I have quite literally grown up at this leisure centre. Our relationship goes back to the early…read more90s, when I was learning to swim and running after boys at least three years older than me. As I grew up, so did the Centre - the diving pool became a legitimate diving pool, the café transformed from a cafeteria-style greasy chip joint into a luxe all-organic juice bar and then a diddy little coffee shop on the first floor, and the suped up gym space has become the primary reason anyone comes here. They sold off a lot of their land (which still makes me sad, remembering how much kids would just run around the acres of grassland) to a private mini-golf company, and used the profits to amp up the parking lot. This leisure centre still caters mainly to the very young and the very old - and I am happy about that. There is a role for leisure centres like Copthall in an ever-demanding, ever-commodified and fast-paced London suburb. My nostalgia and belief in this role make me want to give the centre the full five stars, but that's not really the point of Yelp reviews. As such, here are some of the cons: - the swimming pools are ALWAYS full of kids and/or grannies, who take up the lanes and clutter the changing rooms - the changing rooms smell - the toilets smell - the SS-esque security at the front is completely destabilized by the lack of security, CCTV, etc across the rest of the building - the parking lot is similarly insecure - there is a definite 'in' club (amongst staff and Centre visitors), and you don't get great customer service unless you're in this club - despite all the updates and refurbishing, the entire Centre (minus the gym upstairs) still looks like it was built in the 70s. I still love it here. I still love the smell of those changing rooms because they tap into my childhood. I am still in awe of the shiny gym equipment upstairs, because Mill Hill never had such a shiny public gym. If I ever have kids, and even if I move far away, I will still want to bring them here to develop a relationship with Copthall. Should you come here? If you're all fancy and expect a private gym, then no. If you have a hundred and fifty kids, sure (but count them carefully on your way home - you could easily misplace one). If you like to be pampered and flattered by the staff, no. If you grew up in North London in the 80s and 90s, absolutely.

Review of redeveloped centre. I visited for the first time and my impressions were:…read more - car park full and too small, all disabled bays taken none displaying a badge. - long walk to entrance - heaving with people and noise due to a competition, which will be very frequent. - poor quality building and interior like modern flats - cramped changing rooms. - mixed sex changing rooms and mixed sex showers. - showers as dismal and dirty as previous centre. - small pools and small space surrounding the pool. - £40 million has been spent on this. The previous centre was infinitely better, spacious, solidly constructed and more accessible. It did need improvements to the showers and general drainage but that's it, perhaps a lick of paint. What Barnet residents did not need is this utter waste of money. It is not fit for purpose. The changing/shower area is half the size of the previous centre. And mixed sex of all things, forcing the latest pc nonsense on people? Or just sadist officials who don't want the public to be too comfortable, making sure we plebs are kept in our place. Jostling for parking, jostling for privacy, to make sure we're grateful. Meanwhile the prices are not cheap even though everything else is cheap, tacky and nasty. I think most people will pay for a proper private club. As with other Barnet redevelopments, the public gets something worse than what we had. Meanwhile the developers and Council 'officials' get rich on schemes using public money. I will not go there again, and its tragic that the only amenity that was working well has given way, at our expense, to another shambles.

This was my regular gym from a few years ago The gym itself was lovely, great place to workout…read morelooks modern and clean. The only issue I had was with the staff at the main reception of the Venue, there was a few that seemed to be very unprofessional (giggling to each other when I would arrive to check in & making off putting glances) At this time I was pretty much a new & overweight must be said) member to the gym scene, so this was really off putting and made me feel very uncomfortable in returning.. after a few months I decided to leave my membership and go elsewhere. The staff in the gym itself are wonderful, extremely helpful & considerate. There is a wide range of equipment available for cardio and strength training which is great. I have not used the swimming pools but the view you get from the gym is great, looks like a great place to swim. Won't be returning though due to the bad experience with staff as the first impression you get of a place is in the hands of the reception, even though not all staff at reception were bad the impact of a few can have a major impact. Have found another gym company & am greatly enjoying it there.

This is not a bad swimming pool, but I suspect the casual/leisure swimmer may disagree. The primary…read morereason I like coming here is the water temperature, it is what many would probably consider cold but for serious swimming this is perfect. You really can go for it here without the overheating problems you get in some public pools where the temperature is just too high to be comfortable. The only problem really is that they have followed this concept through to the jacuzzi in the health suite, its barely warmer than the pool. Although I can't stand it when it's skin peelingly hot here it is just too cold, it needs to be hot enough to relax and sooth the tired muscles that have been worked in the gym or pool and this just doesn't do that. Other than that great, changing rooms are clean, if a little shabby in places. The staff seem reasonably pleasant and helpful and although I haven't used it the gym looks decent, it's on the first floor and looks out over the pool.

When I first signed up for the gym membership here, I was expecting to work out among only the…read moresenior members of the local community - not that that would be a bad thing. But then I was the more surprised that the clientele here is actually very diverse: from the teens, who are posing in front of the mirrors in the locker rooms to show off their muscles, the bus drivers working out during their breaks, the house wives gathering in the morning to do engage in chit-chat on the cross trainers, and the grandma from next door who's the most enthusiastic participant in the tummy session... When you join with a yearly membership - which is really affordable - you get a package of personal training sessions, a gym towel, a T-shirt and a water bottle...all this is nothing fancy, but then again it kind of entices you to continue coming. Also, the trainers here are really great, I have to say. What's best about them is that they engage in ever-so-brief conversations with you; they ask you how you're coming along, or when you haven't been there for a while, they notice you coming back and congratulate you on that. This, I feel is great and it makes me feel as being part of some kind of community. Keep up doing the good work!

I have used this pool a lot over the years as a great place for younger kids to gain pool…read moreconfidence and have fun. Its another beach style pool with a tiled island area - perfect for little ones getting to grips with jumping in the water. Much of this pool is really shallow. It has a reasonable wave machine - with a shelf you can sit on and get battered by the waves. Great fun when the kids were under 8 - we came here after school every 3 weeks over a couple of years (we use to alternate with Britannia in Hoxton and Waterfront in Woolwich) - but we have outgrown it . All the kids swim competitively now and the fun here is too tame for them (even with the youngest at 9). It has a really small swim around the island with no jets - just a waterfall that flows over your head as you swim by. A good shower jet for standing under that is powerful and always catches new visitors out as they desperately try to stop the jet removing their swimsuit. There is one slide which is great for first slide experiences....It snakes directly over the pool and is only half tube so if you go fast enough you get to splash the water over the top onto the pool below (and unsuspecting swimmers). Guess I spent too much time here. Main jacuzzi pool was always out of action and the small version was pretty poor. They do offer lane swimming if you want to train after public sessions - they stretch a few ropes across - so many better places to train, not sure why anyone would use this unless they lived next door.. We got to know most of the staff really well - slide was always open and on quiet nights we would get the waves to order. If you are looking to build water confidence in your toddlers or provide fun for under eights then this is great - otherwise travel there are better places about. Showers hit and miss, changing facilities basic and there is a gym. Never used it so cannot comment.

I was disgusted last week when i brought my 2 year old daughter swimming at Harrow leisure centre,…read morethe floor in the changing rooms were filthy with hair every where and the smell of urine and the bins were full of rubbish and smelly nappies.The showers were even worse with poo in one of the showers cubicles, hair clogged up in every drain and again the smell of urine all! this place is digusting and i will NEVER go back there!

I have been swimming here a few times and had a good look around the gym. I decided not to join the…read moregym just for money reasons really but it was well equipped and if you live locally it would fulfill your 'no frills' gym needs and you can use the pool too which some gyms, however nice, can not offer you. The pool is ok but the open swimming times are a little restricted due to school and swimming club usage. I have heard that there has been occasions where by people have discovered 'floaters' in here but I havent seen this yet and its relatively clean the times that I have been there. The changing areas and showers are what can be expected of an average public swimming so if your not a stickler for maximum hygiene you probably will not mind swimming here. I tried to book a badminton court here but unless you are amember you can't do this. The courts get booked up really quickly anyway as its a popular sport here. My boyfriend has been to the boxing club but since the trainer changed towads the end of last year he hasnt enjoyed it at all and has stopped going. The staff at the centre are alright, not very personable but dont try calling for info, no-one ever answers.

Took my sister and some of her friends during the holiday. Great staff, great atmosphere. Very safe…read moreplay space and a great menu for parents/family to have a coffee and chat while the kids tire themselves out! Has definitely become a favourite for my sister and her friends. We now often bump into her school friends and familiar faces. Always a great time for us both.

This North London soft play space is conveniently located outside Brent Cross Mall. My boys love…read morecoming here and are always begging me to bring them - its not the closest soft play to us, nor is it the cheapest (you have to pay to be a "member", a one-off fee, and it's more expensive in entry fees) - hence my resistance. That being said it is clean, feels like the equipment is in good nic, and it feels like they spend the money maintaining the place. We've been here for a few birthday parties and you can have the upstairs space or your own room which is nice. There is TV for parents to watch and they have wifi (hallelujah). Music plays throughout. The café is mediocre (hence my 3 star vote) and you don't get your money's worth. If I compare it to Clowntown, Friern Barnet, who provide a kiddies meal deal (veggie crudités, main, dessert & a drink) for under £7, these guys charge that just for the mains. Baby's options are Cow & Gate or the Ella's kitchen range. Mums and dads : the coffee is bad and sad. They use a machine and its tastes ugh! Overall, yes it's still worth coming but be prepared to cough up the cash.

I believe this was Englands first David Lloyd Fitness Center. It is a first class facility boasting…read morea fantastic array of things to do. Tennis, Badminton, Basketball, Swimming and A HUMONGOUS Gym. Or if you want to just chill out there is a great steam room and sauna and if you're feeling peckish there is a nice bar/cafe also.

Great all round. You can do whatever you need to with the support of a personal trainer. Swimming…read morepool and jacuzzi are great especially in the mornings since it's so quiet and there's the option of the outdoor pool as well.