Where can I rock climb in London?
As you probably know London isn't famous for its mountains or rocky crags but that doesn't mean there aren't lots of places to go rock climbing in London.
London is blessed with a wealth of indoor rock climbing/bouldering centres catering for climbers of all standards, from those looking for a new way of keeping fit, right up to the seasoned veterans looking to push through the higher climbing grades.
Rock climbing walls are no longer the realm of experienced rock climbers in there down-time. All kinds of people are using them, as a more social alternative to a gym, many with no intention of climbing outdoors.
Check out a selection of the London climbing walls below. Or click the map to see where the sites are based.
The Castle - Climbing Centre
Address: Green Lanes, London N4 2HA
Phone: 020 8211 7000
Closest Tube: Finsbury Park
Set within a magnificent Victorian water pumping station. The Castle Climbing Centre is the largest and busiest of the Central London climbing walls. Boasting some fantastic top rope/lead climb routes that reach a dizzying height of 12.5m. This in addition to a wealth of well set bouldering routes, makes the Castle a must visit for any level of climber.
Click here for more detailed information on the Castle Climbing Wall
The Arch 2 - A.k.a The Biscuit Factory
Address: Unit EO1B, The Biscuit Factory, 100 Clement's Rd, London, SE16 4DG
Phone: 020 7252 1033
Closest Tube: Bermondsey
We are big fans of The Biscuit Factory - Opened in March 2012, this new bouldering only wall has been built within the shell of old Biscuit Factory, hence the title... Billed as being a game changer for the London Climbing scene, it has a staggering 11,000+ square feet of bouldering, dozens of circuits offering hundreds of climbs making it one of the biggest bouldering facilities in London and the UK!
Click here for more detailed information on the Arch 2 - Biscuit Factory
The Arch Climbing Wall - The Building One
archclimbingwall.com/Building1
Address: Drummond Road - London - SE16 4DG
Phone: 020 7252 1033
Closest Tube: Bermondsey
Building One is the latest development from the Arch Climbing Wall team. The new centre is housed in a stunning warehouse conversion, once the studios of British artists such as Damien Hirst and Charles Saatchi. The new centre; will run along side the current Biscuit for a year or so when it will make way for a new flat development.
Building one hosts an array of great new routes/problems/areas, has a few homages to original Arch at London Bridge which we are pleased to see and has some really exciting new developments unique to Building One.
Click here for more detailed information on the Arch Climbing Wall - Building One
The Arch Climbing Wall - North
Address: 5 Burnt Oak Broadway, HA8 5LD
Email - north@archclimbingwall.com
Closest Tube: Burnt Oak (Edgware Branch Northern Line)
Opened in September 2015 - Arch North is the latest development from the Arch Climbing Wall team. The new centre is housed below a new appartment complex. The centre is easily accessible from Burnt Oak Stations and is just off the main road. The new centre; will run along side the current Biscuit for a year or so when it will make way for a new flat development and Building 1, both down in Bermondsey. All of which have 1 shared membership
Click here for more detailed information on the Arch Climbing Wall - North
Mile End Climbing Wall
mileendwall.org.uk
Address: Haverfield Road, Mile End, London, E3 5BE
Phone: 020 8980 0289
Closest Tube: Mile End
Mile End is a bouldering paradise and has some of the highest walls without roped protection we have ever seen. Don't let this put you off as it also has the friendliest and most relaxed atmospheres of any of the climbing centres in London. A mishmash of bouldering spots interspersed with a variety of top roped and lead sections, decent training areas such as "The Board Room" and the infamous "Monkey room" makes Mile End a must visit for all London climbers.
VauxWall - Climbing Centre
http://www.vauxwallclimbing.co.uk/
Address: Arch 46 - 47a, South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1SR
Phone: 020 7160 0248
Closest Transport: Vauxhall Underground (Victoria Line), Vauxhall Rail Station
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VauxWallClimbing
Twitter -https://twitter.com/VauxWall
This brand new and state-of-the-art bouldering centre is one of the most accessible centres in London. The wall opened on the 1st May 2014 and opens up climbing to the South West London area. Located in 3 of the archs in Vauxhall rail station, it's difficult not to draw comparisons to The Arch at London Bridge but the similarities stop there.
Click here for more detailed information on Vauxwall Climbing Centre
Hackney Wick Boulder Project
Address: 117 Wallis road, Hackney Wick E9 5LN
Phone: 0208 986 5432
Email: info@hackneywickboulder.co.uk
Closest Tube: Hackney Wick Overground Station
HWBP may be small but punches well above it's weight. Built in an old printers we have blocs from V0 to V8 with plenty in between. In addition to regular route-setting we offer friendly staff, local coffee and cake and ideal training facilities for anyone looking to get stronger and progress through the grades. If you have no one to climb with we will be running our Boulder Social three times a week; where there will be a friendly volunteer on hand to offer encouragement and advice. The Boulder Social is a free service and is open to anyone.
Click here for more information on HWBP
The Climbing Hangar - A.k.a. Urban Ascent
Address: Unit 5, Parsons Green Depot, 33-39 Parsons Green Ln, London, SW6 4HH
Phone: 020 7751 0913
Closest Tube: Parsons Green
Urban Ascent is now the The Climbing Hangar! The change in ownership means better indoor rock climbing experience in what continues to be a super friendly, dedicated bouldering centre in Parsons Green, London. This bouldering only centres in London is Located about 100meters from Parsons Green Tube station in West London, Urban Ascent is easily accessible for any London based climber. The crisp white walls and red matting are something to behold and we really would recommend a visit for London Climbers of any level.
Click here for more information on The Climbing Hangar
The Westway Sport Centre
westwaysportscentre.org.uk/climbing/
Address: Westway Sports Centre, 1 Crowthorne Rd, London W10 6RP
Phone: 020 8969 0761
Closest Tube: Latimer Road
The climbing centre is part of the the wider sporting centre based just off the A40 "Westway" dual carriageway in West London. With impressive walls reaching 14.5 metres, extensive facilities, the Westway climbing centre really does have something for everyone.
Click here for more detailed information on The Westway
JAGS Climbing Wall
jagssportsclub.co.uk/climbing-wall/
Address: Red Post Hill, London, SE24 9JN
Phone: 020 8613 6500
Closest Transport: Denmark Hill Overground
Installed in 2012 JAGS climbing wall is a relative newcommer to the London Climbing Scene. The wall is a fun hidden gem in South London Near Dulwich Village, compromising of a nine metre high roped wall (with 9 lines) and two bouldering walls. Climbing routes vary between 4+ and 7A and the routes are changed every 2-3 weeks to ensure we keep you on your toes. Mainly open to members of the JAGs sports centre, they do provide open sessions to non-members on Fri/Sat/Sun evenings.
Click here for more detailed information on the JAGS Climbing Wall
The Reach
Address: Unit 6, Mellish Industrial Estate, London, Woolwich SE18 5NU
Phone: 020 8855 9598
Closest Tube: Woolwich Dockyard
The Reach is South East London's largest climbing centre based in an industrial complex just off the Thames River, a mere stones throw from the Thames Barrier. One of the most recent additions to the climbing circuit opening its doors in Jan 2010, we feel The Reach offers a lot to the London climbing circuit.
Click here for more detailed information on The Reach
White Spider
Address: 225 Hook Rise S, Kingston, Surrey KT6 7LD
Phone: 020 8397 0390
Closest Transport: Tolwort (National Rail)
Opened in the summer of 2012 the White Spider is a relative new commer in the climbing scene. Based in business centre in Surbiton near Kingston Upon Thames, South West London. The White Spider is a state of the art, well structured centre offering a decent selection of climbing. This really is a decent addition to the London Climbing scene, it's just a shame it's a bit more difficult to get to than some of the other locations.
Click here for more detailed information on the White Spider
Reebok - Sports Club Climbing Wall
Address:
REEBOK SPORTS CLUB
16 - 19 CANADA SQUARE
CANARY WHARF
E14 5ER
Phone: 020 7970 0900
Closest Transport: Canary Wharf
This 13ft climbing wall based in Reebok Sports Club, Canary Wharf, offers a new dimension to the normal workout. It is open to members of the Reebok club only, but is the only wall for quite a distance so if you live near by could be well worth checking it out.
Click here for more detailed information on the Reebok Climbing Wall
Better.org.uk - Leisure Centres
http://www.better.org.uk/climbing
Address: Various
Phone: 0845 363 1144 for Climb London
Closest Tube: Various
Better.org.uk recently took back control of 6 sites that used to be managed by Climb London/ High-Sports company. Better.org.uk covers 6 climbing walls (see link below for locations), based inside existing gyms/sports centres. The gyms in themselves do tend to be smaller than the dedicated climbing centres but do offer an interesting array of climbing in a number of easily accessible centres around London.
Click here for more information on Better.org.uk climbing walls
Fairlop Waters - Boulder Park
Address: Boulder Park, Fairlop Waters Forest Road Barkingside ESSEX, IG6 3HN
Phone: 020 8500 9911
Closest Tube: Farilop Park (Central Line)
Fairlop Waters Bouldering Park is somewhat of an enigma, not much information can be found and it doesn't really have a dedicated website! We have managed to dig up a bit of information about this unique outdoor bouldering park, set in the picturesque Fairlops Waters in Redbridge. The boulder park consists of nine individual man-made boulders, jam packed with decent routes. This really is a must for any London climber.
Click Here for more information on Fairlop Waters - Boulder Park
Vertical Chill - Ellis Brigham Mountain Sport
Address: Ellis Brigham, Tower House, 3-11 Southampton St, London WC2E 7HA
Phone: 0844 372 1010
Closest Tube: Covent Garden
A somewhat unique climbing centre when compared with the others in the list but without a doubt Vertical Chill should not be overlooked. The Vertical Chill Ice wall is based at the back of the Ellis Brigham Mountain sports store just of the strand in Covent Garden. The wall itself is housed within a refrigerated unit with viewing windows on various floors of the shop. The wall is 8m in height and ranges in steepness from a pleasant slab to a drastic over-hang with everything in between. The wall really is a fantastic addition to climbing in London and we would reccomend a visit both to Ellis Brigham and the Ice Wall.
Click here for more information on Vertical Chill at Ellis Brigham.
Clip n Climb - Chelsea
Address: 19 Michael Road, London SW6 2ER
Phone: 0207 736 2271
Closest Transport: Fulham Broadway or Parsons Green
Billed as London's first and only Clip n Climb centre (i.e. no need for a belayer). Located just off the King’s Road in Chelsea this climbing wall come theme park in an exciting new leisure concept for all ages, four and upwards…