I scaled London's highest glass climbing wall overlooking the city, and the breathtaking views inspired me to take my workouts to the next level
Rachel Hosie
- BXR City is a new gym that just opened on the 25th floor of an upscale building in London
- It has floor-to-ceiling windows and offers unparalleled views while working out.
BXR City is a brand new gym in London.
I was invited in a journalist capacity to check out BXR City just after it opened, and was excited to scale the climbing wall overlooking the city. The panoramic views did not disappoint.
The sky-high gym opened on March 21, and annual membership is £2,500 ($3,287) (plus a joining fee).
It's luxury gym BXR's third London location — they also have a site in Doha, Qatar, and are set to launch a fourth London gym as well as one in Daios Cove, Greece, later in 2022.
The gym is located on the 25th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, which bills itself as "Europe's first vertical village."
The new 61-story building is home to residents, offices, and more, and is expected to contain 6,000 people at any one time.
At the moment, however, 22 Bishopsgate is only at around 20% occupancy, according to Michal Chajtowicz, BXR City's Head of Sales.
He also told me that 70% of BXR City's members have to come from the building, but the remaining 30% can be anyone.
After a long elevator journey (in which my ears popped), I emerged on the 25th floor and made my way to BXR's slick reception.
The marble and gold reception counter looked luxurious, and there was also a selection of fitness-focused snacks and protein shakes available to buy.
There was a small lounge area where people can relax, work, or wait for their classes.
BXR founder Alex Nicholl told me that he used to work in nightclubs, and that influence was clear in the style of the gym. It was simultaneously rough and elegant, with an industrial chic vibe.
The main gym floor features two walls of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and the view is breathtaking.
Unlike most gyms, there's only a small mirror on one side.
You can see for miles across London, including landmarks like St Paul's Cathedral and the BT Tower.
Gyms in London are often underground, so having so much light was a big change. The view was bonus.
Being so high up and sandwiched between offices meant BXR City needed especially good sound-proofing
The gym floor is spacious and designed to absorb impact. It was quiet when I visited, but it was mid-morning on a Thursday, just a few days after opening.
One of the most unique parts of BXR is the clear glass climbing wall
It's only 6.5 meters (21 feet) high but was a lot of fun
Seeing the view of the city was awesome while climbing, and conveniently it's set up for solo climbing so you don't need anyone else with you.
It's only 6.5 meters (21 feet) high but was a lot of fun
Seeing the view of the city was awesome while climbing, and conveniently it's set up for solo climbing so you don't need anyone else with you.
You actually need to look to the side to see the view though, as a new building has sprung up directly opposite the wall.
Still, I thought it might be fun to peer into people's offices or homes while climbing.
For cardio fans, there's a decent selection of machines, all positioned so people can savor the view while getting a sweat on.
The window faces west, so I imagine it would be a beautiful running spot at sunset.
Weight lifters also get prime spots though, with a couple of the four squat racks right at the window.
When I worked out in the gym, it was very cool to see the city.
The breathtaking view somehow inspired me to work harder.
I was also impressed by the equipment — the barbells had magnetic clips which were a lot easier to use than the usual ones.
The gym has a selection of kettlebells as well as dumbbells up to 40 kg (88 lbs).
Chajtowicz told me there is a sled track coming too.
I was impressed by how many machines there were too, including a hip-thrust machine, which is great for people who find barbell thrusting too painful on the hips.
There's a rig area in the middle with equipment including resistance bands, rings, and a tire.
BXR specializes in strength and conditioning and also boxing, so there are bags available (with two more to come).
After a workout in the main gym area, I headed upstairs to check out the two studios and the changing room.
From the mezzanine area you can see both down on to the gym floor and of course out to the view.
BXR City has one of the gym's renowned Versaclimber studios.
This is where BXR's signature "Climb to the Beat" classes take place — 45 minute high intensity cardio workouts on the Versaclimber.
The second studio is for functional fitness classes, with assault bikes, ski ergs, and various free weights.
It also has a window looking out to the view, which is a nice feature.
The ladies' changing room was beautiful, stylish, and luxurious.
There were a range of toiletries available, including micellar water and cotton pads, deodorant, and dry shampoo. No hair ties though.
The marble and gold showers were lovely too, with products from luxury brand Malin and Goetz. There's also a sauna in the changing room.
All in all, I found the gym so beautiful and such a pleasant place to be that I didn't want to leave.
Being somewhere so aesthetically pleasing can be inspirational when it comes to working out.
I believe convenience is the number one factor when it comes to getting — and keeping — fit, so joining a gym close to where you live or work is key for some people.
But there's a lot to be said for getting a membership somewhere that's just so darn lovely that you actively want to go there, and it feels like a treat and a nice thing to do, rather than a chore.
At over £200 ($260) a month, a membership at BXR City isn't cheap, but the location will be convenient for people working in and around the building.
The gym in itself is top tier and would be a great facility even underground. But there are plenty of luxurious gyms in London. Being on the 25th floor takes BXR City to the next level — the 25th level, in fact.
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