Gymbox Elephant & Castle

This has become worse than a puregym. They have oversubbed it, without suitably investing into improvement of space. The recent refresh of equipment has done nothing to make the gym a better experience. All spaces are dirty and poorly managed. It is always overcrowded. When something's broken it's never fixed. Showers are never stocked with enough conditioner etc. Saunas are turned off 30-60mins before the gym closes. Toilets are in a horrendous condition. They also promise you lots of things when you sign up ("we're planning a cold plunge") which never happen.

This has become worse than a puregym. They have oversubbed it, without suitably investing into improvement of space. The recent refresh of equipment has done nothing to make the gym a better experience. All spaces are dirty and poorly managed. It is always overcrowded. When something's broken it's never fixed. Showers are never stocked with enough conditioner etc. Saunas are turned off 30-60mins before the gym closes. Toilets are in a horrendous condition. They also promise you lots of things when you sign up ("we're planning a cold plunge") which never happen.

First, I want to start by saying Gymbox is an AMAZING gym — the staff are incredibly friendly, the classes are unique, and the overall environment, including the massage and recovery area, is top-tier. I’d genuinely rate everything else 11/10. However, I’m leaving one star due to an ongoing and uncomfortable issue in the men’s sauna. To raise awareness and safety for others. There seems to be a regular group of men using the sauna either completely naked or semi-naked, with only small towels that often don’t adequately cover their private parts. Some individuals even stand up completely nude, leaving their towel on the bench, which raises both hygiene concerns and discomfort for others. On top of that, there have been provocative conversations and behaviors that don’t feel appropriate for a fitness environment. Once, someone appeared to be using their phone in the sauna — possibly filming, though I can't be sure. These incidents, combined with the atmosphere created by this group, have made me and others feel uncomfortable and on edge. To be clear: I fully support an inclusive, welcoming gym environment where everyone — regardless of gender, race, or sexuality — can work out and relax safely. But the sauna should not feel like a hookup space. As another reviewer rightly said, some of the behavior borders on predatory in the changing rooms. I strongly urge Gymbox to take clearer action. One simple but effective step could be enforcing a rule that men must wear swimwear or shorts in the sauna — just like in a mixed-gender facility. It’s not just about comfort, but basic hygiene and respect for everyone using the space. Until something is done, I unfortunately won’t be using those facilities — which is a shame, because this gym has so much potential and otherwise delivers an exceptional experience.