Let’s be real: there are other gyms in Kingston. There’s the big chain one, the weirdly specific boxing club, and that yoga studio that smells like patchouli and despair. But Circuit has heart. And air conditioning. That counts for a lot when it’s July.
It’s also surprisingly social. If you go at the same time for a week, you’ll start to recognize people. You’ll nod at the "Nod Guy." You’ll make awkward eye contact with the girl who can out-lift you. Welcome to the club.
The changing rooms are fine. Not spa-level, but fine. The showers have decent pressure, which is a gamble in gyms. You’re not going to get a sticky floor surprise. Praise be.
The Real Question: Is It For You?
Look, if you want a gym where you can stare at your phone between sets and no one bothers you, this works. If you want a community that accidentally becomes a second family, this works too. It’s flexible like that.
Also, the café upstairs? You haven’t lived until you’ve downed a chartreuse shot after leg day. Or maybe that’s just me. They also sell decent coffee, but the post-workout shake is a religious experience.
Circuit Kingston – Kingston upon Thames
And the price? It’s Kingston. Nothing is cheap. But you get what you pay for. You’re paying for the lack of queues, the clean mirrors, and the fact that you won’t have to wrestle a Lycra-clad warrior for a barbell.
One caution: don’t park in the nearby car park unless you’ve remortgaged your flat. Walk or take the bus. Or just jog there. You know, to warm up.
