Julian Parge

Review of South Kensington Club

It's a really pompous and boastful place to go. MA...

It's a really pompous and boastful place to go. MASSIVELY overpriced, in fact it's really ridiculous what they are asking for. I can't see the appeal overall and there's nothing particularly special going on, but several friends seem to go here regularly and occasionally I have gone with them.

They have random gym rooms across two floors, including some with weights and some for various other things, most of the gym is located at the top - it's really tiny and if it's busy you'll be queuing to use machines (of which there are few).

The downstairs spa is ridiculously overpriced and you have to pay extra as the guest of a member to use the sauna and steam room. The sauna looks like it's about to fall apart and the only remotely "cool" thing down there is the plunge pool (literally), and possibly the fancy-looking cool water jacuzzi in the middle.

With respect to the upstairs seating area, I'd say this is quite nice, very unique-looking and pleasant. Great atmosphere and the reason I'd give it 2 stars instead of 1. If the whole place was as nice as that I'd give it maybe 3 or 4 stars. The staff are generally friendly and there is a balcony for smoking too.

I wouldn't pay for a membership myself and I was shocked when they did a publicity stunt to fill their tiny "pool" with water from a Sicilian beach. What an utter waste of money and how profoundly pompous. There is absolutely nothing special about that water and in fact more people have peed in the Mediterranean Sea throughout history than in all the chlorine-filled pools in the whole of London, possibly even the UK or the world. - Have fun swimming in that whilst you enjoy the view of the "luxury" surroundings, of which some are rotting and others are just filthy. Have a look at the walls next time you use the pool and tell me I'm wrong.