Third Space Richmond Kettlebell Club: Saturday 7:50 am Bells

Third Space Richmond, at 4 Golden Ct, Richmond TW9 1EU, puts two Kettlebells classes on its timetable this week, both led by Karen Snow: Friday 23 October from 11:30 to 12:15 and Saturday 24 October from 07:50 to 08:35. Each lasts 45 minutes and is open to members, and the Richmond-only Club membership is £274 a month with a £100 joining fee. Saturday's early slot is the one worth setting an alarm for.

This is one of the newest clubs in the Third Space group. It opened on Monday 9 December 2024 as the chain's 13th site, taking about 30,000 sq ft of the former House of Fraser department store on George Street, according to Health Club Management's report on the launch. The conversion kept the generous shop-floor proportions, which is why the studios here feel unusually bright for a London gym.

The club's own description leans on that light. The Mind and Body studio has floor-to-ceiling windows and warm wood, the Reformer Pilates studio sits behind an expanse of glass with 20 reformers, and the concierge area has a chequered floor, brushed bronze and circular lighting. Downstairs, a 20-metre pool is framed by sculptural arches in natural stone, ceramic and glass, with a hydropool, dry sauna and steam room in the wet spa.

Third Space describes Kettlebells as a dynamic full-body workout that builds core strength and muscular endurance, using a variety of kettlebell exercises to work every major muscle group. In practice that means continuous rounds rather than long rests: swings and goblet squats for the legs and hips, rows and presses for the upper body, and loaded carries and holds for the trunk. It is closer to strength-endurance circuit training than to kettlebell sport.

Training equipment around the class suits it well. Richmond's gym has a two-lane track and rig, a weights area, treadmills and a large stretch and recovery zone with Hyperice Hypervolt guns, Hypersphere balls, Vyper vibrating foam rollers and Normatec recovery boots. If you arrive early for the Saturday class, the stretch zone is a quiet place to run through hip openers and a few light swings before the group gathers.

The two slots attract different people. Friday at 11:30 suits those who work from home in Richmond, Twickenham or Kew, or anyone with a long lunch, and it ends at 12:15 in time for a midday meeting. Saturday at 07:50 catches early risers who want the session done before the town centre fills with weekend shoppers and before the riverside paths get busy with runners and families.

Our honest take: if you only want kettlebells, two sessions a week inside a premium club is an expensive way to get them, and the dedicated London Kettlebell Club in Chessington, a short drive south, charges £10 a class with no membership. Richmond earns its price if you will also use the pool, spa, Pilates reformers and hot yoga. For a member, adding the Saturday bells to a swim is an excellent weekend routine.

Third Space publishes three tiers on its Richmond rates tab. Club, at £274 a month, gives access to Richmond only. Group, at £299, covers every Third Space club except Mayfair and Chelsea, which means you could add the Moorgate Friday evening or Wimbledon weekend kettlebell classes. Group Plus, at £345, includes all clubs. Club and Group carry a £100 joining fee, and Group Plus a £200 fee.

Do not expect to walk in and join tomorrow. Third Space states on each tier that initial access is staggered due to waitlists, with your confirmed start date given when you sign up. The quickest way in is the Book a Tour button on the club page, which lets you see the studios, pool and spa before committing. Members book classes ahead through Third Space rather than turning up at the studio door.

The Richmond timetable is broad, with Sound Bath, Just Ride cycle classes, Lift weightlifting sessions and Afterburner alongside the kettlebell hour, so the people in the studio rarely train only one way. The unspoken rule in a full class is simple: grab your bell and mat quickly, set up where the coach can see you, and return everything to the rack afterwards.

Bring flat-soled trainers, a towel and water; bells are supplied. If you are new to kettlebells, tell Karen Snow before the start and take a lighter bell for the first round. The Friday late-morning class tends to suit people building confidence, since it falls outside the before-work rush, while Saturday at 07:50 is better once your swing and goblet squat are already solid and you want to move faster.

Richmond station, served by the District line, London Overground and South Western Railway trains from Waterloo, is a few minutes' walk from George Street, so the club is easy to reach without a car. After the Saturday session, Richmond Green, ringed by Georgian houses and the remains of Richmond Palace, is the obvious place to cool down with a coffee.

From the Green, follow the lanes down to the Thames at Richmond Bridge, the oldest surviving bridge across the river in London, and walk the towpath south towards Petersham Meadows. If your legs still have something left, the climb up Richmond Hill leads to the protected view over the Thames valley and the gates of Richmond Park, where deer graze within sight of the city.

Address: Third Space Richmond, 4 Golden Ct, Richmond TW9 1EU. Club hours: Monday to Friday 05:30 to 22:00, Saturday and Sunday 07:00 to 21:00, bank holidays 07:00 to 21:00. Kettlebells this week: Friday 23 October 11:30 to 12:15 and Saturday 24 October 07:50 to 08:35, with Karen Snow. Membership: Club £274 a month, Group £299, Group Plus £345; joining fee £100, or £200 for Group Plus.