Islington Council Launches Weekly Group Exercise Classes at Multiple Venues

Islington residents can sign up for group exercise classes at two main council sites from 20 July, with sessions running at set times each weekday morning and evening.

Participation in structured fitness programmes has risen steadily in the borough since the start of 2025, driven by residents seeking regular activity close to home rather than private gym memberships. Council data shows that group classes fill faster than individual gym access at peak hours, reflecting demand for scheduled, instructor-led options in a compact urban area where travel time matters.

The Sobell Leisure Centre on Hornsey Road runs circuit classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm, while Ironmonger Row Baths in Clerkenwell offers yoga and stretch sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am. Both venues sit within short walking distance of residential streets in the Angel and Finsbury Park neighbourhoods, allowing participants to combine a class with daily errands.

Timetables and costs

Current prices stand at £7.50 for a standard 45-minute class and £9 for the longer 60-minute options, with concessions available for Islington residents on council tax support. A single online booking system covers both sites, and slots released each Monday morning for the following week have shown 85 per cent uptake within the first 48 hours in recent months.

Highbury Fields also hosts outdoor boot-camp style sessions run directly by the council on Saturday mornings at 9am, weather permitting, with no extra charge beyond the standard leisure pass. These sessions use the open grass areas near the bandstand and draw from the same booking platform as the indoor venues.

Next steps for residents

Anyone wanting to attend should create an account on the Islington leisure website and select their preferred site and time slot before spaces run out. New participants can arrive 15 minutes early at either the Sobell or Ironmonger Row reception to complete a brief health form, after which they join the group in the main studio or poolside area. Regular attendees report that turning up five minutes before the start time helps secure a good spot in the room.