, 5 credits for £95 and so on.
Locations:
Mortimer Street: 76 Mortimer Street, W1W 7SA
Canary Wharf: Crossrail Place, E14 5AR
Shoreditch: 17-23 Whitby Street, E1 6JU
4. Boom Cycle
Classes taken: 5 in Holborn
The signature Boom 45 is a satisfying class with high energy, a fun playlist and a good sweat. It’s great if you want to get your cardio in, but isn’t the most challenging. I like to go on a Friday night or weekend morning after a long week of harder workouts or to sweat off a hangover (huuumblebrag). The staff and instructors are friendly and the changing rooms, although on the smaller side, are well stocked with products and hair styling tools.
Pricing: Intro offer: £29 for 3 classes, single ride for £18 and class packages starting at £52 for 3 rides.
Locations:
Holborn: 16 Procter Street, WC1V 6NX
Hammersmith: 10 Hammersmith Grove, W6 7AP
Battersea: Circus Village West, SW11 8AB
Monument: 8 Lombard Court, EC3V 9BJ
5. One 10
Classes taken: 4 Nirvana classes
I loved One 10 when I first went, but I just don’t think it measures up to all the studios above. The changing rooms are shockingly small and I really don’t like apologising for my presence, sorry. It’s also quite hard to shake the knowledge that you’re in a basement during class. The actual workout is a good sweat, but it’s also kind of boring? Additionally, I don’t love the premise of the instructor calling out a range for the resistance and a target RPM — it takes away from the fun and enjoyment. One 10 definitely won’t waste your time, but if you have the choice, I’d stick with the above.
Pricing: Intro offer: £20 for 3 classes, then single credit for £20, 5 pack bundle for £95 and so on.
Location:
Marylebone: 16 Baker Street, W1U 3BL
6. 1Rebel
Classes taken: 1 in South Bank
This was an eclectic experience. For first impressions, the space is gorgeous — especially the changing rooms, where there is actually room to change and lush copper accents everywhere. The showers are also really spacious and have face wash in them, so patrons with sensitive skin don’t have to use shower gel.
The actual class was OK; I enjoyed the choreography because I get bored easily and the weights sequence was a good challenge, but the music was just an assault to my senses, all vile techno beats. I guess some people like that, but if I can’t mouth along to, say, Camila Cabello, I just will not get as good of a workout. Nothing like a good banger to give you a bit of a kick in the backside. Additionally, the instructor was quite hard to hear over all the noise.
It’s possible that I didn’t set my bike up properly, but I found it very awkward, and I wasn’t able to move as much as I would have wanted to. Finally, there were no mirrors in the studio, which really bothers me. I might tell you this is because I want to correct my form, but don’t believe a word. I just like checking myself out. What can I say? I look good in a sports bra.
Pricing: Intro offer: 3 sessions for £30, then £20 per single session, £95 for a 5-pack and so on.
Locations:
Broadgate: Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS
Whitechapel: 63 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8LE
South Bank: Upper Ground, SE1 9PE
Bayswater: 34 Porchester Rd, W2 6ES
7. Digme
Classes taken: 1 in Blackfriars
This is very much a reflection on my own bias, and not on the studio, which is welcoming and functional, but God do I hate this. I suppose it’s my fault for signing up for a competition-based class, but I was on a mission, OK? Digme Ride classes use Spivi, an immersive indoor cycling system, whereby you see your avatar riding on a screen in competition with the other riders, alternating with your stats at any given moment. I hate this partly because I’m unnervingly unfit for someone who works out 5-6 times a week (surely this doesn’t count as bragging?), but mostly because it’s both painful and so fucking boring the whole way through. Also, the changing rooms are minuscule and I had to fight, like, six people just to extract my stuff out of the locker and go put my shoes and jacket on in the lobby. Good workout, though. At least I don’t feel like I wasted my time.
Pricing: For both London studios, intro offer: £20 for 3 credits, then £20 per class, £55 for 3 classes and so on.
Locations:
Moorgate: Moor Place, EC2Y 5EJ
Blackfriars: Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4DY
Richmond: 23 Sheen Road, TW9 1BN, Surrey
Oxford: Cantay House, Park End Street, OX1 1JD