How to Find a Place to Train Jiu Jitsu in London
London has BJJ classes from 6 a.m. to late evening. Learn what training costs, how drop-ins work and where beginners should start, with five gyms to try.
Published: October 25, 2026
Key takeaways
- London BJJ gyms plan their timetables around the working day, with classes from 6 a.m. and plenty at lunchtime.
- At the time of writing, a full adult membership costs £110 to £170 a month at four of the five gyms in this guide.
- Most of the gyms in this guide take drop-ins for £20 to £35, but booking rules vary, so check before you go.
- Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ, Fightzone London, London Grapple, Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy and Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club make a strong shortlist across west, east, southeast and north London.
- Free intro classes and trials are common, so you can test a few London gyms before you pay for a membership.
One of London's best-rated jiu jitsu gyms trains in a pair of railway arches in Deptford. Others share space in business parks, industrial estates and community centers, so a great mat doesn't always look like much from the street.
That variety runs deep. As of October 2026, our London page lists 107 gyms, from famous academies with hundreds of Google reviews to small clubs you could walk straight past.
Pick well and BJJ slots neatly into your week, with classes at hours you can make, a price you're happy with and a room that suits your level.
Read on for when London gyms hold classes, what training costs, how drop-ins work and what beginners should look for, plus five gyms to put on your shortlist.
When can you train BJJ in London?
London BJJ gyms schedule plenty of classes before and during the working day, not only in the evening. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ starts at 6 a.m. on weekdays, London Grapple runs a 6:45 a.m. no-gi class, and Fightzone London has a 7 a.m. class every weekday.
Lunchtime is well covered too. Fightzone London runs a beginners' class at 12:30 p.m. three days a week, and Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy and Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club both train late morning on weekdays, which helps if you work shifts or can stretch your lunch hour.
Weekends are quieter, but open mats fill some of the gap. Fightzone London and London Grapple both hold one on Sunday mornings, when you can roll without a set lesson.
How much does BJJ cost in London?
At the time of writing, a full adult BJJ membership in London costs £110 to £170 a month at four of the five gyms in this guide. Fightzone London's unlimited plan is £110, Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club charges £150, Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy charges £160, and London Grapple's All Access plan is £170.
Check the joining fee as well as the monthly price. London Grapple has no joining fee, Fightzone London charges £25 plus £10 for annual insurance, and Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy's £100 joining fee includes an official academy gi.
Students should always ask about discounts. Fightzone London has an unlimited student plan for £90 a month, and London Grapple's student grappling plan is £115.
How do drop-ins work at London BJJ gyms?
Visitors are welcome at all five London gyms in this guide, though each one sets its own prices and rules. At the time of writing, four of them take drop-ins for £20 to £35.
Fightzone London charges £20 a class, and Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club sells a £20 day pass. A day at London Grapple costs £25, and a day pass at Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ costs £35.
Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ makes booking mandatory, with classes opening 48 hours ahead, while London Grapple says there's no need to book and asks visitors to arrive 15 minutes early.
Visitors at Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ don't have to wear the academy's own gi. If you forget yours, you can rent one for £10.
If you're staying a week or more, a week pass costs £80 at London Grapple, Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club and Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy. Our guide to dropping in while you travel covers the etiquette.
What should beginners look for in a London gym?
Beginners in London should look for a gym with dedicated intro or fundamentals classes, which teach the basics at a beginner's pace. All five gyms in this guide have them.
Most also let you try before you pay. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ gives beginners who live in London a free introduction class, London Grapple's first class is free, and Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy offers a free trial class.
Fightzone London works a little differently. New memberships start with a seven-day trial, and you can cancel for a full refund if it isn't for you.
Four of the five gyms below teach both gi and no-gi, so you can try each before you buy a gi.
Women who'd rather start in a women-only class have options too. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ runs one on Tuesday evenings and Saturday lunchtimes, and Grapplers Den Balham has a Ladies BJJ class on Tuesday evenings.
Five London gyms to check out
These five London academies are well established, well reviewed and serious about jiu jitsu. Whether you're a gi player, a no-gi grappler, a beginner, a parent or a visitor, at least one of them is set up for you.
| Gym | Area | Gi or no-gi | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ | Hammersmith, west London | Mostly gi | Gi players, and visitors happy to book ahead |
| Fightzone London | Bethnal Green, east London | Both | Beginners who need lots of class times |
| London Grapple | Deptford, southeast London | Both | Visitors who'd rather just turn up |
| Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy | Kentish Town, north London | Mostly gi | Beginners who want to ease into sparring |
| Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club | North Kensington, west London | No-gi only | Grapplers who never want to wear a gi |
Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ (Hammersmith, west London)
Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ carries one of the most famous names in jiu jitsu, and it's on Glenthorne Road in Hammersmith. Weekday classes start at 6 a.m., with fundamentals classes several times a day and no-gi every weekday.
The timetable also has women-only classes, kids' classes from age 4 and kickboxing. It's ideal for visitors who want a big-name academy, as long as they book first.
Fightzone London (Bethnal Green, east London)
Fightzone London is the most-reviewed gym on our London page, on Pritchard's Road near Cambridge Heath and Bethnal Green stations. Gi and no-gi have separate timetables, and each one has introductory and beginners' classes through the week.
There's a 7 a.m. class every weekday and a beginners' class at 12:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so it's a strong fit for beginners whose weeks don't follow a pattern. Muay Thai, boxing, MMA, wrestling and kids' classes run alongside.
London Grapple (Deptford, southeast London)
London Grapple trains in two railway arches by Deptford station, on Ffinch Street. Gi classes run six days a week and no-gi runs every day, starting at 6:45 a.m. on weekdays.
There are introduction and fundamentals classes for beginners, plus kids' classes, MMA, Muay Thai and wrestling. With no booking needed and a £25 day pass, it's best suited to visitors who'd rather just turn up, and new students get their first class free.
Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy (Kentish Town, north London)
Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy is in Holmes Studios on Holmes Road, Kentish Town. Its timetable is mostly gi, with an intro class and a fundamentals class every weekday and no-gi several times a week.
Full sparring waits until you have three stripes on your white belt, though new students can spar from set positions straight away. That steady build-up makes it a good match for beginners who'd rather ease in, and kids' classes cover ages 4 to 15.
Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club (North Kensington, west London)
Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club is a no-gi club on Barlby Road in North Kensington. You don't need a uniform, just a clean rashguard and shorts.
Fundamentals classes run Monday to Thursday evenings, advanced sessions run late morning and evening, and there are open mats on Friday and Sunday. It's the natural choice if you only want no-gi, and a youth program covers ages 10 to 16.
Where else can you train in and around London?
London's jiu jitsu scene runs far deeper than five gyms, and the right one for you could be a small club much closer to home. Our London page puts all 107 gyms on a single map, every one of them open and checked for BJJ.
If you live outside the capital, Reading, Guildford, Luton, Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea and Maidstone have pages of their own.
Shortlist a few that suit your week, weigh them up against what makes a good jiu jitsu gym, and book a trial class at each.
Final thoughts
Training in London is easiest when your gym's timetable fits your week. Find a gym with classes at the hours you're actually free, check the full cost with any joining fee, and try a free class or a drop-in before you commit.
Big names are worth a visit, but over a year, the gym that fits your week will teach you more than the one you struggle to reach.
FAQ
Is there a no-gi only BJJ gym in London?
Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club in North Kensington is a no-gi only gym in London, where you train in a rashguard and shorts. If you want no-gi alongside the gi, London Grapple runs no-gi classes every day.
How much is a BJJ drop-in in London?
A BJJ drop-in in London costs £20 to £35 at most of the gyms in this guide, at the time of writing. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ is at the top of that range, and you need to book before you go.
Can you try a London BJJ gym for free?
Most of the London BJJ gyms in this guide let beginners try a class for free. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ, London Grapple and Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy all offer beginners a free first class, and Fightzone London's memberships start with a seven-day trial.
Are there women-only BJJ classes in London?
Women-only BJJ classes are available at several London gyms. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ runs them on Tuesday evenings and Saturday lunchtimes, and Grapplers Den Balham has a Ladies BJJ class on Tuesday evenings.
Can kids train BJJ in London?
Kids can train BJJ at all five gyms in this guide. Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy HQ, Fightzone London, London Grapple and Luciano Cristovam BJJ Academy all take children from age 4, and Los Banditos Submission Grappling Club has a youth program for ages 10 to 16.