The Best Boutique Boxing Classes in London

Now that I've waved a fond farewell to my beloved F45 (sob), I've been making my way through the local gym studios around me to find one that I like, and more importantly, one that I am willing to part with £150 a month to join (yep, the gyms down here really are that expenny!)

I don't know whether me saying 'oh it's worth it because I go X times a week!' is just me trying to trick my mind into thinking I've got a good deal so I don't cry myself to sleep at night, or because I feel that when it comes to exercising, you need to find something you really enjoy or you just loathe it and don't feel motivated to work out at all, so it's something I don't mind paying a little extra for. Especially when said boujee gym has a fridge full of cold flannels to cool down after my workout, lovely fluffy towels to wrap myself in post shower, Cowshed shampoo and conditioner (or something equally fancy) and GHD styling products in case I'm going somewhere nice straight after class.

I used to have a friend who worked for GHD (Hi Mel if you're reading!), who actually supply all the haircare at all the 1Rebel studios, so she used to take me for free all the time and it really was the best perk EVER! (It's not what you know... it's who you know!) Then she rudely got a job at Caudalie and I had to start actually paying again. Ugh. Nevertheless, I caught the boxing bug so I thought I would share my thoughts on the different boxing classes I've done around London in case anyone was looking to up their fitness game and try something new!

1Rebel (Rumble classes only available at Broadgate and Oxford Circus)

My favourite boxing class EVER! Every single studio is just epic. From the super cool industrial interior decor, to the state of the art equipment (no threadbare old punchbags here!) to the  fire playlists to the incredible trainers. Everything is just 10/10 and I can't fault a single thing. 

The classes are 45 minutes long and include short increments of bag work and HIIT moves, and everyone has their own punchbag, with the trainer in the middle demonstrating each move. The room is dark, the music is loud and the trainer is so motivating so it really does get you pumped! I've probably done about 15 Rumble classes at 1Rebel and I can't fault a single one. 

Ok I promise I will climb out 1Rebel's arse now. THE SCARY BIT... prices!

Monthly unlimited: £249 (if I win the lottery, this is the first thing I'm buying)

Single class: £23

Victus Soul

Kinda similar to 1Rebel in the way you can either do a Box/HIIT class, or a Run\HIIT class, which entails pretty much what it says on the tin, either half boxing half HIIT moves, or half HIIT half treadmill. I've done both classes, and I always leave feeling like I've been pushed to the absolute limit and always leave feeling absolutely amazing! Equipment is state-of-the-art, the gloves feel brand new every time (no sweaty dusty old hand-me-downs here!), the playlists are super high energy and the trainers and so motivating and really take time to explain the class to newbies (remember to arrive 10 mins early for the induction).

The only downside is the changing rooms are quite small, so the queue for the showers trails down the room. Not ideal when you're stood unnecessarily close to someone who's trying to discreetly get changed while you're waiting to wash your hair. One of the studios is 2 mins from my office too, so perfect place to let off some steam after a stressful morning!

Monthly unlimited: £149 

Single class: £21

Rumble Gym

Slightly different to those other gyms as this one isn't a chain, there's one in London and one in Paris, but luckily for me, the London branch is about an 8 minute cycle from my flat! I dragged my poor flatmate to a Re:Match class with me, and she absolutely loved it! Again, a mix of boxing and HIIT, which included plenty of freestyle on the bag which I lurrrrrrve to do! I kind of want to see a secret film of me boxing to see how I look, but then again I feel like it would be one of those scenarios where I feel like I look like Anthony Joshua but I actually look like a 2 year old trying to escape out of a wet paper bag.

Super fun class and really nice gym! (Dying to try one of the climbing walls sessions!) but the only downsides were the room was pretty small so I couldn't really see what the instructor was demo'ing, there didn't feel like there was as much energy in the room as the other studios, and the playlist was pretty dead (sorry Rumble, I love you!) I like a really upbeat, intense playlist with Hip Hop and House etc etc to get me pumped for the class, but this had Black Eyed Peas- Just Can't Get Enough and a random Maroon 5 song, so not really a vibe when you're imagining you're taking your ex-boyfriends head off with one right hook. (For legal reasons this is a joke)

Another thing that, call me petty, but this didn't sit right with me. The changing rooms are lovely, but the shampoo and conditioner are in one bottle?! As a gal with long, expensive hair (lol), I don't trust anything combined. Would you rub conditioner into your scalp? NO. Would you leave shampoo in the ends? NO. Combined haircare haunts my dreams, so this was a big fat no from me. Note to self, bring my own next time.

Regardless of the above, I really enjoyed the actual class, so I'm gonna book another class and give Rumble another chance. Or maybe see if I can plug my Spotify playlist in.

Monthly unlimited: £159 

Single class: £18

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