Group Exercise Classes at Council-Run Facilities: A Guide

Forget expensive gyms and exclusive studios: hundreds of Londoners are turning to council-run facilities for their next group workout. In June alone, GLL’s Better, the social enterprise operating leisure centres for more than half of the city’s boroughs, recorded a 12% spike in group class participation compared to last summer.

The surge is no accident. June’s early heatwaves and ongoing cost-of-living pressures have prompted many residents to seek affordable, climate-controlled ways to stay active and social. With annual memberships at some commercial gyms now topping £80 a month, community venues are becoming a lifeline—serving everyone from pre-work bootcampers to retirees looking for low-impact classes.

From Tottenham Green to Clapham: Where London Works Out Together

The range of council facilities runs deep across London. Hackney’s Britannia Leisure Centre, freshly rebuilt in 2021 and situated at Pitfield Street near Shoreditch Park, offers nearly 60 group exercise sessions weekly—including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), Zumba, aqua aerobics, and body conditioning. Many of these sessions are open to non-members for £8 per class, or included in a £36.50 monthly Better membership for borough residents.

South of the river, Lambeth’s Clapham Leisure Centre on Clapham Manor Street is a hive of community activity. Early morning spin classes fill up fast, while gentle yoga and pilates are particularly popular with over-60s. A pay-as-you-go class costs £9.20 at council rate, but concessions and discounted access via the More Fitness app make it more accessible for local residents on benefits.

Other boroughs are expanding offerings to meet demand. Haringey’s Park Road Pools & Fitness in Crouch End celebrated its 100th Parkrun warm-up session last month, blending outdoor running and group fitness for free every Saturday.

Affordability and Inclusion: The Numbers Behind the Trend

Data published by Sport England in April shows a 19% rise in group class attendance across London’s publicly funded leisure centres over the past year. The NHS’s social prescribing programme now refers patients to group exercise sessions at 212 locations citywide. It’s not just about fitness: in 2025, group classes at council venues were cited by 38% of regulars as their primary way of meeting new people, according to Active London’s survey.

Affordability is a core draw. An annual borough resident membership with GLL Better costs from £438, compared to an average of £700 for a similar private gym membership in central London. Hackney Council’s "GoodGym" partnership means participants in certain classes even volunteer alongside exercise—a win-win for mental health and community spirit.

How to Join In

Finding a class is straightforward. Residents can check their borough website—Islington, Tower Hamlets and Camden all have user-friendly search tools—or visit council or leisure centre receptions in person. Most venues advise booking online at least a week in advance, especially for after-work sessions, which often reach capacity.

Council-run leisure centres tend to review their group exercise schedules every September and January, with new taster sessions frequently added to help first-timers try something new. Free induction slots are widely available for newcomers. For anyone unsure where to start, public health teams in Hackney, Lewisham and Westminster now operate drop-in activity advice desks at leisure centres several days a month, guiding locals towards the right class for their needs.

With affordable prices, diverse options, and an ever-busier booking calendar, council-run group classes look set to remain a core feature of London’s summer—and beyond.