Intensity by Design: F45 Wandsworth Review — Circuit Training After Nearly a Year

Movement — F45

By James B. Stoney, Editor ·

Each session begins the same way: a briefing, a demonstration of the exercises, and a short warm-up before the timers start and the room begins to move.

F45 group class with members performing box jumps and cable exercises
Image: F45 Training

At F45 Wandsworth, that structure is part of the appeal. The workouts are intense, but they are also clear. You know what's coming, how the class is organised, and what each station demands before the session properly begins.

I joined nearly a year ago, and the format quickly became part of my weekly routine. During a particularly difficult period in my personal life, that predictability proved more valuable than I expected. For forty-five minutes the focus narrows to the next station, the next movement, the next round.

It is demanding, but it is also containing.

The Circuit Structure

F45's model is built around functional circuit training.

Classes typically move through a sequence of stations — often between twelve and eighteen — combining strength, cardio and conditioning movements. One station might involve kettlebells or dumbbells, the next rowing, sled pushes, box jumps or resistance exercises using sandbags and bands.

Timers dictate the rhythm of the class. Short bursts of work are followed by brief transitions as participants rotate between stations.

Within minutes the studio begins to move almost as a single system.

F45 member performing floor exercise during a training session
Image: F45 Training

Coaching and Demonstration

Before any training begins, coaches walk through every exercise in the circuit.

The demonstration matters. It allows participants to understand the movement patterns and prepare mentally before the intensity begins. Once the timers start, the instructors circulate through the room, correcting form, adjusting weights and keeping the pace consistent.

Screens positioned around the studio display the movements throughout the class, reinforcing technique and helping the room stay synchronised.

The result is a session that feels structured rather than chaotic.

Forty-Five Minutes

One of F45's strongest qualities is efficiency.

The forty-five minute format is long enough to build serious intensity but short enough to remain realistic within a busy schedule. By the end of the session heart rates are elevated and fatigue is unmistakable, yet the workout never feels excessive.

It is exercise designed to fit into life rather than dominate it.

F45 members performing cable pull exercises
Image: F45 Training

Consistency

After nearly a year as a member at F45 Wandsworth, what stands out most is consistency.

The format rarely changes dramatically, but the exercises rotate enough to keep the sessions engaging. Over time the studio becomes familiar — the pace, the faces, the rhythm of the workouts.

That familiarity makes returning easier.

In a city full of fitness concepts promising reinvention, there is something refreshing about a format that simply works.

F45 members training with medicine balls in a group session
Image: F45 Training

How F45 compares to other boutique fitness formats

F45 occupies a specific position within London's boutique fitness market. Its closest comparison is Barry's — both are high-intensity group classes built around timed intervals, both emphasise coaching and energy, and both attract a similar demographic of regular exercisers who want structure rather than self-directed gym sessions.

The difference is format. Barry's splits each class between treadmill running and floor-based weight work, which suits those who want a significant cardiovascular component alongside strength. F45 uses circuit stations without a fixed treadmill element, which makes it more varied in movement and accessible to those who prefer not to run.

Against HIIT or gym-based training, F45 adds the social and coaching dimension that motivates many people who find solo gym sessions harder to sustain. The class format removes the decision-making burden of programme design while keeping sessions efficient.

For those who have tried HIIT classes and found them unsustaining over months, or who find traditional gym training lacking in structure, F45 offers a middle ground — demanding enough to produce results, clear enough to keep returning to.

Why It Earns Its Place

London has no shortage of boutique fitness studios built around identity or atmosphere.

F45's appeal lies in something simpler: disciplined programming and repeatable training. The sessions are demanding, the coaching attentive and the structure easy to understand.

After nearly a year of classes, the reason people return becomes clear. The system works.

Vitae Lifestyle Scorecard

  • Programming9.1 / 10
  • Coaching9 / 10
  • Energy & atmosphere9 / 10
  • Training efficiency9.3 / 10
Overall9.1 / 10

Who it's for

  • People who enjoy structured, high-intensity group training.
  • Anyone looking for an efficient workout that fits easily into a weekly routine.
  • Those motivated by fast-paced circuit sessions with clear programming.

Questions

What is F45 training?

F45 is a group fitness format built around functional circuit training. Classes run for 45 minutes and typically move through twelve to eighteen stations combining strength, cardio, and conditioning movements with timed work and rest intervals. The format originated in Australia and operates as a franchise model with studios across London and internationally. F45 Wandsworth is located in south-west London.

What happens in an F45 class?

Each class begins with a briefing and demonstration of every exercise in the circuit, followed by a warm-up. Participants then rotate through stations in sequence, guided by timers and screens displaying the movements. Coaches circulate throughout the class to correct form and maintain pace. Sessions end with a cool-down. The exercise selection rotates regularly, though the class structure remains consistent.

How does F45 compare to Barry's?

Both F45 and Barry's are high-intensity group fitness formats built around timed intervals and coached sessions. Barry's splits each class between treadmill running and floor-based strength work. F45 uses circuit stations without a fixed treadmill element, making it more varied in movement type and accessible to those who prefer not to run. F45 sessions are also typically shorter at 45 minutes versus Barry's 60-minute format.

Is F45 suitable for beginners?

Yes — the pre-class demonstration ensures participants understand each exercise before the intensity begins, and coaches adjust weights and movements for individual ability throughout the session. The circuit format also means that if one station is difficult, the next is different — reducing the sustained difficulty of any single movement pattern.