From a relationship that turned into an engagement in less than a year, Pippa Middleton is now set to tie the knot this Saturday at her home in Berkshire. Details have trickled not flowed but it is certain she will walk down the aisle at the 12th-century St Marks Church before returning to her Grade-II listed historical family home, Bucklebury Manor for the reception.
He Put a Ring on It: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at Wimbledon last summer, before the... [+]
Pippa, of course, caught the eye of every news outlet and beyond for her pert derriere at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
Both sisters have bodies that rival any Hollywood A-lister. And although it's Pippa's bottom end that made her famous, here's a walk through London's most prestigious top-end gyms.
BXR is not the typical boxing gym; there are no sweat-stained mats and there's no peeling paint. The Marylebone studio offers a pay-to-train option or a membership and the workout structure is three-pronged: skills, strength and conditioning and cardio. It's hard-core boxing for the Chelsea set.
Barry's Bootcamp seems utterly unstoppable, having just opened its third studio on Queensway, West London. The workout -part treadmill and part mat is tough to beat. No one leaves not drenched in sweat but as soon as you exit the studio you're met with comforting £5 shakes, fluffy white towels and Malin + Goetz body products.
Heartcore's studios are in London's most fashionable areas from Park Lane to Kensington to Notting Hill. The ambiance at each is airy and white - the St Johns Wood branch is a former church, and there's certainly something ritualistic about the thrum of the Pilates reformer. The TRX class is deadly.
Psycle—with its central and city locations—has long been a favourite of the rich and famous. Your correspondent has spotted the likes of Princess Beatrice, Ruth Wilson and Delicious Ella sweating alongside the rest of us. The tagline is "a full-body workout on a bike". It's spin like no other. And soon Psycle will be opening a Shoreditch branch, expanding its well-honed brand to include yoga, Pilates and TRX.
Curated by James Duigan and the team at Bodyism, the fitness facilities at The Lanesborough solidify its place as a Leading Hotel of the World. Classes include everything from Boxing to HIIT to Reformer Pilates and TRX. The facilities are amongst the best in London, including customised free weights and Kieser Bicycles.
Since opening, The Bulgari Hotel London has been a leader in hotel fitness. Directed by former personal trainer and Workshop founder Lee Mullins, the foundation of the programme is using a natural-movement-based system—actions like crawling, climbing, pushing and pulling. Take advantage of the facilities, hire a trainer or join in with one of the many weekly small group classes.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly met via a mutual friend who is a brand consultant with Soho House Toronto, and it's no secret that the clubs have weight in these circles. The latest from Nick Jones, The Ned, a mammoth club, hotel, restaurant (well, actually nine restaurants) and more, houses one of the sharpest private gyms in the city. Housed in the former Midland Bank vaults, we can't think of anywhere more appealing to try a dead lift or a squat.
The female-only members club Grace Belgravia runs a bridal bootcamp. But this isn't merely a few push ups in the park. It's a 360-degree program with meditation guides, healthy food delivery, and access to a team of skincare experts to advise on everything from resurfacing peels to laser work. And of course all the usual suspects - yoga, Pilates, and dance classes - are available as well.
Now Pippa just needs to ensure her Giles Deacon dress (and her reception outfit—Pippa reportedly asked guests to bring separate attire for the ceremony and reception) is unstoppable to prevent any upstaging from a certain Meghan Markle.
