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What Google's AI tells Londoners about gyms
We asked Google's AI Mode 12 questions a Londoner might ask about gyms. Most of the gyms it named were chains, and half the answers named no independent gym at all.
72%
of the 39 gym mentions were chains or groups. Independents made up the other 28%.
- 6 of 12 answers named no independent gym at all.
- Third Space was named in 6 of the 12 answers.
- 2 answers named a single gym, both PureGym: the cheapest gym in Shoreditch and 24-hour gyms in Camden.
- Under the King's Cross swimming pool answer, one source card was a 24-hour gym in Reading, Berkshire, 40 miles away.
Who each answer namedchains and independents.
Each square is one gym named in the answer, in the order the answer gave them.
Brands named most
Number of the 12 answers naming each brand at least once.
The 12 questions
| Question | Gyms named |
|---|---|
| Which gyms in Central London have a pool and sauna? | Third Space Soho and City, Nuffield Health Covent Garden, Fitness First London Bridge, Third Space Marylebone |
| What's the best gym in the City of London for a lunchtime workout? | 1Rebel Broadgate/Leadenhall, Third Space Paternoster Square, Gymbox Bank/Farringdon/Holborn |
| Which gyms near King's Cross have a swimming pool? | Pancras Square Leisure, St Pancras Spa independent, Nuffield Health Bloomsbury |
| What's the cheapest gym in Shoreditch with no joining fee? | PureGym Shoreditch High Street |
| What's the best boutique fitness studio in Soho? | Barry's Soho, Third Space Soho, The Warm Up Studio independent, Fitness Lab independent |
| Which gym in Canary Wharf has the best classes? | Third Space Canary Wharf/Wood Wharf, Barry's Canary Wharf, F45 Canary Wharf Millharbour, Studio X independent |
| What's the best gym in Clapham for weightlifting? | Shapesmiths independent, Third Space Clapham Junction, Train Yard independent |
| Which gyms in Islington offer a free trial pass? | Gymbox, Anytime Fitness Angel, Nuffield Health Islington, Better leisure centres |
| Which gym in Kensington has a sauna and steam room? | David Lloyd Kensington, Equinox Kensington, Kensington Health Club & Spa independent, Aquilla Health, Fitness & Swim Club independent |
| Which gyms in Camden are open 24 hours? | PureGym Camden High Street |
| What's a good women-friendly gym in Brixton? | Brixton Recreation Centre, Brixton Street Gym independent, Private Fitness for Women independent, Fison Fitness / Miguel's Boxing independent |
| Which gym near Liverpool Street has the best changing rooms and towels? | Third Space City, Third Space Moorgate, BXR City, UNTIL Liverpool Street |
Method and limits
We wrote 12 questions a Londoner might ask when choosing a gym, covering facilities, price, opening hours, classes and areas across the city. We asked each one once in Google AI Mode on 13 October 2026, logged out, from a UK connection, and recorded every gym named and the source cards shown.
This is a small snapshot: 1 AI tool, 1 run per question, 1 day. AI answers vary between runs, users and days, so treat the counts as a picture of what one set of answers looked like, not a ranking. We classed each gym as a chain or group, or as an independent, from its own website.
What it means for a local business
- AI answers name a handful of businesses. If you're not in the handful, you're not in the answer.
- Chains tend to publish the specific facts people ask about, such as pools, saunas, prices and opening hours, on clear pages for each location.
- Independents can publish the same facts. Specific, current details on your website and Google profile give AI something to quote.
- Sources can be wrong or out of place. Check what AI says about your area, not just your business name.