Lee Valley VeloPark — Local services in London

Disappointed with the Move to VeloPark Gym

When we moved to East Village, we were excited to join Better Gym in the heart of the neighborhood. Unfortunately, that excitement quickly turned into disappointment when the gym was relocated to the VeloPark.

Here are the major issues we’ve faced since the move:

Frequent Closures: The VeloPark gym is often closed due to cycling events, disrupting members’ routines. While alternate access to the Copper Box is provided, it’s not a viable option for us—there’s a reason we didn’t choose Copper Box initially. It’s inconvenient, especially during bad weather, and frankly, no compensation is provided for the days we lose access to the VeloPark gym.

Inconvenient Layout: The gym itself feels disjointed. It’s a long stretch of separate rooms, making it difficult to find or access equipment. For example, fetching a kettlebell often means walking the length of four rooms—not ideal when you’re trying to maintain the flow of your workout.

Unusable Outdoor Area: The outdoor workout area is still open, but during freezing weather, it’s practically unusable. Some equipment is placed outdoors, forcing us to adjust routines or skip certain exercises altogether.

We only stick with this gym because it’s the closest option available. However, as soon as other alternatives open in the area, we’ll be moving elsewhere. It’s disappointing to see so many inconveniences at a facility that was meant to serve as a...

Very unpleasant experience at reception. I live close by and walked over with my 2 boys (8 and 5) to enquire about events for kids. The place is really great and facilities look fantastic. However the whole experience was overshadowed by an extremely unpleasant conversation at reception. I innocently walked over to enquire about kids activities. The lady at reception first looked me over and seemed annoyed that I was even speaking with her (makes me wonder what else she is there for?) When I asked her about the kids activities, instead of simply providing information on what activities my kids to attend, she was more interested in emphasizing the point that if parents say their kids can ride a bike it’s not necessarily true! In the whole discussion she rolled her eyes several times and looked me down. She actually even asked her colleague to back her up who was surprising polite and clear; and gave me the information that I needed. When I expressed that I was finally happy to have the information I needed, she was annoyed and said “he just said it in a way you wanted to hear it”! I would love to get the video recording of the whole interaction and play it to this lady’s boss. How can someone who is sat on a desk to provide assistance to customers be so rude and condescending?! I hope someone actually calls her out and publishes her name in a...

This gym, now located within the velodrome, was moved from Better Gym at East Village. It doesn’t feel particularly exclusive, as most of the velodrome's facilities are related to cycling. Additionally, having to scan two codes to access the gym is an area that could be improved. The indoor gym itself is relatively small, with a few rooms connected in a long stretch, likely a limitation of the space. However, the larger outdoor gym is a great addition, offering plenty of space where you can have the area to yourself. Perfect during summer workout to get some Fresh air! Not sure how that will work when winter comes.

Despite its size, the gym offers a wide variety of equipment, including free weights. The number of cardio machines is somewhat limited compared to the old gym, but this isn’t a major issue for me. As an early morning user, I can access all the equipment without any problems.

I'm happy to see familiar faces, which contributes to a strong sense of community. The gym offers plenty of classes, though some popular ones may have a waiting list due to space constraints. Did a HIIT class by Luciano and definitely a killer class. Overall, I still rate this gym five stars for its excellent equipment, staff (including personal trainers), and the welcoming community that makes it a great...