York Hall Leisure Centre image

York Hall Leisure Centre

Leisurecentre

Council-run gym with a day spa and sauna, gym with group fitness classes and swimming facilities. People often mention venue, pool, boxing, swimming, Great, great, time, good, nice, hall,


Address

5 Old Ford Rd., London E2 9PJ, United Kingdom

Website

www.better.org.uk

Contact

+44 20 8980 2243

Rating on Google Maps

4.00 (869 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm
  • Monday: 6:30 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 6:30 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 6:30 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 6:30 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 6:30 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: venue (22) pool (21) boxing (21) swimming (19) Great (17) great (16) time (15) good (15) nice (10) hall (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Vijay 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice venue, with covid precautions they were very safe. Making sure we had our masks on when not in bar. Security always making sure people followed the rules. Bar staff are great. Highly recommend.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 alexd2468 11 months ago on Google
    If you’re signing up to use the pool, don’t bother. Complete waste of money and time…. Half the time I try to go it seems to be women’s only or all but one lane are blocked off for a kids lesson. Should offer a discount if you can hardly ever actually use the pool! Not even possible to plan in advance as the schedule on the wall is wrong and doesn’t contain kids class times anyway!!!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Luke G. 3 years ago on Google
    Did actually go here once and liked it.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 N 1 year ago on Google
    1star not for the gym (most staff I have encountered are friendly and helpful) but an instructor who goes by the name of Wendy is a very unprofessional, rude instructor and needs educating. I went to a Pump lesson for first time she made me feel uncomfortable, because I told her I could not do one particular one exercise. She was very patronising towards me and and very confrontational especially in front of the class. Shocking she is an instructor, never met such a horrid instructor. York Hall things to revise their employees. Emailed Management and they did nothing. There is a reason why her class has only 5 attendees.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Foyzal I. 4 years ago on Google
    Great pool in a historic building. One of the few pools in London that has a deep end over 12ft deep. You can practice your diving technique. The diving board is out of commission unfortunately but you can still jump into the water from the poolside. The pool is also used for scuba diving training. Prices are reasonable with non members price £5.30
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Maryam 4 years ago on Google
    Review for Better York Hall Swimming Reception: We went there two months before and there were no issues. This time with my sister and my mum, my mum's card was renewed. Mine and my sisters had to be renewed from last time but the staff were really nice last time and did not delay our swimming due to it and allowed us to go through. This happened 04/02/20 trying to pay for the 7:30pm - 9:30pm swimming women's only session. This woman from what I heard was Shameema/Shamima, her entire approach towards most of the individuals coming for swimming were really rude, she was speaking with an attitude the entire time. Later on at the pool a lot of the people were mentioning how other staff members have been nice except her. Her colleague this white guy (looks a bit like Justin timberlake) he was really nice, he was helping us set up the membership which wasn't working for me as they didn't have a student option entirely available. He called out to her many times and she did not respond at all, before that when it came to responding to others things she replied immediately to him and my one was a two second question and she waited until it was 20 minutes in to the swimming slot that we had to go to the front again for her to actually help us. Then she tells me I need to do the adult one when I'm a student, just when I say it didn't work every single time we answered her questions she'd say "let me finish" or "just wait a moment" with so much attitude in her tone whereas the same situation with her colleague he was kind and did not speak in such a way. As soon as I mentioned I'm just going to go home, she tells me she can do the pay as you go as £1.35 this time as though she's doing a massive favour on me when she delayed us in to going. Previously they've allowed it, she made it sound like it was impossible to renew straight away, she delayed our renewal, didn't even work for me and then tells me it's fine. Shows she's a liar. It was also our mother's first time and she got lost because the girl told her to just go right ahead without us even though she mentioned it's hard for her, she's an old lady who doesn't know English and you could see how lowly she was treating people of the Bangladeshi community especially the ones who did not know English well enough to respond, she may be of the same race but she's a coconut for sure. Her white colleague was a lot more kinder and helpful than she was and very reassuring about any male life guards as previously there have been male life guards so we just wanted to confirm. I'd like to end it on a good note as not all of your staff are bad however I don't really wish to come back to York hall, I'd rather join a gym elsewhere rather than use the facilities as the York Hall one has Shamima as one of the employees and I would not like to encounter with her abnoxious personality again. You've had some really nice staff, there was this bearded man previously don't know if he's still there but he has always been very welcoming and always provided us with the right information, when we wanted to know about any camera privacy issues in the pool or spa he's always reassured our worries and when it came to male life guards guarding female sessions he's told us before hand and we would come back and ask again as he'd always be very kind and tell us it's not always like this. The ladies downstairs at the spa have always been very kind, sometimes things delay but they've always been helpful. Also I'd like to say one final thing: "I choose a gym that gives back to Tower Hamlets." that's on your banners at a variety of places. People like shamima do not represent such a statement. They are the complete opposite of it! You guys probably won't do anything about her, but hopefully it gets to everyone's ears about how disrespectful she is as a human being and how you've lost one member and probably many more due to her.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 R 4 years ago on Google
    Pool is probably one of the deeper ones in London. Great historic building. Known for quite famous boxing matches.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Steve C. 2 years ago on Google
    Great venue for wrestling/boxing/mma, just perfect for a ring/cage in the middle. But please please please have more bar staff. How can you have the place 90% full but shutters down on 50% of the bar and only four staff working? No wonder there is a half hour to 40 minute wait for a drink. Maybe get a couple of the 8 blokes on security behind the bar after everyone is in. Total overkill on security for pro wrestling fans.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Charles F. 1 year ago on Google
    Totally the wrong place to hold a music gig. Amyl and The Sniffers were terrific and the idea of a concert in the round was a good one. Unfortunately the sound was poor, the bar service was atrocious and as for the security, in all my gig going was totally over the top - and aggressive. Have these people got SIA licences? I will not go back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sam V. 4 years ago on Google
    Great venue for boxing and wrestling. Fantastic views from the balcony. Slow service at the bar the only downpoint.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ria D. 4 years ago on Google
    Live this place!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Asim I. 4 years ago on Google
    What time is it? KAYANI TIME!! Great hosts great experience you have made history with the debut fight of a legend in the making
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 The R. 4 years ago on Google
    A Good venue for events.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tony F. 3 years ago on Google
    been some great fighters boxed here over the years -they still put good shows on -one of the best (if not the best)places to watch boxing in the world -you can keep your stadium and big arena fights -
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Matt G. 3 years ago on Google
    It is a very nice building swimming pool is good the event I attended was good. Unfortunately the security threatening to throw people over the balcony does not make me feel for that reason I can only give two stars. And will not be going back to any there.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Glen L. 4 years ago on Google
    Came for kilo sale. Good amount of space.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Leandro G. 5 years ago on Google
    Great leisure centre, gym has a very good range of equipment and free weights. Swimming pool is 33 metres long, deep end is perfect to dive about 3.8m deep.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Dmitry E. 4 years ago on Google
    I put only 3 starts because swimming pool is closed after 18:00 half of the week (for man at least). There are "only for woman time" or some private lessons time. No sense to pay for it if you are a man which is working till 17-18h because you will be able to visit it only half of the week. Weekends it's also closed earlier.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tony U. 4 years ago on Google
    What a great venue for boxing ! It is small and intimate. You can really feel the punches . There isn’t a bad seat in the house . I have been twice now and there is only one bar which meant queuing for a drink. They also have the facilities but the food bar wasn’t open. Why I don’t know. All I all a great spot with the tube being 5 minutes away and residential parking available .
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 John M. 4 years ago on Google
    Fantastic.great atmosphere.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Gavin P. 4 years ago on Google
    And ok venue needs to have a cash machine in there. And the seating could do with an update but for watching the boxing it's good enough
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Christopher B. 4 years ago on Google
    Gym and pool are ok

  • 4/5 rich t. 1 year ago on Google
    Great location, for the boxing pity we can take drinks into the main part so had to drink in the bar area then go out to watch the boxing

  • 5/5 Sara G. 2 years ago on Google
    Great night watching the MTK show on 29 October. Well organised. Great bar area. Wonderful atmosphere and fantastic crowd.

  • 4/5 Raymond M. 1 year ago on Google
    A smart conversion of the old facilities at the old York Hall swimming baths, run by BETTER Apart from the swimming pool, which is CLOSED for refurbishment, so check if it is open on the website (posted 23/05/22), there is a well very equipped gym, plus all the usual fitness classes and to top it all off a Spa! The Thermal Spa is award winning and features a Sauna, Turkish bath, Thermal Steam room and many other Spa treatments, such as massage, pedicures, manicures, facials etc. So after your swim, get yourself;a bit of pampering with a Spa session and possibly a relaxing massage! GETTING THERE Forget going by car, the area isn't car friendly and finding a parking space is like winning the lottery. The best way of getting there is by public transport with Bethnal Green Underground Station a short walk away, plus a number of buses stop nearby these include the 254 and 106. The what3words location is cloth.shower.cope

  • 3/5 shakiru a. 4 years ago on Google
    Famous boxing venue.

  • 3/5 Brian 4 months ago on Google
    Toilets broken, had to go upstairs for toilet, quite shabby. Couldn't take an overpriced orange juice into the main hall, why? Much scruffier than on our last visit, needs tlc, urgently ! An air of sadness for a once great venue !

  • 4/5 Rob C. 6 years ago on Google
    Visit York Hall for the boxing on the 9th of September 2017 fantastic venue great views where ever you sit. Drinks are quite expensive but the food offer is no badly price had a stake burger £4.00 was really nice. The venue could have done with a few more bar staff as it did take a very long time to get a drink at the bar .apart from that great 👍

  • 5/5 Alice D. 1 year ago on Google
    IT IS OPEN ON MONDAY GOOGLE IS WRONG. The gym is extremely well equipped: everything is Technogym and there are more machines than in some fancy expensive gyms. The pool is 33m which allows for meaningful swimming training. Much better than way more expensive clubs.

  • 1/5 Vincenzo R. 1 year ago on Google
    This might look like a nice, historic leisure centre but it isn’t - it’s a terrible historic leisure centre. After a £20m refurb, why is there no disabled/buggy access? Why is there so little family changing rooms like at Mile End. 🤦🏻‍♂️

  • 1/5 Jack l. 1 year ago on Google
    Alright location but not a good venue for boxing could not of made it any more anti social if they tried to . Poorly run venu and bad set up , literally peeling your feet off the floors, not clean or welcoming . Bit embarrassing to call it the home of England boxing just like an old village hall at beat, needs modernising and some serious love put into it .

  • 5/5 Monde S. 1 year ago on Google
    Quite simply put…”The Home of British Boxing”. Buy some tickets, Watch boxing here before it’s too late ✌️

  • 4/5 Junie F. 1 year ago on Google
    Had a great relaxing afternoon @ Spa facilities which include 2 Steam rooms a Sauna, plenty of relaxing areas and there is a cold pool to aide with having that true Spa experience.

  • 5/5 Imran K. 6 months ago on Google
    This is a review based on the swimming facilities and the swim doctor session and Ismail. Good place to learn how to swim. Affordable and can use the better uk app to book. Ismail who worked in the reception was very informative. Very helpful. I am only attending this leisure centre because his character and conduct has impressed me so much, I trust and feel respected in this facility. Management please reward him and share this with him.

  • 1/5 Stephanie A. 6 months ago on Google
    The bar was extremely overpriced at 5 pound for a pint of coke. Half the people didn't get served. The sound system didn't work properly and it was hard to work out what was being said at the comedy show. Overall needs better organization from applause store.

  • 3/5 Annalisa L. 6 months ago on Google
    Spa was ok, no jaccusi and two of the steam rooms out of action. Changing space is tiny, showers very basic and could do with some kind of air filtration as was very stuffy. Staff practically chased us out of the facility at end of the session, not the most stress free of exits

  • 5/5 Yusuf880 1 year ago on Google
    Visited for a wrestling event. It was a new experience for me. I will always remember it. Easy place to find, close to the tube station and great for events. The toilets were clean even though there were a lot of people in the hall.

  • 4/5 J S. 6 months ago on Google
    Enjoyed the Spa, steam room & sauna room. However, smaller steam room was not working & no information given beforehand that room was out of use. They still charged full price and no concessions offered nor apology.

  • 5/5 Tricky T. 6 months ago on Google
    wow i have seen boxing matches in this hall best place

  • 5/5 Trish R. 4 months ago on Google
    The monthly membership is great value for the equipment, pool and classes you get access to. Their commitment to the once a week women only swimming evening (same day every week, at the same time) is brilliant and makes it a true community asset.

  • 5/5 James C. 4 months ago on Google
    Great night boxing only thing on its downfall is no screens in the bit where you drink and can't watch the fight so highly recommended don't drink if you want to watch the boxing 👍

  • 1/5 Claudio T. 5 months ago on Google
    Not good. Spa only has sauna and steam room which have very similar effect and cold pool. Unlikely that you are going to spend more than 45 mins there. The gym is ok but not very equipped. There is no place where to leave your belonging unless you have a 1 pound coin and want to go on the top floor. Receptionist not helpful. You ask for questions about the memberships and she says ‘its all online’ and questions you rather than help you. I booked a yoga class and I had to leave because 15 mins have passed and did not start. Then a angry men that was supposed to be the teacher maybe? Came inside without greeting. In any case, let’s say the relaxing and professional vibe wasn’t there.

  • 5/5 Sandip G. 5 years ago on Google
    Easily the best London venue for Indy wrestling. RevPro put on great shows here where security is understanding for standing spectators yet thorough on admittance for searches. The bar could have more choice and less watered down pints but there's plenty of bars nearby

  • 2/5 Lydia O. 4 years ago on Google
    Good facilities but the swimming pool needs to be disinfected further since I caught a cold after swimming here.

  • 5/5 Shuvo C. 5 years ago on Google
    Lovely place. Lots of space for events. Very easy to get to (although could not find any parking places nearby). Apart from that , good venue with facilities that are worthwhile. Good seating area as well including gallery seats. Sound system ( depending on the event ) can potentially be improved) acoustics (while generally good) can suffer from the occasional echoing(can be fixed).

  • 5/5 Abid H. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice Venue for big events as well as a reasonably sized swimming pool.

  • 4/5 E. S. 6 years ago on Google
    There is a main hall which has good big spacious area for an event. There are lots of seating area available. Location is good as there are public transport nearby. There is also gym, swimming, studio and spa room available. Great place. (Pictures are from the main hall. International language day).

  • 5/5 Frederick O. 5 years ago on Google
    Watched two of my favourite boxers battle to glory here in Larry The Natural bagging him IBF title. Awesome atmosphere and impressively tight security. Great seeing undefeated Lawrence too

  • 4/5 Malgorzata T. 4 years ago on Google
    Lovely building but Vintage Fair visited on Sunday 8th March was a bit....disorganised.

  • 5/5 Martun D. 3 years ago on Google
    No atmoshere in the World like York Hall for Boximg travelled Many times fr manchester and. NEVER. DISSAPOINTED Martin digan Manchester

  • 5/5 Razaul K. 3 years ago on Google
    Historical venue with gym, sauna, swimming pool.

  • 4/5 Jimmy B. 3 years ago on Google
    Wide range of gym equipment for use here good work out areas full size pool and changing facilities. Socially distance rules in place.

  • 4/5 Marcus J. R. 3 years ago on Google
    York Hall speaks for itself. What a venue for Boxing, history, atmosphere, how close you are to the action in any part of the venue. Not the most contemporary but that doesn't matter when the house lights go down and the floodlights come up.

  • 5/5 Secret S. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place for live events including boxing it a knockout 🥊🥊🥊

  • 1/5 Dave D. 3 years ago on Google
    Place is a dump don’t use the bathroom

  • 5/5 Tzuyu H. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) This sports center is operated by the Better Group. It has services such as swimming pools, gyms, and event venues. If you have a better gym member, you can enter the venue directly. The water channel of the swimming pool is slightly shorter, but one end is as deep as three meters. It is very comfortable to swim but the lifeguard will persuade people who are not good swimmers to go to the other end of the pool. Because it serves swimming lessons in nearby schools, it will be relatively crowded after noon, and the locker room is relatively unclean. It is recommended to go in the morning. On summer weekends, water activities will be held for children. The sports center used to be a boxing stadium, and until now it still hosts boxing matches every year. The nearby stations are Cambridge Heath (Overground) and Bethnal Green (Central). It is recommended to go before 8 pm. The area near Bethnal Green (Central) may be less calm at night. (Original) 這個運動中心由better集團營運,有游泳池、健身房和活動場館租借的服務,如果有加better健身房會員可以直接進場。泳池的水道稍短,但是一端深達三米,游起來很舒服但是救生員會勸離不善游泳的人到泳池另一端。因為服務附近學校的游泳課,所以中午過後會顯得相對擁擠,更衣室也比較不乾淨,建議早上前往。夏天周末會為小孩舉辦水上活動。運動中心以前是一個拳擊場,直到現在還是每年會舉辦拳擊比賽。鄰近的車站有Cambridge Heath (Overground)和Bethnal Green (Central),建議在晚上八點以前前往,接近Bethnal Green (Central)區域晚上可能比較不平靜。

  • 4/5 Dutch Choudry 3. 4 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed the UFC open work out here, nice size hall.

  • 5/5 Bobby L. 4 years ago on Google
    Great gaff

  • 2/5 Azizur R K. 4 years ago on Google
    It's nice

  • 3/5 mohammad123 4 years ago on Google
    Fair

  • 5/5 Yuma Y. 4 years ago on Google
    Boxing at it's finest.

  • 4/5 Craig James B. 4 years ago on Google
    Nothing changed in 30 years

  • 5/5 Tim H. 4 years ago on Google
    Great old hall. Got atmosphere at boxing.

  • 5/5 Tommy M. 4 years ago on Google
    Many a great night of boxing here. Iconic venue

  • 5/5 Ashley D. 4 years ago on Google
    This venue has seen some historic fights take place. A rustic venue in place in need to some tlc. As a sporting venue it has a great location with lots of history and it has great public transport connections locally.

  • 5/5 Rajesh M. 4 years ago on Google
    Huge hall

  • 5/5 Dan C. 4 years ago on Google
    Home of British Pro Wrestling.

  • 5/5 Richard S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great venue

  • 2/5 Syeda R. 4 years ago on Google
    Swimming area

  • 4/5 Michael C. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place to people watch

  • 5/5 Sandra W. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice spa


Call +44 20 8980 2243 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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