I couldn't ask or dream for a better local pool. The opening times are very generous and if you…read moreskip rush hour, it's actually pretty relaxed. It's not uncommon for me to go and have a lane to myself or just with one other. The competition pool is generally always get up for lane swimming, in 50m configuration, except Sunday afternoons when it's used instead for aqua splash. It's one of those times I wish I had a youngster around to justify going! If 50m isn't your thing, then the training pool is often open for lane swim in 25m configuration. But be warned, there is also family swim here and swimming lessons. The facilities are always very clean, sometimes there are more cleaning staff than patrons and the changing facilities above par. Bring your towel, shampoo, £1 and some swimming Google and you're ready to go. The hair dryers are actually really good too!

Can you keep a secret guys?? Not many people seem to have noticed it yet, but a year and a half…read moreafter the Olympics there's some exciting stuff going on in Stratford again... Yep living near the Park is paying off nicely at the moment - my new local council swimming pool is none other than the Aquatics Centre! It's been open to the public for the last few weeks and I have to say it's a pretty special venue - I still get tingles every time I walk in. It's £4.50 per swim session for an adult and there's an easy peasy online system to book in advance. There are 2 full size pools inside - the Competition Pool for the hardcore swimmers and the Training Pool where they separate the lengths into two 25m sections. Personally I found a 50m pool to be ridiculously long in real life (my superwoman stamina is a err work in progress) so I tend to do laps in the 25m lanes. You choose a pool and a start time online but it's pretty lax once you're in, and you can stay as long as you like. The water is a nice slightly warm temperature and it's usually a uniform 1.2m depth all the way along (though somehow they can change the depth of different sections - the mind boggles!). It's not all lanes - there are also sections of the pool roped off for 'fun' as well as swimming lessons. Also saw signs for a total wipeout stylee 'Splash Time' for kiddies at weekends that sounded like great fun if anyone wants to lend me a child?! The reason it misses a 5th star is that the changing rooms and shower facilities are just not that great. It's spacious yes and there are plenty of cubicles, hairdryers and lockers, but the layout is a little confusing (quite a wander from the lockers to the female showers), they seem to have too many staff/cleaners milling around not doing much, and the showers themselves seem temperamental and need you to wave a hand past every 3 seconds. Is this how Michael Phelps showered?! (*pauses to enjoy the mental picture*) Ahem. Yeah I expected better. So remember to bring your own towel+toiletries, a plastic bag for your wet cozzie (I haven't spotted a drying machine yet) and a £1 coin for the lockers. And please only tell your special friends - the nicest thing at the moment is that it isn't too busy on weeknights! See you there :)

Seven Islands Leisure Centre is a great option if you are looking to escape those pretentious type…read moregyms where you feel you have to go in and look amazing whilst working out! I am a regular here and have to say am very happy. I pay around £46 per month for full membership and am not tied to any contract and also didn't incur any admin charges which makes for quite good value! The gym offers a great selection of classes (my favourite is the Wednesday evening dance aerobics) which are all also open to non members at a price per class fee. The gym itself is ample - you sometimes struggle to get on the cross trainers at peak times but this is generally the case with most gyms. The pool is great and the centre also provides great swimming classes for children. Be warned though, there is no sleek decor or anything ultra modern about this gym (e.g. they are yet to install GHD's in the changing rooms!). It does what it says on the tin and that is just fine for me!

My partner and I pay a total of £75 per month to use all the facilities at Seven Islands including…read more5 other locations. Seriously. You're not going to get that anywhere in London and probably not anywhere in the G7 countries. That's a seriously good value for a pretty darn good neighborhood. There's an air-conditioned exercise studio and the classes are quite good. They also have a small running club and other common sport interest groups. The weight training room is very well equipped and has been recently refurbished using a £1mn investment. There's a water fountain in between the cardiovascular area and the weight training room. The locker room could use a scrub, but all functional. A refundable £1 to use a locker. There's a 33m swimming pool with a shallow and a deep end, and while I don't swim, everyone seems rather happy splashing around. 1 on 1 instruction is also available. Overall, seriously good value for money.

This is a fantastci leisure centre which offers a wide range of activities for all - the gym is…read morelarge, air conditioned and modern and has a dry area changing for you to get out of your work gear and into your workout gear. A personal trainer is always on hand for a bit of advice if you need it and sessions can be arranged with them for some serious workouts! The swimming pool is brilliant although there is not a lot of pool time available due to the sheer number of swimming lessons that go on here, however great for parents who wish to get hteir child into swimming lessons. During the winter there is an indoor ice rink which is great value and sessions can be booked in advance. The bar is good value and there are some healthy eating type vending machines in the lobby which dispense nuts and raisins and healthier snacks, along with the standard machines that you can eat junk from Wet changing rooms for the pool are always clean and i regular see the floors being washed down. Plenty of cubicles although they are small, and all showers are openplan which hinders privacy if you like to shower naked. There are a range of classes available including yoga,pilates and standard aerobic activities. Reception staff are generally friendly but phoning is a little hit and miss.

As leisure centres go, this place is ok. I mainly saw the swimming pool which was you standard…read morelarge adult pool and smaller children's pool along side it. The changing rooms are mixed which seems to work fine, however I know that's not everyones cup of tea. Whilst I was there I noticed that they were doing lots of development work so I suspect in time it will look all shiny and new.

The Marshall Street Leisure Centre is a community gym, pool, and day spa owned by the Westminster…read moreCouncil. It recently re-opened after a major refurbishment. The 25m pool is stunning---a relic of Victorian leisure and is worth a quick glance even if you don't go for a dip. It's conveniently located on a side street, moments from Carnaby Street & Oxford Circus. As the complex is owned by the council, it is remarkably affordable...most memberships start in the 40 pound range without any sort of long-term contract or commitment. They also do day passes if you just want to drop in and use the pool. In the pricey world of London gyms this is really amazing value. However, the low price comes with some draw-backs and the centre doesn't draw the same posh crowd found at 3rd Space or the Oxford Street Virgin Active. Marshall Street can also be crazy busy after work. Try coming here at 7pm and you will queue a bit to get a treadmill or to the free weights (the free weight section is small with only 2 benches). That said, come on a Saturday or Sunday and the gym will be virtually empty! If you're looking for an affordable no-frills gym with central London's most stunning pool, The Marshall Street Leisure Centre needs to be on your sort-list.

For the gym: Staff is pleasant, nice equipment but for the love of God no one picks up after…read morethemselves here. Aren't we all adults? Re-rack your weights people.

The entry prices aren't of the cheapest but there are loads of facilities, you can go there as a…read morefamily day out, or individuals. there are 2 big swimming pools and a massive water slide which is great for the kids. You are restricted though on how long you can stay in the pool, sessions are only 90 mins long and the staff tell you to leave after that. there's also a fully fledged gym and many other activities to do, such as rock climbing. The pool is expesive but the gym is a good price especially for the facilities that have which are top notch.

SPLASH!!!!!! This 5…read morestar review only applies during periods of heatwave like the one we had over the WImbledon tennis fortnight this year. During those periods, this unheated pool is the perfect antidote. At 90m, the main pool at Tooting Bec lido is the largest open air pool in Europe. There's a separate children's pool and a cafe, all wrapped up in grand surroundings. It can get busy as you can imagine when the sun comes out but it's well worth for a dip to cool off and to lie in sun and luxuriate.

The five star review applies to heatwave conditions, the rest of the time I would say that Tooting…read moreBec Lido is ideal for serious swimmers that don't feel the cold. The pool is c90m long and c30 metres wide, meaning that when it is busy there is still plenty of room to swim. The water is heated by the sun, which in London means that it is take your breath away cold but once you get used to the temperature it is pleasant especially on hot days. The entrance fee for adults is around £7 which considering London prices isn't too bad. There are indoor changing rooms as well as separate outdoor changing cubicles with brightly painted doors. There is a grassy area on which to sit as well as spaces around the edge of the pool.There is also a separate paddling pool and a cafe for snacks on the site. The only downside for me is the lack of lockers to put valuables in, although you can ask staff to keep stuff in lockers in their area.

I used to take my daughter swimming here a few years back and they also had a mad kids playtime on…read morea Friday morning, bouncey castle, ball games and who remembers what else. It's a great venue but very limited in respect of refreshments. Suits its purpose for swimming but I never used the gym, tennis courts etc.

I've had some fun times in this place…read more It opened in 2006, so it's still pretty new. I really like it. I used to have a LifestylePlus card which meant I could swim at any time for 50p a throw or use the gym for the same price, but it has since expired and I no longer qualify, so I must shell out the full whack of £3.30. There is usually no limit on the time you can spend in the pool, I've not used the gym but I believe the same is true of that. There are two pools, a small learners one and a regular sized (25m) pool with a freestyle section and lanes. If you go during the day there are likely to be school kids having swimming lessons, but this rarely infringes on your own swim fun. Quite frequently though, you will have the pool nearly to yourself. Remember 20p for the lockers! You can read about some of my exploits there, here: http://suffersforhersins.blogspot.com/search?q=janet The pool is named after Janet Adegoke,who was the first black mayor of London. I respect this woman for all her political and social achievements, but mostly because she has a very pleasant pool in her name. Well done, Janet. And thank you.

Clean and never-busy pool, which is always useful. I've tended to go at normally busy times, but…read morehere there are generally 1 or 2 small groups of children and parents, learning to swim or playing about, and then lanes for the more serious swimmer. Depending on when you go, there are 1-3 lanes available. Never too much hassle, and it's never too busy. Around 6 months ago, the pool smelled a little like they had a toilet drainage problem but this appears to be sorted now!