You know when you wake up one morning and you think, 'Today, I want to climb stuff'. Don't deny it;…read morewe've all thought this at some point. I went here with a friend and her son and we had a great time. They kit you out with the appropriate footwear (kids get a helmet - absolute favouritism right there) The instructor was very friendly and patient with us. He showed us the best routes up the wall and was great with my friend's son, who was quite young and understandably a little nervous. One thing about this place that might put people off - it doesn't use harnesses. The walls are about 20 feet at most, methinks, but obviously you only go up as far as you're comfortable with. The floors are padded too, so if you do fall on your arse as I did, you don't hurt anything except your ego. There were loads of people there who are obviously regular members, and some of the guys were really fit. Will definitely go back

I had no idea this place existed - what a find! If you are into climbing (and especially…read morebouldering) and you can get to Sutton then head down and check Craggy out. There are two large bouldering rooms with 100s of graded problems of all styles from easy jugs for beginners to stuff I can only look at and wonder how on earth anyone can climb! The centre is really well designed and has a great feel, the staff really know what they are doing and are happy to offer advice. There is even a bar next door! Also, check out the caving system. It must have been put in for children's parties but believe me it is a real laugh. I got lost a number of times and in some places it really takes some effort to get through. If this is the future of indoor climbing then I like it. Makes such a change to grubby old walls where you feel like an outsider if you 'don't fit in'. Now my local wall!

This centre in south London is unbeatable! Only wish it was more accessible as it is a nightmare to…read moreget to on public transit. The location is massive but easy to navigate around. You enter upon a massive reception area, lockers to the left and adjacent are toilets and changing rooms. But as I am writing during covid times, the changing rooms are not available at the moment! Through the main doors you enter upon the roped walls and lead walls. To the left is the stairs that go to the first floor. Continuing on the ground floor the back area is a traverse wall and bouldering section. The first floor holds a cafe with some seriously yummy eats! Their paninis are pretty great as well as their sweet treats. They've got a variety of drinks as well. There's a decent amount of seating space and behind all that is another bouldering section. The staff are great, the community is awesome, what more can you ask for?

The Reach is a new (as of January 2010) climbing wall in the Southeast London area (Woolwich)…read more Located in an industrial estate, the premises offers a huge amount of space, which has begun to be filled with exciting new climbing walls and artificial boulders. I visited with a climbing partner on the opening weekend (free climbing = yay!) and although the place is clearly not complete yet, there are plenty of walls completed to keep you occupied for a long session. The climbing is already quite varied, with slabs and overhangs at various angles, and some volumes added to the walls. There are lead areas and top ropes, and one of the slabs is at a very nice angle (I would have loved to have a go at a ridiculous speed climb up it), has been painted with a mural, and was being used for children to climb. At the same time, the lead area boasts some very steep and difficult routes, so I don't think that anyone could have nothing within their grade to go at. At the time of my visit, there were no featured walls (i.e. moulded to approximate the shape of rock and quite common at newish climbing walls), but there are plans for some. A campus board area is also apparently on the way. Hopefully some more efficient heating is also on the way, as it was very cold inside on the opening day. I mention this as you might want to take a large jacket with you, not to put people off going - if you're a climber in the UK, then you won't mind the cold! I do think this will improve, and if it helps, the changing rooms were nice and warm. Possibly the most important feature of a climbing wall is the cafe (climbers being extremely partial to hot drinks and cake) and so a makeshift cafe offering very reasonably priced snacks and drinks had been set up for opening, and I think the cafe as a whole will be complete very soon. The cafe is located on a mezzanine level, on which the main bouldering area also rests. While we were there, we heard one of the staff discussing a huge boulder which was unfinished at one end of the building, which is going to be on a pivot so that the whole boulder can be tilted, creating new problems, which seems like a really cool idea. Although I live on the other side of London, I will make another visit to The Reach, and so might update this review as new areas are completed. I would definitely recommend this wall for people who live a bit closer than me, or work in the area. The staff were really interested to see what people thought of the new wall, and seem like they are really trying to tailor the wall to climbers' wishes. If you've not climbed before, you need to ring them before you go, to arrange for a course to acquaint yourself with the required skills, but existing climbers can register any time they are open, at the reception.

Get in!! Still buzzing about our awesome weekend! Most impressed with 3xtreme as an instructor…read moreDave is highly professional and thorough, and yet it felt more like heading out with a really experienced mate and not just an instructor you've paid to teach you! I think it makes such a difference when you're learning from someone who truely loves the subject this kind of enthusiam is infectious (beware climbing addiction starts here!). Thanks again Dave!

A very nice park beside the riverside that would be very entertaining for children of every age…read morefrom toddlers to 14 year olds. The park has loads of swings , see-saws, roundabouts, merry-go-rounds and there are benches for parents or guardains to sit back and enjoy. The car-park is free and during the summers you can buy ice-crems from the ice-cream vans standing here or from the cafe situated within the park. There is a toy-train as well in the park and you get to go round the park twice for a small fee of £1.

This is a great place to take the kids for a day out. It has lots of separate parts in there…read moreinclucing a big park with swings and slides and climbing frames for all ages from toddler up to teenagers. It also has a nice sandpit and in the summer there is a little train that you can ride on, I think it costs about 50p per person for a trip round the park. It has a paddling pool for the kids and there is a separate swimming popol which you have to pay extra to go in. The is a crazy golf course and also a putting green and a nice tea house. Plenty of parking space too.

Harrisons Rock is a natural rock climbing formation built out of an outcrop of sandstone Kent's…read morebeautiful Turnbridge Wells. Easily acccesible by following the London road this is a climbers playgrond. The outcrop has several levels of difficulty from lower to very complicated ones. There is a cafe on-site too with loo facilities. Sandtone being prone to erosion it has been advised on these trails that a climber must not lower himself down but unlatch himself at the top and then walk down the lovely hiking foot-trail. The area is extremely beautiful scenically and one can have picnics here along with climbing when the seasons on. Charges are about only £1.50 for a days climb and the parking spaces are free for climbers.

Check out this website for all up to date sandstone news:…read more http://www.southernsandstoneclimbs.co.uk/ Beautiful place to climb. Owned by the British Mountaineering Council. Climbing guidebook: Rockfax Southern Sandstone Climbs (2017) There is a code of practice to follow when climbing at Harrison's Rocks. It is all about protecting the rock. As the rock is so soft, it is essential the preserve the thin outer layer and to reduce erosion as much as possible. Moving ropes cut into the rock, so please set-up your ropes correctly. Key points are: Use a non-stretch rope and bring long slings with you Make sure the karabiner hangs over the edge of the crag Make sure moving ropes do not come into contact with the rock Clean shoes before each climb - bring a piece of carpet to wipe your feet, to avoid rock erosion and make it easier to climb Walk off when finished a climb, do not lower off or abseil Keep chalk use to a minimum Use of harsh boulder brushes and toothbrushes are strictly forbidden