7 gyms in London your boss will pay for (with Gympass) We list the top seven gyms and studios that workers in the Big Smoke can access as part of a subsidised Gympass membership. Written by Helena Young Updated on 11 April 2024 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Written and reviewed by: Helena Young Lead Writer One of the trendiest employee benefits for today’s workforce is the gym membership. The UK is becoming a nation of gym rats as more of us lean into the fashion for fitness – and it’s not just dumbbells and treadmills. Today’s workers also view fitness classes like yoga and pilates as a way to relieve stress and improve health and wellbeing. But with high overheads, gym memberships can be a budget-breaker. That’s particularly true in central London. Running a gym studio in the capital is incredibly expensive – but it’s also the most convenient workout location for desk workers who have returned to the office.As a solution, many businesses have signed up to Gympass; a membership program that gives employees a discount on their gym subscription. Below, we’ve gathered the best London gym chains that qualify for Gympass to help you break a sweat, but not your bank.1. Nuffield HealthBarbicanMoorgateBloomsburyIslington ShoreditchLondon BridgeCovent GardenPerhaps the best-known gym chain in London, Nuffield Health has seven locations in central London for workers to choose from. Acting as a gym, spa, and leisure centre, most are incredibly well-equipped. The Barbican site, for example, has a running track, swimming pool, and even a private GP.A Gympass membership will give you access to all of the above Nuffield Health sites. Pricing starts from the Gold tier, which costs £79.99 per month for employees.2. F45Old StreetIslingtonCannon StreetLeadenhallLiverpool StreetHaggerstonTottenham CourtTower BridgeSohoOxford CircusAussie gym franchise, F45 took the UK by storm when it launched here back in 2017. Each studio exclusively hosts fitness classes, including its famously hard circuit training. This social niche helps to build teamwork amongst colleagues, and has gained the company a cult-like following among gym fanatics (including brand officer, Mark Wahlberg).Gympass pricing for F45’s 10 Central London locations starts from the Platinum tier, which costs £127.99 per month. While expensive, this is a significant saving compared to the pre-discount price of £220.3. GymboxFarringdonOld StreetHolborn BankForget dull squat thrusts; Gymbox has carved out a reputation for its expert instructors and unique facilities. Members can make use of a life-size boxing ring, combat area, and something called ‘Very Personal Training’ – all soundtracked by Gymbox’s resident DJs. Basically, if you know what a ‘WOD Squad’ fitness class looks like, this is the gym for you.With a Gympass membership, you’ll get access to four Gymbox sites in Central London. Pricing starts on the Gold tier, which costs £79.99 per month. 4. FrameKing’s CrossAngelShoreditchFrame, short for ‘Move Your Frame’ is a welcoming gym studio that promises fitness first, but fun second. Founded by two women, Pip Black and Joan Murphy, the brand’s classes tend to be low-intensity and focused on improving mobility and mindfulness. It also has a strong package for mums and pregnant women (ideal for those who are on maternity leave).Gympass members can access three Frame gyms in Central London. Pricing starts on the Silver tier at £47.99 per month, making it one of the most affordable options on this list.5. Fitness FirstQueen Victoria StreetBishopsgateLiverpool StreetGracechurch StreetFenchurch StreetThe StrandTottenham Court RoadCottonsStarting a gym can be scary. Fitness First is focused on making newbies feel welcome. Every unit features sleek facilities with modern equipment and a wide selection of classes – from yoga to HIIT – making it a great place for larger teams to workout together without anyone feeling intimidated. You’ll also get a free 30-minute PT session when you sign up.A Gympass pass offers access to eight Fitness First gyms in central London. Priced at the Silver tier for £47.99 per month, it’s a strong budget option for workers.6. MoreYogaHaggerstonAldgateSohoCannon StreetAngelYogis unite. MoreYoga sells itself as “London’s most affordable yoga studios” and a Gympass membership enables its members to save an extra £10 per month. Helping you to feel good, and do good, it also donates a proportion of profits to selected refugee charities, ensuring those in a meaningful work role can also access a meaningful workout.Available for just £29.99 per month on the Gympass Bronze tier, a MoreYoga membership will give you access to five prime locations to spend your lunch break rather than the desk.7. Barry’s LondonSt. PaulsLondon EastKnown as ‘Barry’s bootcamp’, Barry’s London is built on the philosophy of ‘no pain, no gain’. The brand specialises in HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts; a type of training that’s not for the faint-hearted. Workers can swap the boardroom for Barry’s Red Room, where HIIT sessions target specific areas of the body throughout the week.Like F45, pricing for Barry’s two Central London locations starts from the Platinum tier, which costs £127.99 per month.Why offer an employee gym membership?Gym discount schemes, such as Gympass, work by providing access to a wide network of gyms, studios, and wellness apps. Employees can access everything with a single subscription and split the cost with their employer.Employers can expect to pay around £50-£100 per employee, per month to sign up to a corporate program like Gympass. Certainly, this is a more expensive perk than free teas and coffees. But there is a real cost-benefit to investing in employee wellbeing.Elevated levels of stress and burnout has been one of the contributing factors to today’s low workforce participation rate. Ensuring workers stay active and socialising will increase energy levels and improve camaraderie and collaboration among colleagues – two areas that have taken a big hit as more of us work from home.Another obvious benefit is in recruitment. For job seekers, a gym pass can be the deciding factor in whether to answer your job ad, or a rival’s. If you plan to implement a return to office policy, it may also be cheaper than offering a pay rise; which employees working in fully office-based roles now expect.Employee perks prove to the workforce you care about their wellbeing. This will improve productivity and job satisfaction, reducing staff turnover and driving a positive company culture – all of which will raise the bar for your competitors to follow. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags News and Features Written by: Helena Young Lead Writer Helena is Lead Writer at Startups. As resident people and premises expert, she's an authority on topics such as business energy, office and coworking spaces, and project management software. With a background in PR and marketing, Helena also manages the Startups 100 Index and is passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. From interviewing Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin to spotting data-led working from home trends, her insight has been featured by major trade publications including the ICAEW, and news outlets like the BBC, ITV News, Daily Express, and HuffPost UK.