For a while it was Kobox and its high-intensity boxing workouts. Then it became boutique ride studios like SoulCycle that had Londoners queuing. The most sought-after waiting list for London’s fitterati in 2024? Pilates — but specifically reformer pilates, whether that’s in 1Rebel’s new state-of-the-art studio in the City, or your local gym.
That’s right: lunging with one leg on a high-spec reformer carriage is no longer just for time-rich west Londoners paying £30 a class for a body like Margot Robbie at mid-morning on a Tuesday. According to Ibisworld, 117 new studios opened across the UK between 2022 and 2023 and the capital is at the epicentre, with a 150 per cent increase in Google searches for pilates in London over the past five years. Everyone from Third Space to Ten Health to FS8 (F45’s new pilates-focused sister brand) is now struggling to keep up with demand.
