by Annie Vischer

When it comes to gyms, I feel like some sort of travel journalist. I’ve been to the quirky, the luxurious, the minimalist, the downright odd. And I’ve cultured myself in the variety that’s out there. There are some that I visit more often than others, some that are firm favourites, that I’ll always return to no matter what. Avid Beauty And The Dirt readers will know that the Bodyism team at the Bulgari, Knightsbridge, and the home of Psycle are my, and Beauty And The Dirt’s, favourites.
But when it comes to home, the place that I return to out of necessity again and again, that becomes ordinary, but never under-appreciated, is 37 Degrees Olympia.
Situated at the famous venue in Kensington, it’s the perfect location for a West London girl. It’s a gentle run away from my flat, so a shot of cardio before or after is always an option.
As you walk in you hit the brightly coloured reception desk, which is flanked on the right by a compact little shop, decorated with Nike essentials, swimming must-haves and water bottles, and on the left by a cafe and juice bar.

You are always greeted with a smile, and I must make a point of saying here, that the staff truly are the life of the place. Whether it’s the team behind the reception desk, the management, or the trainers, they are constantly on hand to help, advise and have a giggle with. And that sort of support and sociability really does make a place a home *dabs away a tear*. All too emotional? Let’s move on.
After picking up a couple of freshly washed towels you swan up to the changing rooms, which are always beautifully clean, spacious and calming. The same floor also boosts a physio room, and the nutritionist’s office.
I have a real, ‘get in, get out’ routine when it comes to the changing rooms, but if you noseyed around you’d find everything you needed. Large mirrors everywhere, hair dryers, GHDs, cotton buds, and a drying machine for your swimsuits.
The shower area leads firstly past a menthol infused steam room, then downstairs to the 20m swimming pool, surrounded by a few sun loungers, an open shower and the entrance to the sauna. You might be forgiven for thinking you were in the spa hub of a high end hotel, so luxurious is the layout.

To get back to my daily, sometimes obsessive routine, I get out of the changing rooms and skip up the stairs to the gym floor. And I’m home. 37 Degrees has another London location in Tower Hill, but my Kensington spot benefits from its distance from the city. Office boys mix with yummy mummies, business men and, would you believe it, more West London girls in a relaxed and unhurried manner. However hard I’m working, however much I’m sweating, my surroundings always seem to soothe and calm.
Above the gym floor is a spinning studio, a reformer pilates studio, and two further studios, which host a colourful array of classes, many of which I have sloped out of, sweaty, exhausted but on a serious endorphin high. Check out their timetable for yourself here.

And just to top it all off, quite literally, there’s a roof terrace, which seriously comes into its own during a summer like this. The odd event is hosted, the occasional open air yoga class takes place, but mostly it’s where members can recline on the sun loungers and catch a dose of sun in London, after a workout they can be proud of.
Oh and did I mention there’s a beauty salon? Yup. So, just in case you were interested, this spot’s my home of waxing too. And I’m sure you were interested.