Let's clear up the obvious first: this listing is Broadhurst Gardens Children's Play Area, and it is, primarily, a playground for kids in London NW6. It's tagged as a playground, and the longest review is entirely about slides and swings. So why does it show up in a gym index? Because of one specific detail that a couple of reviewers flag - there's an adult outdoor workout area bolted onto the playground. If you're here for training, that's the only part that matters, and I'll be straight about how thin the information on it is.
The part that's actually a gym
The clearest fitness note comes from an October 2022 visitor: "Beautiful, modern, clean playground with adult Calisthenics workout area for dips, pull-ups, muscle ups, human flag, handstands.. etc." That's your equipment list - bodyweight bars for pulling and dipping, the kind of setup a calisthenics or street-workout person can actually use. A September 2024 review backs it up more vaguely, calling it "not too big, but quite fresh and have activities for kids and a few for adults." So two independent voices confirm there's an adult section. That's the real, verifiable claim here.
What this place actually is
Everything else in the reviews is about the playground, and it's worth knowing so you set expectations. An August 2023 review describes it in loving detail: "two slides," "a chalkboard," "2 baby swings and 2 swings for older kids," and notes that "the play area tends to get busy on the weekends." Passing trains, apparently, keep the children entertained. None of that helps your workout, but it tells you the setting - you'll be training next to a busy family playground, not in a quiet gym. On a weekend afternoon, that matters.
Where the voices agree and where they thin out
Agreement is easy: it's small, clean, fresh, and family-friendly. A March 2017 review is blunter - "small playground for children with some green areas" - and rates it 3 stars, which reads as someone who found it modest rather than bad. The trouble for a fitness reader is that only one review actually describes the workout gear in any detail. So while I can tell you dip and pull-up bars exist, I can't tell you how many stations there are, whether they're crowded, or what condition they're in now. One detailed mention from 2022 is a thread, not a full picture.
What the 4.5 across 56 is measuring
This is a decent sample - 56 ratings - but here's the catch: nearly all of it is measuring the playground, not the gym. Parents rating swings and slides drive that 4.5, not calisthenics athletes rating the bars. So the score is honest about the play area and close to silent about the workout section. Don't read 4.5 as a verdict on the training equipment; read it as a verdict on a well-liked local playground that happens to have some bars in the corner.
What's missing
No price, because outdoor public play areas and workout bars like this are typically free - there's no membership to buy. No opening hours in the listing, though a public park generally follows daylight and local rules. And critically for a trainer: no detail on how many workout stations there are, their layout, or whether kids' hours make the adult area impractical to use. The council contact on the listing, +44 20 7974 1693, is the place to confirm access.
Who it's not for
If you want an indoor gym, machines, showers, or a quiet adults-only space, this isn't remotely it. It's a children's playground with a small outdoor calisthenics area attached. Best suited to a bodyweight-training regular who's happy working out in the open, next to families, using bars rather than iron.
FAQ
Is Broadhurst Gardens a gym?
No. It's primarily a children's playground in London NW6, but two reviews confirm it has an adult outdoor calisthenics area with dip and pull-up bars.
What workout equipment is there?
One detailed review lists bars suitable for dips, pull-ups, muscle-ups, human flags, and handstands. The exact number of stations isn't described in any review.
Is there a cost to use it?
No review mentions a fee, and public playgrounds with outdoor workout bars like this are typically free to use. Contact the local council at +44 20 7974 1693 to confirm access and hours.