London may be best known as a sprawling metropolis and business capital, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t also plenty of places to indulge your love of adventure. If you’re desperate to try adventure sports during your stay in the city, here’s our pick of four top places to give them a go…
Vertical Chill
Climbing continues to grow in popularity as an adventure sport, and its easy to see why. This is a way to really test the limits of both endurance and athleticism, whilst indoor climbing centres provide the ideal way to try the sport in safety and relative comfort. While London offers a few destinations where you can try the sport, our favourite is Vertical Chill, where visitors to the Montcalm Hotel can try their hand at ice wall climbing. Prices for trying the sport vary depending on skill and the level of monitoring and equipment required, so its a truly scalable experience which everyone can try.
UK Bungee Club
Bungee jumping is about as high octane as it gets, and requires a strong stomach and no fear of heights to accomplish! If this sounds like you, then you are in luck in London – there is the chance to book a bungee jump of your very own amid the striking London skyline, with our favourite space nestled alongside the 02 Arena. Spaces are limited and the jumps are highly popular, tending to book in advance weeks (or even months) before the event – but if you have plenty of time before your trip and feel ready to make the leap while staying at 4 star hotels in London, this is the place to go.
Bunker 51
Paintball was once considered niche, but its taken on increasingly mainstream popularity in recent years, with new centres helping to open up the activity for new audiences. Our favourite place to try paintballing for yourself while staying at a spa hotel in London is Bunker 51, set within the atmospheric confines of a former nuclear bunker and sticking to a distinctly apocalyptic look and feel for added ambiance. Popular for small parties, unconventional office bonding trips and stag dos, there’s also the option of going for a game of laser tag if you don’t want to suffer through paintball-induced bruises.
Lee Valley White Water Centre
Ever since the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Lee Valley White Water Centre has been offering adventure sports for a wide variety of audiences, allowing enthusiastic visitors to London a chance to indulge in a range of activities such as rafting, kayaking and canoeing. The venue also provides the opportunity to try speedboating along the Thames – sure to appeal to anyone who wants to see this part of the city in a unique new way. Prices vary depending on the activity chosen, and this is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors just outside the boundaries of the big city.
