Home Gym on a Budget UK: What to Buy First

You do not need a garage, a squat rack or a spare room to train at home. Most of the parents I coach in North London live in flats or terraced houses where space is tight and every corner already holds a scooter or a laundry rack. Building a home gym on a budget UK style is about buying the few things that give you the most exercises per pound and per square foot, and skipping the rest. Here is what I would buy first at three budgets: under £50, around £150 and around £300.

Prices change all the time, so treat the figures below as rough guides and shop around. Second-hand marketplaces are brilliant for weights, which do not wear out.

Before you buy anything

Ask yourself three questions:

1. Where will it live? If the kit has to come out from under the bed and go back every time, it needs to be light and compact.
2. When will you use it? If it is after bedtime in a flat, avoid anything noisy, like dropping heavy weights or skipping on a wooden floor.
3. What will you actually do with it? Buy for the workouts you will do, not the ones you imagine.

And remember your body weight is free. Squats, lunges, push-ups, glute bridges and planks will keep you busy for months. My no equipment home workout is a good place to start before spending a penny.

Home gym on a budget UK: under £50

This is the starter kit, and honestly, it is enough for most beginners for a long time.

• A set of resistance bands (loop bands and a long band with handles). Cheap, light and they fit in a drawer. You can do rows, presses, pull-aparts, glute work and assisted stretches.
• An exercise mat. Makes floor work comfortable and protects the floor.
• One kettlebell, if the budget stretches. A single bell gives you squats, deadlifts, swings, rows and presses. Second-hand is often cheapest.

Not sure which band exercises to do? My resistance band workout at home uses just this kit.

Around £150

Once you have trained consistently for a couple of months, add weight.

• Two kettlebells of different weights. A lighter one for presses and rows, a heavier one for squats, deadlifts and swings. If you are unsure what size to pick, read what weight kettlebell to start with.
• A pair of adjustable dumbbells or a couple of fixed pairs. Adjustable ones save a lot of space in a flat, but check how quickly they change weight. Fiddly ones get annoying fast.
• A sturdy step or low box. For step-ups, incline push-ups and Bulgarian split squats. A solid bottom stair works too.

Around £300

At this point you can build a set-up that covers almost everything a beginner to intermediate trainee needs.

• A doorway pull-up bar, only if your door frame is solid and suitable. Check the fitting instructions carefully. Pair it with a thick band for assisted pull-ups.
• A heavier kettlebell for swings and deadlifts as you get stronger.
• A skipping rope, if you have somewhere suitable to use it (outside, or a ground floor).
• A small set of mini loop bands for hip and glute work.

What to skip in a small UK home

• Big cardio machines. Treadmills and cross-trainers are expensive, take up a lot of space and often become clothes horses. A brisk walk or the stairs is free.
• Full barbell and plate sets. Great kit, but heavy, loud and space-hungry. Not ideal for a flat with neighbours below.
• Gimmicks. Vibration plates, ab gadgets, sauna suits. Save your money.
• Huge weight sets “to grow into”. Buy what you need now and add later.

A 25-minute workout with the £150 kit

Warm up for 5 minutes with marching, arm circles, bodyweight squats and hip hinges. The NHS has a simple guide on how to warm up before exercising.

Then do 3 rounds of:

1. Kettlebell goblet squat, 10 reps
2. Dumbbell or kettlebell row, 10 each side
3. Kettlebell deadlift, 10 reps
4. Step-ups, 8 each leg
5. Incline push-ups on the step, 8 to 12 reps
6. Plank, 30 seconds

Rest 60 to 90 seconds between rounds. Finish with a few minutes of stretching. Stop any exercise that causes sharp pain, and if you have an injury or health condition, check with your GP or physio before starting.

Keeping it safe with kids around

• Store kettlebells and dumbbells on the floor, never on shelves where they could fall.
• Keep weights out of reach or in a closed cupboard when not in use. Little fingers and heavy metal are a bad mix.
• Clear a space before you start and make sure children are not directly next to you during swings or lifts.

Where a bootcamp class fits in

A home gym is brilliant for consistency, but it has limits: you can only own so many weights, and it is easy to drift into doing the same three exercises. A weekly class adds variety, kit you do not have at home and someone checking your technique, which makes your home sessions safer and more effective.

If you want to learn boxing technique to use on a home bag one day, the SYP Box Fit beginner boxing class is a no-sparring place to start.

FAQs

What is the best first piece of home gym equipment?

For most people, a set of resistance bands or a single kettlebell. Both are affordable, small and give you a full-body workout. Bands are best if space or budget is very tight.

Can you build muscle with a home gym?

Yes. As long as you gradually make exercises harder (more reps, more weight, slower tempo or harder variations), you can build strength and muscle with modest home kit.

Is it worth buying second-hand gym equipment?

Often, yes. Kettlebells and dumbbells last for years. Check for cracks, loose handles or rust, and test adjustable dumbbells before buying. Be more cautious with second-hand machines.

How much space do I need for a home gym?

Roughly the size of an exercise mat, plus a little room around it to move your arms and step. Most living rooms or bedrooms will do if you move a coffee table.

Book your first class

Want to try kit before you buy it? SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group classes indoors in a church hall in Archway N19, max 10 people, £15 a class, with an easier and harder option for every exercise. The timetable is sent when you book. Book my £15 class or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215. If you would rather train at home with a coach guiding you, have a look at my online coaching.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.