Peak Performance: Experiencing The Future of Fitness at Third Space
By
The Sybarite Team
on
25th February 2026
For our A/W 2025 print issue, Maria Holloway stepped inside the luxurious Third Space Canary Wharf to explore their latest offerings: a state-of-the-art Recovery Spa and a world class HYROX Training Space.
There are gyms, and then there is Third Space. Since opening its first health club in Soho in 2001, the brand has redefined luxury training. With 13 London locations, and more in the pipeline, Third Space seamlessly melds together performance-driven training with five-star service.
At its Canary Wharf club – Europe’s largest luxury club at over 100,000 square feet – the attention to detail is palpable. There’s a steam room bursting with the scent of eucalyptus, a 23-metre pool, luxe changing facilities, plush towels, a healthy food and protein shake bar, and even ironing boards for professionals on the move. It’s these luxurious touches that make the training here feel elevated and effortless.
Expanding its wellness offering, the Canary Wharf branch has launched two new additions: a state-of-the-art Recovery Spa and a world class HYROX Training Space.
Beyond A Trend
If you haven’t yet heard of HYROX, chances are you soon will. Dubbed the “marathon of fitness,” it combines functional strength training with endurance, with athletes taking part in fitness races around the world.
“HYROX has exploded in popularity due to its unique blend of endurance, strength and its element of challenge,” says Chris Stanton, sport and performance master trainer at Third Space London. “The accessibility is a key component to its success as the movements, while requiring some skill for efficiency, are not complex. It gives gym and fitness enthusiasts something to train for, but more importantly something to share.”
Stanton explains that HYROX “follows a consistent race format that’s the same around the world.” This means the training becomes your main strategy and it’s about more than intensity, instead becoming “a balance between fitness, fatigue, pacing and recovery.”
Third Space has responded to the growing hype with a new dedicated HYROX Training Space. It includes 225 square metres of performance-focused design, a six-lane sled track, ski ergs, rowers, landmines (a pivoting barbell), and integrated wall ball technology that tracks your reps electronically. The space offers three new classes – HYROX Engine, HYROX Power and HYROX 90 – led by master trainers and engineered to build strength, speed and stamina.
But HYROX here isn’t just about classes. You can commit to a 12-week progressive training programme designed to optimise performance for race day. Whether you’re an athlete preparing for your next HYROX event or a beginner looking for a full-body challenge, the structured journey builds fitness week by week.
During my visit, I joined a HYROX Engine class. It was a full-throttle hour designed to develop aerobic endurance and anaerobic capacity. After a dynamic mobility warm-up, the session shifted into high gear with stations of rowing, burpees, sled pushes, ski sprints and wall balls. The atmosphere was electric. Energising music thumped through the space, while pulsing lights heightened the intensity, creating a race day vibe. It was more than just a workout; it felt like stepping into a live competition. By the end, I was exhausted, but invigorated by the energy of the class and the seamless design of the space.
Recovery Redefined
But performance is only half the story. At Third Space, recovery is treated with equal importance – and the Recovery Spa is a sanctuary for body and mind. I began with cryotherapy: three minutes at -90°C, enveloped in chilled air while Britney Spears played through my headphones. Unlike an ice bath, the cold air felt strangely manageable.
Cryotherapy is recognised for its ability to reduce inflammation, accelerate muscle repair and release mood- and energy-boosting endorphins. For athletes, it’s a shortcut to recovery; for wellness seekers, an invigorating reset.
Next came Red Light Therapy: 20 minutes beneath glowing panels designed to penetrate the skin at a cellular level, stimulating repair, improving circulation and promoting deep relaxation. The effect was grounding and energising, an antidote to the city grind.
I wrapped up my visit with my own ritual of contrast therapy. This involved swimming lengths in the pool before alternating between sauna, steam and a cold drench shower.
Long favoured by athletes, this hot-and-cold cycle is increasingly recognised for its restorative benefits. Cold immersion helps reduce inflammation, ease soreness and sharpen mental focus, while heat brings muscles into a state of release, lowers cortisol and promotes calm. Used together, the sudden shift between extremes stimulates the central nervous system, enhancing resilience and accelerating recovery.
Steam completes the cycle, loosening muscles, enhancing flexibility and opening the airways. Third Space has hit the nail on the head with its performance-meets-luxury health clubs. Their Canary Wharf branch is a community where professionals and amateurs alike can train in style before recovering in the majestic spa.
Standard memberships start at £245 per month, with premium options across 13 clubs city-wide, including a dedicated Recovery Membership which starts at £115 per month.
The new year tends to expose the limits of performative wellness. Cold, darkness and a packed diary make punishing workouts and cosmetic quick fixes harder to justify, and genuine benefits easier to spot. This winter, London’s wellness scene has shifted accordingly.
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