5 Best Martial Arts in London (2026)

London Fight Factory is a Shoreditch gym covering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi grappling, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, MMA, judo and sambo, all under one membership and timetable. The gym runs classes six days a week across most disciplines, with a schedule reviewers say works even for people training around full-time jobs and parenting. Its coaching team includes both BJJ and striking specialists, and the gym markets itself heavily on community alongside technical instruction.

Xen-Do runs out of a basement studio on Baker Street, with instructors reviewers describe as highly skilled black belts, teaching both adult and kids' classes. The school puts real emphasis on explaining the purpose behind each technique rather than just drilling movement, and its kids' programme in particular draws praise for building confidence over a matter of months. Sessions run through most weekdays with a shorter weekend schedule.

JKD London teaches Jeet Kune Do, the martial art and philosophy developed by Bruce Lee, under Sifu Lak Loi, a third-generation instructor in the lineage passed down through Bruce Lee's original Wednesday Night Group. Classes run just twice a week, Monday and Thursday evenings, inside a Fitness First location near St Paul's, and lean heavily into the philosophy behind the movement alongside physical technique. The school also runs corporate self-defence sessions as team-building events.

Tora Dojo is a kendo club that meets at London Nautical School near Waterloo, teaching the traditional Japanese sword-fighting discipline to a mixed group of beginners and experienced practitioners. Founded by a woman and run as a friendly, social club rather than a purely competitive one, it welcomes new joiners year-round with an instructor available whenever they arrive. The dojo brings in international guests regularly and runs its own tournament each May.

The London Jiu Jitsu Centre in Camden teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Japanese Jiu Jitsu and MMA, alongside a dedicated women's self-defence programme, out of a purpose-built venue reviewers describe as unusually stylish for a martial arts gym. The centre runs free classes specifically to widen access to martial arts training, alongside its regular paid programme. Its Camden location sits close to Euston, making it accessible across a wide stretch of north and central London.