Virgin Active

The Virgin Active gym in Ealing (on the 5^th level of Ealing Broadway shopping centre) does look nice although it is a small one. The equipment is reasonable but the whole place feels like cramped — you can stretch a bit and reach the ceiling from the treadmill! It is relatively easy to get to the machines so not too much competition for resources but I find it strange that the strength equipment is limited. The good part: there is a sauna, steam room, shower cubes are clean, there is a small swimming pool and a café. The down side: again — size, staff is not really helpful; for 70 pounds per month they don’t give full towels but a sweat towel only so it’s not good value for money at all! I was told that for a full towel I have to pay 6 pounds per month extra but then again with Virgin is like this — X pounds for this, Z pounds for that on top of the already high price.
In the US for 90 $ you’d get an excellent gym with everything!

In my time in London, I’ve belonged to various gyms at different times: 1 x David Lloyd, 1 x Fitness First and this one, Virgin Active in Hammersmith. In favour of the latter are the following elements:
the 20metre pool
cleanliness
Power Plate
beauty room
friendly staff
towels on arrival so you don’t have to bring your own
decent size of locker
shampoo and shower gel in the showers, in case you forget your own (okay, it’s far from quality stuff but it’s certainly better than nothing)
plenty of hairdryers and grooming space
Mostly, I live for the pool, where they play restful classical music and where windows let in natural light, making this quite a pleasant space until the doofus in front of you splashes the pool in your face with over-​zealous kicking.