Destino Says...

Barry’s burst onto the London scene when HIIT classes were just taking off. Originally hailing from Hollywood, Barry’s now have studios around the world and over 8 million people now head there to get their fitness fix. There’s a masochistic allure surrounding a Barry’s class – the fact that you can burn a rumoured 1000 calories a time next to celebrities like David Beckham only adds to its reputation as one of the toughest workouts in London.

What to Expect

The reality is a music-pumping room bathed in red light – chosen because it’s more flattering when you sweat. With time divided between a treadmill and the floor, classes are done by muscle groups depending on what day it is. Monday is Arms & Abs, Tuesday is Butt & Legs and so on – but you feel like you get a full-body workout each time thanks to the running element. Each hour-long session comprises 8-12 minute bursts – first of running before switching to the floor where you use a mix of resistance bands, medicine balls and free weights. There’s also the option to do double floor classes, if treadmills aren’t your jam.

Beginners are made to feel welcome with a small 15 minute induction before their first class. But the pace is still fast – while they say they cater for all this probably isn’t the place you’ll want to head to if your last workout is a dim and distant memory. That being said, there’s a camaraderie and competitive edge in all classes that means you push yourself harder than you usually would. Results can be seen and felt impressively quickly if you stick to their advised 3-5 sessions a week. Plus since no single class is the same, you (and your aching muscles) are constantly shocked into working harder than you ever thought possible.

Their strapline is, “The Best Workout in the World” and once you’ve survived your first few sessions, you might be inclined to agree.