Best Boxing Clubs in London
From Victorian bathhouses to railway arches, the boxing clubs that shaped London. Where to train, what to expect, and how to find the right fit.
London has more boxing history per square mile than anywhere else on earth. The sport runs through this city like the Thames. From the bare-knuckle prize fights of the 18th century to the Olympic glory of the 21st, boxing and London have never really been apart.
Artist's impression
That history is kept alive in the gyms. Not the chain fitness studios with their aqua bags and Spotify playlists, but the actual boxing clubs. The ones under railway arches and in converted bathhouses. The ones where the paint is peeling, the bags are heavy, and the coaches know what they are talking about.
This is a guide to the boxing clubs worth knowing about in London. We run one ourselves in south east London, so take our perspective with appropriate seasoning. But we have tried to be honest about what makes each of these places special.
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East London
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East London is where modern British boxing was born. The docks, the immigrant communities, the poverty and the pride. If you want to understand where the sport came from, start here.
Repton Boxing Club, Bethnal Green
Artist's impression
Founded in 1884 by Repton School in Derbyshire as a way to give East End youngsters something better to do with their evenings. One hundred and forty years later, it is still doing exactly that.
The gym sits inside a converted Victorian bathhouse on Cheshire Street. The tiled walls, the arched ceilings, the iron pillars. Guy Ritchie shot scenes from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels here, and you can see why. The place looks like a film set, except it is real and people have been getting punched in it since Queen Victoria was on the throne.
The list of boxers who trained at Repton is absurd. Audley Harrison won Olympic gold in 2000 after coming through their programme. John H. Stracey became welterweight world champion. Maurice Hope won a world title in 1979. The Kray twins trained here as teenagers, though the club understandably does not lead with that one.
Repton is a competition gym through and through. If you want to learn to box properly with a view to competing, and you are in east London, this is the standard against which everything else is measured.
Founded: 1884 · Bethnal Green, E2 · Historic, serious, elite amateur · reptonboxingclub.com
West Ham Boxing Club, Plaistow
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West Ham has been producing champions since 1922, when Captain Dave Myers founded it in a small army hut. The club moved to the Black Lion pub in Plaistow and stayed for nearly 80 years before relocating to the former Curwen Centre.
Terry Spinks won Olympic flyweight gold in Melbourne in 1956 training out of West Ham. More recently, Viddal Riley racked up eight national championships before turning professional. In 2022, seven West Ham boxers won at the National Junior Championships in a single weekend. The club calls them the Magnificent Seven.
It runs as a self-funding charity. About 70 members train on a typical night, coached by local volunteers. This is what a proper community boxing club looks like: no shareholders, no marketing budget, just people who care about the sport.
Founded: 1922 · Plaistow, E13 · Community-driven, youth-focused, competitive · westhamboxing.uk
Peacock Gym, Canning Town
Artist's impression
Peacock is a different beast. Established in 1978 by the Bowers family above the Peacock pub in East London, this is one of the few gyms where amateur and professional boxing genuinely coexist.
The roll call of fighters who have trained here reads like a hall of fame: Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno, Daniel Dubois, Anthony Yarde. Floyd Mayweather visited in 2009 and reportedly stayed longer than planned. Legendary trainers Emmanuel Steward, Freddie Roach, and Angelo Dundee have all worked in its rings.
Peacock has three rings, modern facilities, and an academy programme for young people. But make no mistake, this is a serious boxing gym. You do not come here for a light cardio session.
Founded: 1978 · Canning Town, E16 · Professional, elite, heavyweight history · peacockgym.com
South London
Artist's impression
South London's boxing tradition is quieter than the East End's but just as deep. The clubs here tend to sit under railway arches and in community centres, and they have a habit of producing world champions without anyone outside the sport noticing.
Fitzroy Lodge, Lambeth
Artist's impression
If Repton is the institution of east London boxing, Fitzroy Lodge is its south London equivalent. Founded in 1908 by Dr. Arthur Lionel Baly, a Lambeth doctor who wanted to give local kids something better than the streets.
The club has been under the railway arches near Lambeth North since 1946, when members refurbished what had been an air-raid shelter. The curved brick ceilings, the rumble of trains overhead, the smell of leather and liniment. There is nowhere else quite like it.
Mick Carney coached here for 56 years until his death in 2011. He was awarded an MBE for services to amateur boxing and also served as head coach to the Canadian Olympic team. His influence shaped the club's philosophy: technical boxing over brawling, self-discipline over aggression, respect above everything.
David Haye trained at Fitzroy Lodge before becoming WBA heavyweight champion. Cornelius Boza-Edwards won the WBC super featherweight title. The club has produced 26 junior champions and 13 male senior ABA champions since 1933.
Founded: 1908 · Lambeth, SE1 · Historic, technical, community-rooted · fitzroylodge.club
Miguel's Boxing Gym, Brixton
Artist's impression
Miguel's opened in 1999 in the railway arches of Hardess Street, near Loughborough Junction. In boxing terms that makes it young. In terms of what it has produced, it punches well above its age.
Dillian Whyte trained here. So did Richard Riakporhe, Isaac Chamberlain, and Chris Kongo. Hannah Rankin won WBA and IBO world titles. On the amateur side, Grace Buckle took back-to-back National Amateur Championships in 2023 and 2024.
The gym runs boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, and BJJ. It is affiliated with the Amateur Boxing Association, so the amateur boxing programme is properly structured and sanctioned. The atmosphere is raw and authentic, which is exactly what a boxing gym should be.
Founded: 1999 · Loughborough Junction, SW9 · Multi-discipline, champion-producing, authentic · miguelsboxinggym.co.uk
Honour and Glory Boxing Club, Kidbrooke
Artist's impression
This is us. We are an ABA affiliated amateur boxing club based at 122 Broad Walk in Kidbrooke, SE3. Founded in 2020, we are newer than every other club on this page. We are on this list because we genuinely believe we belong on it.
Our coaches hold BBBofC licences and ABA coaching qualifications. We run sessions six days a week for every age group: infants from age 5, recreational juniors aged 10 to 16, senior amateur programmes, adult recreational sessions, and a dedicated women's boxing class on Saturday mornings.
Ibrahim Mercan, our professional boxer, is 6-0-1 and rising. Giorgio Isaila won a national amateur championship just two years after first stepping into a boxing ring, a story that was covered by British Boxing News. We hosted the WBC Amateur International event in September 2025.
What makes us different is the pricing model. Sessions cost between £5 and £10. No contracts. No joining fees. No direct debits. Pay as you go. We believe boxing should be accessible to everyone, and we have built the club around that principle.
Claim a Free Trial"I came to the club as a female who had never boxed before and felt immediately welcomed by Anton. The club has a lovely vibe and everyone who attends is there to better themselves!"
Jessica D. - Member
"Best workout, works the whole body. I am seeing the best definition in my arms in years. Really welcoming, the whole gym is inclusive and we enjoy it."
Alison M. - Member
"Coaches are excellent, great positive atmosphere. My grandson loves it. I highly recommend this boxing club. Very inclusive and friendly."
Kim N. - Parent
Founded: 2020 · Kidbrooke, SE3 · Community, accessible, all ages
North London
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Islington Boxing Club
Artist's impression
Founded in 1974 as Kings Cross Amateur Boxing Club by a local publican, a beat policeman, and a railwayman who were tired of watching kids vandalise the neighbourhood. They bought a gym for £50 and started coaching.
Fifty years later, the club is still in its wooden portal cabin on Hazellville Road, and it is still producing champions. Courtney Fry won the Senior ABA light-heavyweight championship in 1996 and competed at the Sydney Olympics. Audley Harrison was a member in the mid-1990s and won a London ABA title here before moving to Repton. Daniel Dubois came through their programme as a junior.
Islington runs competitive boxing, a beginners academy, infant classes, and recreational keep-fit sessions. The range is wide, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the coaching pedigree is genuine.
Founded: 1974 · Islington, N1 · Community institution, all levels, strong youth programme · islingtonboxingclub.co.uk
West London
Dale Youth Boxing Club
Artist's impression
Dale Youth holds a different kind of place in London boxing. The club was based on the second floor of Grenfell Tower. When the fire destroyed the building in June 2017, it took their gym with it.
The club operated out of a cold car park while BBC's DIY SOS, along with hundreds of construction volunteers, built them a new home underneath the Westway flyover in Ladbroke Grove. The build took 63 days and gave them a proper gym with a ring, training areas, and changing rooms.
Dale Youth is not just a boxing club. It is a symbol of what a community can do when everything is taken away and people refuse to give up. They continue to develop young boxers and serve the North Kensington community.
Founded: Pre-2017 (Grenfell Tower), rebuilt 2018 · Ladbroke Grove, W10 · Community, youth, resilience · Google Maps
Fitness Boxing: A Different Thing Entirely
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London is full of places that put the word "boxing" on the door but do not actually teach you how to box. These are fitness studios that use boxing as a workout format. There is nothing wrong with that. A heavy bag circuit is a fantastic workout. But it is important to understand what you are getting.
At a fitness boxing studio, you will hit bags to music, do press-ups between rounds, and leave drenched in sweat. What you will not learn is how to slip a jab, why your feet matter more than your hands, or what it feels like to spar someone who knows what they are doing.
BXR London
Marylebone and Canary Wharf. Premium end. Beautiful facilities, celebrity clientele, memberships around £200 a month. Part owned by Anthony Joshua. The classes are intense and well-run, but this is a luxury fitness experience.
KOBOX
Multiple London locations. 50-minute heavy bag classes. Slick studios, loud music, pay-per-class pricing. Good for a sweaty workout with friends.
1Rebel
Multiple London locations. Multi-format boutique fitness including "Rumble" boxing classes. Same model as KOBOX with cycling and HIIT added.
Gymbox / PureGym
London gym chains with boxing-style classes or heavy bags available. Not specialists, but accessible and affordable options if you want to hit a bag.
These studios serve a purpose. They get people moving, they are often more welcoming to complete beginners than a traditional gym, and the workouts are genuinely hard. But if you want to learn boxing as a skill and a sport, you need an actual boxing club with qualified coaches.
How to Choose the Right Club
Artist's impression
Visit before you commit
Every boxing club has its own atmosphere. Some are loud and intense. Some are quiet and technical. The only way to know if a club is right for you is to walk through the door and try a session. Most clubs offer a trial. Take advantage of that.
Check coaching qualifications
In an affiliated amateur boxing club, coaches hold recognised qualifications (minimum ABA Level 1) and are DBS checked. This matters, especially for children. Ask about qualifications. A good club will be proud to tell you.
Understand what you want
Be honest about your goals. Competition? Fitness? Self-defence? Stress relief? Different clubs specialise in different things. Going to a hardcore competition gym when you just want to get fit can feel intimidating.
Consider logistics
The best boxing club in London is useless if it takes you 90 minutes to get there. Consistency matters more than prestige. Find something within a reasonable distance.
Ask about contracts
Some clubs charge monthly memberships with lock-in periods of 6 to 12 months. Others are pay-as-you-go. Know what you are committing to before you sign up.
Where They All Are
Notice anything? There is one boxing club south of the Thames east of Lambeth. That is us.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best boxing club in London? +
It depends on what you want. For competition boxing in east London, Repton (founded 1884) is the gold standard. For south London, Fitzroy Lodge has produced world champions since 1908. For accessible community boxing with no contracts, Honour and Glory in Kidbrooke offers pay-as-you-go sessions from £5.
How much do boxing clubs cost in London? +
Community amateur boxing clubs typically charge between £3 and £10 per session. Some require monthly memberships of £30 to £60. Boutique fitness boxing studios (BXR, KOBOX) charge £15 to £30 per class or monthly memberships of £100 to £200+. Honour and Glory charges £5 to £10 per session with no contracts or joining fees.
What is the difference between a boxing club and a boxing gym? +
A boxing club is typically affiliated with a governing body (like the Amateur Boxing Alliance), has qualified coaches, and offers structured training with the option to compete. A boxing gym or fitness studio uses boxing as a workout format but may not teach proper technique or offer competition pathways.
Can beginners join a boxing club in London? +
Yes. Most London boxing clubs welcome complete beginners. Clubs like Honour and Glory, Islington, and Fitzroy Lodge all run beginner-friendly sessions alongside their competitive programmes. Many offer free trial sessions so you can try before committing.
Are there boxing clubs for kids in London? +
Yes. Many London boxing clubs accept children from age 5 or 8. Honour and Glory takes infants from age 5, with structured sessions for juniors (10 to 16). West Ham, Islington, and Dale Youth all have strong youth programmes. All coaches working with children should be DBS checked.
More Boxing Near You
Run a boxing club in London?
We are always happy to feature clubs that are doing good work. Get in touch to be included in this guide.
info@honourandglory.co.ukLooking for a Boxing Club in South East London?
Honour and Glory is in Kidbrooke, SE3. No contracts, no joining fee, your first session free. We serve Greenwich, Lewisham, Eltham, Woolwich, Blackheath, and the wider south east London area.
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