London Friday Night Skate
What: An adrenaline-fuelled romp that sees both inline and quad skaters whizzing through the capital every Friday, leaving the stresses of life and work (and the traffic, of course) well and truly in their wake. An incredible way to see London, get fitter and bemuse the crowds of tourists – give them a wave if you like. All skaters who are able to stop, turn and control their speed on hills are welcome, but a slower option – the Sunday Stroll – is available for those who aren’t quite as confident.
Where: Meet at Hyde Park Corner (Wellington Arch)
When: Every Friday at 8pm
Cost: Free
Website: www.lfns.co.uk
Clubbercise
What: Hate the gym but love to dance? Then shimmy/rave/robot your way over to Clubbercise: it combines all the usual elements of a night out, but with none of the detrimental side effects. Goodbye brightly-lit sports halls and vodka tonics, hello darkened dance floors and glow sticks. The emphasis here – as you can imagine – is on fun, fun and more fun and you’ll be equally surprised by the amount of fat you shift and the stimulant-free camaraderie you enjoy. There are even pop-up parties on offer across the capital, with 50% of the profits helping disadvantaged people get access to drinking water. Everyone’s a winner.
Where: Pineapple Studios, Covent Garden + some south London locations
When: Evenings till late, all year round
Cost: From £6 per class
Website: www.clubbercise.com
The Arch Climbing
What: How better to wind down after a day’s battle on the corporate ladder than to work on your climbing skills at one of the biggest facilities in the UK? Arch Climbing has two locations in Bermondsey and one in Edgware, which feature every angle and complexity of ascent, from “child’s playground” to “laugh in the face of gravity like Tom Cruise”, all without ropes over a soft landing. Climbing engages your body and mind, and develops movement and problem-solving skills as you battle your way up the hundreds of different routes. Lessons are available for those in need of a little guidance up the faces.
Where: Bermondsey, SE16/Burnt Oak, HA8
When: 6:30am/12pm-10:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-9pm Sat
Cost: Standard introduction lesson is £20/£15 concessions
Website: www.archclimbingwall.com
Parkour Generations
What: No longer the preserve of French guys in cool yellow tracksuits in the car parks of Marseille, parkour’s popularity is growing, with urban spaces in London being transformed into playgrounds for the lithe and adventurous connoisseurs of free running. Of course, there’s a lot more to parkour than just running – during a session with Parkour Generations you’ll be “running, climbing, swinging, mantling, vaulting, jumping and rolling using ‘quadrupedal movement’.” (The Parkourpedia defines the latter as “the ability to move around effectively on all four limbs”.) Be warned though: get involved and you’ll never look at a car park the same way again.
Where: Locations all over London (indoor and outdoor)
When: All year round (from late afternoon to 10pm)
Cost: £10 drop-in class/from £60 monthly
Website: www.parkourgenerations.com
Secret Yoga Club
What: With live music, delicious food, heritage buildings and pop-up evenings with tuition plus feasts cooked by amazing chefs, Secret Yoga Club is so much more than just a yoga class. Even if you only go once, you get to enjoy exquisite London panoramics - from a rooftop in Peckham, no less. Whatever your priority – mental, physical or full spiritual voyage of self-discovery – the Secret Yoga Club’s clutch of skilled yoga therapists will deliver on every bendy front.
Where: Locations all over London
When: All year round
Cost: From £5-£45, depending on location and food
Website: www.secretyogaclub.co.uk
Swing Dancing
What: You don’t have to be dressed in gaudy Lycra and luminous acrylics to work up a happy sweat. Thousands of people across London are swapping gyms for dancehalls, tracksuits for dinner suits and Nike shoes for jazz hands – and you’ll find all these things and more at the weekly gathering of the Swing Patrol group, a community of over 1,000 dancers with a “massive collective energy” who just want to swing the night away, an activity you’ll expend plenty of calories keeping up with.
Where: Over 40 weekly classes at 35 venues in London
When: Evenings till late, all year round
Cost: £8 per class (discount class cards also available)
Website: www.swingpatrol.co.uk
