From open-air yoga in Hyde Park to cut-price reformer sessions in Walthamstow, here’s how to make the most of free gym trials and classes in London.
London’s one of the most expensive cities in the world — anyone who commutes to Zone One knows that all too well. Third Space memberships, reformer Pilates classes and spin subscriptions can cost north of £100 a month.
But for those seeking ways to keep both your pulse rate and bank balance steady, there’s a secret way to work the system — you just need to know where to look.
As well as free running clubs and walking groups, there are a myriad of budget-friendly trials and classes to make the most of. Here, L360 reveals the best of the bunch.
Read more: The best new gyms and exercise classes in London for 2026
Free fitness classes in London
Our Parks
This brilliant initiative partners with local communities to bring free group fitness classes to green spaces across the capital. Think sunrise yoga at Olympic Park, circuits in Victoria Park and family-friendly sessions at various venues across the city.
Classes are led by qualified instructors, and while they’re free, booking ahead online is essential — Londoners love a good bargain.
For more information or to book, visit Our Parks.
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Sweaty Betty’s in-store classes
Athleisure favourite Sweaty Betty hosts more than 70 complimentary in-store classes each week, ranging from Pilates and strength training to sound bath meditations.
They’re polished, intimate and — unsurprisingly — book up at lightning speed. Consider it first-come, first-stretched.
For more information or to book, visit Instabook.
Happy Bootcamps
Meeting every Saturday and Sunday at 10.30am, Happy Bootcamps’ London contingent delivers tough-but-joyful workouts blending bodyweight training, short runs and competitive games.
For more information or to book, visit Happy Bootcamps.
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The Sunday Stroll & the Friday Night Skate
For something altogether more cinematic, the London Friday Night Skate organises two weekly events (weather permitting): the Sunday Stroll and the Friday Night Skate.
- Sunday Stroll: A relaxed, intermediate-paced glide beginning at 2pm on Serpentine Road in Hyde Park.
- Friday Night Skate: Faster and more technically demanding, meeting at Wellington Arch at 8pm.
Both are free, fully marshalled and open to inline and quad skaters alike. Children are welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult.
For more information, visit the LFNS Facebook page.
LondonSkate
Running between April and September, this Wednesday night skate begins at 8pm at the eastern end of Serpentine Road in Hyde Park. Expect a brisk pace best suited to intermediate and advanced skaters. Like its counterparts, it’s free — and gloriously liberating.
For more information, visit the LondonSkate Facebook page.
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GoodGym
If you like your workouts with a side of goodwill, GoodGym pairs running with community service. Participants jog to projects — planting trees, sorting food bank donations, visiting isolated elderly residents — before heading home feeling doubly virtuous.
For more information or to book, visit GoodGym.
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Parkrun
Every Saturday morning, parks across London fill with runners, joggers and walkers taking part in a free, timed 5k.
It’s egalitarian, welcoming and reliably cheerful. Register once, and you can run anywhere in the world.
For more information, visit Parkrun.
Read more: ‘I’ve run the UK’s hilliest parkrun six times — these are my incline training tips’
Cheap fitness classes in London
East of Eden
This Walthamstow studio specialises in Pilates, yoga, barre, ride and strength training for all ages and abilities. Community pricing means locals can attend from just £9 per class.
The annual Fellowship Square full-moon yoga and gong bath — priced at £5 and free to those who need it — is something of an east London institution.
For more information or to book, visit East of Eden.
Classpass — one month for £1
For the indecisive (or simply the curious), ClassPass offers access to hundreds of studios across London, spanning cycling, boxing, barre and more.
The introductory offer — one month for £1 with 52 credits — allows you to sample the city’s fitness scene without committing to a single postcode.
For more information or to book, visit Classpass.
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Hussle — day passes from £4.15
With access to more than 200 gyms, Hussle’s day passes start from as little as £4.15.
Ideal for the commitment-phobe or the frequent traveller who prefers flexibility to contracts.
For more information or to book, visit Hussle.
Psycle — three classes for £50
One of London’s original spinning studios, Psycle is known for its high-energy classes powered by thumping playlists and atmospheric lighting.
The introductory offer — three classes for £50 — effectively gives you one complimentary session, as single classes cost £26. There’s also a two-week unlimited option for £100 for those diving in wholeheartedly.
For more information or to book, visit Psycle.
Hotpod Yoga — 10 days unlimited for £22
Held in softly lit, inflatable purple pods, Hotpod Yoga classes feel cocoon-like and immersive.
Introductory offers vary by location, but you can enjoy 10 to 14 days of unlimited classes from £20-£22 across areas including Hackney, Notting Hill, Putney and Brixton.
For more information or to book, visit Hotpod Yoga.
The cheapest gyms in London
For those seeking straightforward strength training without boutique frills, several reliable chains keep prices refreshingly low:
- Gymbox — from £40 for three months
- PureGym — from £18.99 per month
- The Gym Group — from £16.99 per month
- Better — from £10 per month
Better’s Flex membership, for instance, offers one complimentary booking (gym, swim or class) each month plus up to 30% off additional activities, all for £10 per month (plus a modest set-up fee).
Feature image: Psycle
