Indoor Climbing Tips + 7 Of The Best Family-Friendly Centres
This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.
Indoor climbing has several physical and mental health benefits that prove it an overall mood-boosting activity for kids and adults alike.
Yet, as fun as it is, learning the ins and outs of rock climbing, can be difficult.
So before the kids get addicted to their new hobby, we’ve written a guide where we discuss important tips and tricks for proper setup and which London attractions are safe for young and/or first-time climbers.
Indoor Climbing Tips That You Need To Know
Indoor climbing is a beloved sport across the world. In general, it is an activity that requires participants to climb up and down rugged terrain either indoors or outdoors on natural/synthetic rock.
Indoor climbing is extremely popular in London, with over 20 indoor venues to choose from! However, if you are a beginner at climbing and unsure where to start, the following tips can get you on the right track before suiting up.
5 Essential Items For Indoor Climbing
Typically, you use five main pieces of equipment:
- climbing rope
- helmet
- climbing harness
- climbing shoes
- a few carabiners.
With the use of the rope, harness, and carabiner, you’ll be able to lift yourself to the rock groove or edge safely with the minimum worry of falling and hurting yourself.
Exercise Before Climbing Helps
It is recommended that you warm up the muscles to increase flexibility and mobility when moving from rock to rock.
Spend five to ten minutes stretching the legs and hands to help increase grip strength and improve balance. If your grip isn’t very strong (and kids’ grip usually isn’t), get them to practice exercises such as power grip and support grip to help improve muscle strength in the hands.
Learn Proper Climbing Techniques
Before you begin Indoor climbing, make sure you have a few first-time climbing techniques in your arsenal.
Use YouTube to research techniques like ‘Dead Point‘ and ‘Static Climbing‘ to learn how best to shift body weight to prevent slipping and loss of balance.
Most centres will make you watch a safety video first – especially if kids are involved.
Adults should think about joining a beginner’s class for starters and get to know the different methods out there. Especially on trickier terrain, it’s crucial to have a few moves under your sleeves.
Mentally Prepare For A Fall
Even the best have done it, so don’t worry about embarrassing yourself by falling.
Falling is a good thing as you get more familiar with your tools and body movement. The more you fall, the easier it will be to learn the cues before it happens so you’re able to manoeuvre quickly to avoid falling in the future.
Indoor Rock Climbing Venues In London
If you’re ready to get started rock climbing in London, here are a few indoor venues to try from beginner to advanced:
Parthian is a world-class, state-of-the-art indoor climbing facility.
It’s the first indoor climbing facility in the UK to feature an exact replica of the Olympic bouldering wall ‘The Titan’ which will be used at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
There’s an on-site café, bar and a co-working space if you need to send a few emails while the kids climb.
Prices from £15.
The state-of-the-art bouldering and fitness centre, Substation Brixton, is great for climbers of all levels.
We particularly like their children’s play space, The Wild; perfect for half-term activities, playdates and parties.
Curated by a Froebel specialist, the space is designed to provide maximum stimulation and creativity, so children can enjoy bouldering in a safe, fun and creative environment.
Mile End Climbing Wall – Mile End
Located on Haverfield Road, Mile End Climbing is an excellent beginner’s climbing venue that offers an array of introductory courses for both children and adults.
Note, it does get crowded quickly on the weekends, so be prepared for a lot of people around or try to go midweek.
The Climbing Hanger – Parsons Green
The Climbing Hangar is a beginner-friendly rock-climbing venue with bouldering rope courses that change weekly. This makes it the perfect option to return and test your skillset time and time again.
The Castle Climbing Centre – Stoke Newington
The Castle is an extremely large rock-climbing venue offering kid and adult classes, private and group coaching, as well as bouldering, top rope, and lead climbing.
They provide a variety of courses and activities for young people ranging from one-off taster sessions, a climbing club following a nationally recognised award scheme, to a high-achieving competition squad.
With its 45-meter-high peak and a multitude of people running about, you’ll feel like you’re in a real castle.
Clip N Climb – Eltham, Waltham Forest and Chelsea
Clip N Climb caters to young, old, experienced and beginner climbers. The Chelsea venue has the infamous Vertical Drop Slide, Leap of Faith and Stairway to Heaven!
Westway Climbing Centre – White City
Westway Climbing Centre is one of the largest rock-climbing London attractions.
With over 365 climbing routes and the option to boulder, top-rope, or lead climb, you should never get bored! Prices are steep, though, so be prepared.
The Reach Climbing Wall – Charlton
Whether you’re a first-timer or an Olympic wannabe, The Reach (south London’s biggest climbing centre) has classes and private tuition to help you reach your climbing goals.
We find the instructors firm but fair and serious climbers will love it here.
Rock Climbing Do’s And Don’ts
While enjoying the venues mentioned above, keep the following in mind to make sure each rock-climbing activity is a fun and successful one:
1. Do find a mentor
A good instructor can help guide you towards proper movements, body positioning, and strategies customized to your needs.
Training centres such as the Rock Climbing Company (part of the Association of Mountaineering Instruction) provide a list of highly qualified instructors to partner with.
2. Do consider journaling your progress
How will you know that you’re improving if you’re not monitoring your progress? Keep a journal and feel proud of how far you’ve come.
3. Don’t forget to buy new climbing shoes
Just like running, climbing shoes wear out over time. Constantly keep watch on the tread and cushion of your soles as they will be the first indicators that it is time to get new shoes.
4. Don’t compete with others
Sounds simple enough, but those who attempt to keep up with others progress and statistics eventually burn themselves out when their progress doesn’t match.
As long as you are improving day over day, it does not matter what the person beside you is doing. Keep moving forward and you’ll see results.
Where’s your favourite place to go indoor climbing in London?