Situated in between Leyton and Walthamstow, near Leyton Road tube station, Leyton Leisure Lagoon is a well equipped community-spirited health, fitness and leisure centre. It is part of the GLL leisure group, and managed in partnership with Waltham Forest Council. As an accredited member of the Quest Quality Scheme , Leyton Leisure Lagoon ensures continuous improvements, and works with the scheme to define industry standard and good practise. Open Monday to Friday from 7am to 10pm and at weekends from 8am to 5pm, its facilities are there to fit around even the busiest of timetables.
The fitness centre and gym provides a full range of cardiovascular equipment including the usual treadmills, step machines, resistance equipment, free weights and dedicated stretching area. There are qualified fitness trainers on hand to provide guidance and advice, and can provide specially designed fitness programmes tailored to your fitness needs and goals. The fitness centre changing rooms are currently being refurbished to a high standard, and are due for completion mid-April. The gym area is light, spacious and doesn’t get over-crowded.

There is a main 25m swimming pool for the serious swimmer, and a fun leisure pool with a flume, Jacuzzi, shallow area for toddlers and a fountain for bigger kids, so the kids are well catered for too. In addition, there are swimming courses and lessons available for adults and children and a Tot’s Water World class held on Wednesday mornings.

A large, light and airy dance studio provides the space for a large variety of group exercise classes which are on offer at Leyton Leisure Lagoon including aerobic workouts to get your heart pumping and improve general fitness, body classes to help tone and condition, and calming classes to help you stretch, relax and get in tune with your inner self. All the classes are spread over different ability levels; from the basics for beginners, to the more complicated workouts and dance classes. Group exercise classes available include yoga, Pilates, circuits, line dancing, Bhangra aerobics, water workout, aerobiking, bums tums thighs, short mat bowls, Brazilian dance, step, and club aerobics. Definitely something for everybody!

Leyton Leisure Lagoon offers women only gym sessions, swim sessions and water workouts, as well as dedicated sessions for the over 55’s. These include gym, swimming, aerobics, short mat bowls and even a social drop in group on Friday mornings. The centre has full disabled access, including a pool hoist and gym adaptations. There is also free parking on site, and a crèche run four mornings a week for the under 5’s. And finally, after a good workout or swim, you can wind down in the sauna and steam room during either the mixed, or women and men only dedicated times.

If you’d like to check out the leisure and fitness facilities at Leyton Leisure Lagoon, visit www.payasugym.com to purchase an ePass, without the need for a monthly contract.

Situated in Leytonstone, Cathall Leisure Centre has facilities that are hard to rival. If it’s a workout you’re after, the centre boasts a fully equipped gym including treadmills, rowing machines, free weights and toning and stretching aids. Fitness instructors are on hand to give you help or a gentle push if you wish! If you prefer to indulge your competitive edge, there are two squash courts complete with viewing area. Perfect for that post-workout wind-down, there is also a sauna and steam.

For those who enjoy group exercise, the Centre runs over 24 weekly classes from its mirrored exercise studio. There are toning classes, aerobic classes and relaxation sessions. Or, if you’re in the mood for something a little different, try Boxfit or Power Pump. The classes
cater for beginners, advanced, and everyone in between, so no matter what level you’re at you’ll feel at home.

There are two swimming pools at the Centre. One is a large, six-lane, 25 meter pool with changing facilities at the side, and the other is a smaller teaching pool for lessons and children’s sessions. Swim at your leisure, go along to a Wet and Wild session complete with floats or join one of the many timetabled sessions such as Swim Fit, Women’s only and Water Workout. For the serious swimmers, you can benefit from the guidance of the Centre’s swimming coaches by joining the swimming club, or for beginners, classes are available. There are also women-only sessions.

If you’re looking to entertain the children, you’ll find plenty to amuse and hopefully exhaust them! The clean pool provides a great environment for a splash around and there are toddler sessions and floats available. There is a viewing area overlooking the baby pool where you can give your little ones lunch after their swim. There is also a great soft play adventure playground for the under-fives, complete with a bouncing section, a soft block building area and a maze with tunnels, rope swings, a slide and a ball pool. Perfect for cheering up those wet days. The Centre also runs birthday parties – chose from a pool party where you can have exclusive use of the pool for an hour, followed by party food and cake, or an adventure party where the under-fives can have exclusive use of the soft play area for an hour.
Finally, if you have young tots and want to work out in peace, try the Centre’s crèche for the under-fives. You can leave your child in the care of the Ofsted registered crèche for up to two hours, safe in the knowledge they are being well cared for while you can have a good exercise – or relaxation – session at your leisure! Booking is essential as places are limited.

Cathall Leisure Centre is on Cathall Road in Leytonstone. It is open until 10pm Monday to Friday, and 5pm on the weekends.

If you would like to give the gym at Cathall Leisure Centre a try, go to www.payasugym.com to buy a pass.

Wimbledon Leisure Centre is somewhat of an institution, having kept the residents of Wimbledon in tip top shape since it first opened in 1901. The Centre has seen a few facelifts since its early days; recently the Leisure Centre has benefitted from a two million pound refurbishment and the former sports hall is now a Wellness Fitness Centre.

So what can the lucky residents of South London expect from the sparkly new Centre? Well, for a start there is a sparkly new reception area, brand new members’ changing rooms, a refurbished gym, new exercise equipment and a brand new studio.

The impressive Victorian vaulted room which houses the new Fitness Centre boasts a huge 100 station gym complete with new CV machines, free weights, a stretching area and an aero bike area. In short, everything you need for a great gym session, with the added bonus of being situated in an architectural triumph of a building.

If swimming is more your thing, you won’t be disappointed with the 30 meter pool. Beginners and children can also enjoy a smaller teaching pool measuring 8 meters. There are unisex changing rooms so families can change together.

For those who like to dance themselves fit, the mirrored dance studio is the place to go for a good workout. Try out the new Boxfit equipment at a Boxfit class, give Power Pump a go or if you’re feeling bold and daring, pole fitness will give you good laugh whilst toning your legs, arms and all the bits in between. The group exercise classes are a great way to lose weight, tone up and have a good giggle at the same time. Perfect for anyone who needs a little extra motivation.

If you need some relaxation but are looking to tone up and stretch yourself at the same time, the new yoga classes are the thing for you. There is also a sauna if you want to wind down after your workout. Women only are also on offer so women can exercise in comfort.
If you have young children and long to work out in peace, Wimbledon Leisure Centre has a great crèche where you can leave your toddlers while you take the time to have a good workout and a bit of ‘you’ time.

If all this isn’t enough, from the end of 2012 the Centre will also boast an amazing spa run by spa LONDON. Now that’s something to look forward to.

Wimbledon Leisure Centre is ideally located on Latimer Road, just minutes from the underground and overland station. Alternatively, there is a small car park to the rear of the Centre if you prefer to drive.

If you want to experience the amazing gym at Wimbledon Leisure Centre for yourself, go to www.payasugym.com to buy a one day pass.