Prior to Covid it was undergoing quite a substantial refurb and wasn't open to the public. Then the pandemic happened. So I don't think I got chance to visit that one from the point I joined.
London - Better Gym
- Thread starter MeatJoeBlack
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Prior to Covid it was undergoing quite a substantial refurb and wasn't open to the public. Then the pandemic happened. So I don't think I got chance to visit that one from the point I joined.
Changing rooms and showers will remain closed until further notice except in gyms where there are swimming pools and in that case they will only be accessible to people who have just finished swimming.
London Oasis and other similar Lidos seem to be among these venues.
Double good news for some users : )
That's dry side. I believe there are separate showers for the pool, which I've never been to.
Thanks! I would but first need to find a gym that hasn't kept its showers closed off.
I know haha I went to Chelsea today and you could only shower and change in the changing village - boring
So I've been to the London Aquatics Centre for a swim the other day. Here's the details on what to expect
- you have to book via the app for the pool and the gym - if you turn up, you might get in depending on if they are at capacity or not.
- the 'new' gym is up and running on the top floor - the old one at pool level is gone.
- only the competition pool is open at the moment it's 50m long, 3m deep all over, and the lanes are now double the width
- one way system you have to walk through the changing village to a hallway at the other end, take off your shoes/socks before you get to the pool deck
- undress on the pool deck, leave your gear by the walls (so wear your trunks under your clothes) and be 'showered from home'
- swim as usual - no back stroke (can't see who's near you that way)
- once you're finished, you're only allowed a 'rinse' shower in the public areas of the changing village - the single sex shower rooms are not open. no soap allowed for the rinse shower either.
- lockers are not allowed to be used, so you just put your stuff in a changing cubicle, shower quickly, dry off then dress and leave
So not an ideal visit, but at least you get to swim. Tom Daley was there with his team mates training so that's alwasy fun to watch them dive. This place never had open showers for full nudity but the single sex shower area for the compeition pool was usually good for a bit of showing off if you left the cubicle door open (which some do)
- you have to book via the app for the pool and the gym - if you turn up, you might get in depending on if they are at capacity or not.
- the 'new' gym is up and running on the top floor - the old one at pool level is gone.
- only the competition pool is open at the moment it's 50m long, 3m deep all over, and the lanes are now double the width
- one way system you have to walk through the changing village to a hallway at the other end, take off your shoes/socks before you get to the pool deck
- undress on the pool deck, leave your gear by the walls (so wear your trunks under your clothes) and be 'showered from home'
- swim as usual - no back stroke (can't see who's near you that way)
- once you're finished, you're only allowed a 'rinse' shower in the public areas of the changing village - the single sex shower rooms are not open. no soap allowed for the rinse shower either.
- lockers are not allowed to be used, so you just put your stuff in a changing cubicle, shower quickly, dry off then dress and leave
So not an ideal visit, but at least you get to swim. Tom Daley was there with his team mates training so that's alwasy fun to watch them dive. This place never had open showers for full nudity but the single sex shower area for the compeition pool was usually good for a bit of showing off if you left the cubicle door open (which some do)
Thanks for the update @steamyman
Glad you got a swim in, and that's great about Daley & Team.
I've kept my membership frozen. I don't really understand the logic of keeping showers closed when we are told that soap and water is the best thing to kill the virus (although presumably chlorine in pool water kills it too). I've been working out every day through lockdown without the gym so I will wait for shower facilities to reopen and keep and eye on the overall transmission rate before going back again I think.
Glad you got a swim in, and that's great about Daley & Team.
I've kept my membership frozen. I don't really understand the logic of keeping showers closed when we are told that soap and water is the best thing to kill the virus (although presumably chlorine in pool water kills it too). I've been working out every day through lockdown without the gym so I will wait for shower facilities to reopen and keep and eye on the overall transmission rate before going back again I think.
Happy if the update helps anyone. Most annoyingly though my 'home' gym is part of the UK Fitness Netowrk (to which the Olympic Pool belongs) and up until lockdown, I could use my home gym in central London and any other Better branded centre. I mainly do that for the swimming since my home one doesn't have a pool. But now I've found my memberhsip number from my home gym isn't recognised in the Better app. It's a known issue and has been like that for a LONG time well before the pandemic. So previously I just had to explain myself almost everytime until I was regular enough that the pool staff knew the deal. yesterday I was meeting a friend who only uses that pool so went in on their 'coattails' - thankfully the staff knew me from before but said unless I can get into the app next time I could only just walk in if they have capacity. Otherwise I'd have to wait. All that to say, Better Leisure customer service is horrible. I'm still waiting on emails/tweets from weeks ago. Working out should be fun and de-stressing...but dealing with Better certainly is not.
Still, seeing Tom in his speedos is always a bonus - now if only I could see him out of them!
No. They've kept them closed. So I'm using Everyone Active for a while.
Just stumbled upon this thread. Aren't you supposed to be wearing your swimming trunks in pool open showers?
The purpose of these showers is to get clean before you take a dip in the pool.
I think that's why they tend to have less privacy than regular gym showers.
The purpose of these showers is to get clean before you take a dip in the pool.
I think that's why they tend to have less privacy than regular gym showers.
Well then I guess people who don't bring fresh swimwear to the pool can choose to use the showers as a laundry facility on their way into the pool. They'll have to think of another excuse to cover up on the way out. ;-)
Some pools, like the London Aquatics Centre has single sex shower areas (all cubicles for both the competition and training/kids pools) but also have mixed sex showers (without cubicles) to rinse before you go into the pool and again after if you wish.
Obviously the single sex shower areas you can be nude...those showers are also for those that use the gym as there's no separate area for that.
As to how it will work then they reopen in April is anyone's guess. Before that you had to arrive "swim ready" - trunks on beneath your clothes and you couldn't shower before you go in the pool due to a one way system being in place.
Obviously the single sex shower areas you can be nude...those showers are also for those that use the gym as there's no separate area for that.
As to how it will work then they reopen in April is anyone's guess. Before that you had to arrive "swim ready" - trunks on beneath your clothes and you couldn't shower before you go in the pool due to a one way system being in place.
Mmmm it's not ringing any bells. Not been in any locker rooms for all long though. Damn lockdown.
