Gymboree Play & Music East Dulwich

"Unfortunate end to a long-standing membership due to the irrational and unprofessional behaviour of the franchise owner. Our children have enjoyed the classes and the teachers, but the owner has put me off ever returning. The membership prices are high and there is better value for money elsewhere in the area, with better flexibility and better customer service. Be very wary of signing up for auto payments, the owner will pursue unauthorised charges in a very short timeframe (in my case due to their own administrative error). Best avoided."

"Great place for babies and toddlers to learn and play! My daughter had lots of fun attending the classes when she was 12-18months"

"I have to agree with other reviewers on here. The classes are fun, my little one loves it, and the teachers are good and very enthusiastic. But the membership prices are high, the timetable is limited, and the space is actually quite small. When you sign up, they make a big hoo-ha about reading the rather onerous membership terms, and now I realise why. They are militant and very rude/pushy at enforcing them. My parents are finally able to come over from the US to visit and meet their granddaughter for the first time, not having been able to travel at all due to the pandemic. I sent an email asking if it was possible to freeze our membership for a month, as we wouldn't have time to do the makeup classes. In return, I received the most defensive email, lecturing me about how my request was unfair to other members, and how I signed the membership forms and ticked that I had read them, so I should be aware that they will not freeze memberships without a months notice. I was then told that they've never had to tell another member this, apparently I was so out of place for asking. When I queried whether the membership was value for money given that I couldn't take make up classes, she gave me instructions for how to cancel the membership! I couldn't believe how rude and unprofessional the response was. Obviously they don't value or care about retaining members. I called directly to complain about the emails, and got another lecture about how difficult it is for them to run the Direct Debits and that it isn't possible to issue a refund (?). Then finally, after 10 minutes of lecturing me, she offered to let us extend the 30 day timeline for taking the make up classes. Oh, how kind. Apparently, bending that rule is fair to other members, but not freezing memberships (because that would mean they lose money). Basically, to these people, we are just cash cows and they don't really value members or have any empathy towards them. So don't expect any flexibility or polite treatment. Eventually, I think we will probably save our £57 per month and just go to a soft play centre. Way better value for money, and you're not guilted and spoken down to when making simple enquiries."

"After a free trial class I signed up straight away my 5months old daughter. I found membership too expensive, I got a fun pass with 5 classes to use withib 3 months. The teacher is excellent, activities and songs are amazing. Perfect for my baby age, helped with tummy time (she usually hated it and starts crying after 2min). She enjoyed a lot the 45min class and could have done more! Highly recommend it!!!"

"Our baby has been going to Gymboree for the last 4 months and since she was approximately 5 months old. Guaranteed it is the best 45 minutes of her week. She is so very happy every time we go and adores all the music and bubbles! You can see her development week by week and the staff are all so talented and caring. The open gym sessions are also as great opportunity for her to play somewhere other than hope in a safe environment with her friends."