Wellness is no longer a seasonal trend. It has become a defining driver of consumer behaviour, reshaping how Londoners live, shop and spend their time, writes Harriett Renny, director of commercial leasing at Battersea Power Station.

Across the capital, appetite for fitness studios, health clinics and athleisure brands has accelerated rapidly – signalling a clear shift in what people now expect from retail destinations.

According to the latest Global Wellness Institute (GWI) research, the wellness economy reached a record $ 6.8 trillion in 2024 and is forecasted to grow to $ 9.8 trillion by 2029, making it one of the fastest-expanding sectors globally.

One of the most growing segments is wellness real estate, which has expanded at an annual rate of 19.5 per cent since 2019, reflecting growing interest in environments intentionally designed around health, movement and social connection.

For landlords and operators this marks a significant shift. Retail environments are evolving beyond places to shop, becoming experience-led neighbourhoods where wellbeing sits at the centre of the offer. At Battersea Power Station, this shift is already visible in both our tenant mix and the ways visitors engage with the destination. As consumer interest grows, so does demand from health, fitness and lifestyle operators looking to expand their physical presence.

Earlier this month, we announced the expansion of Third Space, which will increase its footprint by a further 13,833 square foot with a second location on site, building on its existing 28,000 square foot luxury health club that opened in 2023.

Meanwhile, One City, the Brighton-based spinning, running and fitness concept, has chosen Battersea Power Station for its first London studio, set to open later this year. LIPS Healthcare, which opened its flagship facility inside the Power Station in 2024, is also expanding its space this year, which will broaden its offering across preventative care, expert diagnostics, recovery and longevity.

This builds on the momentum we have seen since opening, with a growing number of wellness-led brands joining the destination. Biowell Health joined Battersea Power Station in April 2025, a unique facility providing red light therapy, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen, IV, and compression therapy.

Heartcore also opened a 15-bed Pilates studio in early 2025 and Alo Yoga opened a store, combining retail with community-led activations the same year.

Several brands host weekly run clubs including Adidas, On and Third Space, all of which continue to attract strong participation. Earlier this year, our Power Your Potential programme transformed the neighbourhood into a week-long platform focused on movement and mindfulness, delivering more than 20 + curated activations from leading brands.

These reoccurring experiences demonstrate how retail destinations are increasingly functioning as social infrastructure supporting routine, identity and connection.

This shift is visible far beyond Battersea Power Station. TALA which was founded by Grace Beverley, established its first physical retail presence on Carnaby Street in 2025 after enormous demand from its digital following.

Similarly, Gymshark opened its Regent Street flagship in 2022 , marking a major move from digital into experiential retail. Oura, the wellness smart ring, partnered with Harrods last year to showcase its health technology through an immersive experience that blends product discovery with personalised insights.

Health preventive technology company Neko Health co-founded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek, launched its first clinic in London in 2024 and is now expanding all across the UK.

Consumer behaviour reinforces this direction of travel from digital to physical. McKinsey’s latest Future of Wellness research found that 79 per cent of UK consumers consider wellness a top or important priority in their daily lives, underlining how deeply embedded wellbeing has become in everyday decision making.

The research also points to growing demand for in person and community experiences, as consumers place greater value on immersive environments over purely digital engagement.

For brands and landlords, success increasingly depends on creating places that foster genuine connection and shared experiences centred around wellbeing.

Wellness is no longer simply a trend, it has become a key part of how people choose to live, spend time and engage with places.

At Battersea Power Station, we are proud to be part of this evolution, demonstrating that when wellbeing is thoughtfully embedded into retail destinations, they become more than places to shop, they become places to live, connect and thrive.