City Climb: your guide to climbing in some of the UK’s finest cities
City Climb is our series that looks at the climbing opportunities for new climbers in our urban centres. It focuses on the indoor walls, clubs, outdoor climbing and the general vibe.
Climbing is growing faster than ever and more and more climbing gyms are filling up with more and more psyched people who are discovering all that this fabulous sport can offer: the physical rewards, the mental rewards of problem solving; the supportive, friendly and accepting atmosphere; the many clubs and societies that welcome newcomers; the opportunities to enjoy outdoor climbing and all the natural rewards that can offer.
But sometimes these can seem intimidating and hard to access for someone new to this world. City Climb aims to break down barriers and welcome everyone through the door of climbing, point them in the right direction and help them find their place in it all.
We chose four cities: Sheffield, London, Cardiff and Liverpool. Then we found some locals to take you around and show you why they think their city is a great place to be a climber. They show you the climbing spots and introduce you to some of the local enthusiasts. We hear from competition superstars, professional climbers and total beginners, from indoor wall staff, people from clubs, crews and communities.
Much fun.
Sheffield
Sheffield is acknowledged as one of the capitals of climbing, not just in the UK, but in the world. It has a long history in the sport going back over a hundred years. It has some of the country’s favourite cliffs right on its doorstep where enthusiasts flock to all year round. It has a huge and friendly climbing scene who flock to the many brilliant indoor walls every day of the year. Its attractions bring people from all over the world to visit and in many cases to stay. Ness and Aimee would love to tell you all about Sheffield:
WATCH: City Climb | Sheffield
The walls in Sheffield are all great. They all offer beginner-friendly induction sessions and can always point you in the right direction to get some help. The first two offer roped climbing and bouldering (shorter, unroped climbing)
The Foundry “The best atmosphere of any wall in Sheffield.”
Awesome Walls “Friendly atmosphere and chilled place with full facilities.”
The following centres are bouldering only:
The Depot “Hands down the best indoor bouldering in Sheffield.”
The Climbing Hangar “I wish I lived in Sheffield to visit more often.”
The Climbing Works “The best indoor climbing place in Sheffield.”
A great way to meet people who share your interest is to join a club. These also are great for giving guidance on things like climbing outside. If you are at one of the city’s two universities, both have great clubs on offer:
University of Sheffield Mountaineering Club
And of course, there is the outdoor climbing around Sheffield, with the Peak District being one of the country’s most popular climbing areas.
Check out this amazing guide to the best in gritstone climbing from the BMC, and for limestone sport and traditional climbing, have a look at this. Or if you are after bouldering, we recommend the Peak District Bouldering Guide.
And of course, as one of the BMC’s roles is to care for the rock we love so much, have a look at our Respect The Rock films before you venture outside.
London
London. It’s big. As in BIIIIIGGGGG! London has one of the largest and most diverse climbing scenes in the world. If you live in London and want to climb then there is a place and a community for you.** London has one of the largest and most welcoming climbing scenes anywhere. It's all about the indoor, it's all about the moves and it's all about the community. Want to find out more? Well join Annie and Rotimi as they take a tour and show you the vibe.
WATCH: City Climb | London
London has almost 40 indoor walls open to the general public. Here they are, grouped in region.
CENTRAL
EustonWall Bouldering (nearest tube - Warren Street, Great Portland Street)
West1, Seymour Leisure Centre Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Baker Street, Marylebone)
City Bouldering, Aldgate Bouldering (nearest tube - Aldgate)
Font: London Bridge - coming soon! Bouldering
NORTH EAST
Stronghold - Tottenham Hale Bouldering nearest tube - Tottenham Hale
The Castle Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays nearest tube - Manor House, Finsbury Park
Yonder Bouldering nearest tube - Blackhorse Road
Stronghold - London Fields Bouldering nearest tube - Cambridge Heath, Bethnal Green
EAST
CanaryWall Bouldering (nearest tube – Westferry)
Rise Climbing Bouldering (nearest tube - Canning Town)
BethWall Green Bouldering (nearest tube - Bethnal Green)
Mile End Climbing Wall Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Mile End)
Romford Rock and Boulder Bouldering (nearest tube – Romford)
City Bouldering, Stratford - coming soon!
SOUTH EAST
VauxWall East Bouldering (nearest tube - Lambeth North, Kennington, Vauxwall)
Arch: Building One + Bouldering (nearest tube – Bermondsey)
Arch: Surrey Quays Bouldering (nearest tube - Surrey Quays)
The Reach Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Woolwich Arsenal, Woolwich Dockyard)
SOUTH
CroyWall Bouldering (nearest tube - East Croydon)
Substation, Brixton Bouldering (nearest tube - Brixton, Clapham South)
BlocFit Bouldering (nearest tube - Brixton, Loughborough Junction)
Yellow Spider Bouldering (nearest tube - Carshalton Beeches)
SOUTH WEST
The Font, Wandsworth Bouldering (nearest tube - Earlsfield
The Climbing Hangar Bouldering (nearest tube - Parsons Green
VauxWest Bouldering (nearest tube - Vauxhall
White Spider Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Surbiton
Blue Spider Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Woking
Surrey Summit (Surry Sports Park - Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Guildford)
WEST
Hang. Bouldering (nearest tube - Hounslow Central)
The Nest Bouldering (nearest tube - Hayes & Harlington)
Westway (Everyone Active - Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Latimer Road)
City Bouldering, White City Bouldering and (restricted) autobelays (nearest tube - Wood Lane, White City)
Arch: Arch Acton Bouldering (nearest tube - Acton Central)
RavensWall Bouldering (nearest tube - Ravenscourt Park)
NORTH WEST
Arch: North Bouldering (nearest tube - Burnt Oak
HarroWall (LCC - Bouldering (nearest tube - Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Hemel XC Top rope, lead, bouldering, autobelays (nearest tube - Marlowes, St Alban's City)
Chiltern Lifestyle Centre (Everyone Active - Top rope, lead, bouldering (nearest tube - Amersham)
The fantastic thing that London offers is a broad range of communities centred around climbing. Here are a few to check out.
Asian Climbing Crew Social climbing group for Asian climbers in London
Clmbxr Climbing group providing a safe space for Black and underrepresented climbers
UK Paraclimbing Collective Inclusive climbing group running open socials for paraclimbers all over London
ClimbingQTs London's largest LGBTQIA+ climbing group, with regular indoor climbing socials
ClimbMuz Climbing group for Muslim women based in London
Black Lizard Diverse climbing group especially for those facing additional barriers to access
Paraclimbing London Paraclimbing group in London for climbers with a range of disabilities
Trans Climbing Climbing group providing a safe space for trans climbers, open to all
Wanderers of Colour POC (People of Colour) led collective with regular climbing meet ups
Chicks Send It Women and fem-identifyig bouldering meet ups
London Rock Climbers Mixed group of Londoners who climb together indoors and outdoors
United We Climb More of an umbrella organisation, not London specific
Climbing clubs are more formalised groups and London has a long tradition of keen clubs.
Rockhoppers Mountaineering & Climbing Club
London Mountaineering Club
North London Climbing and Mountaineering Club
Marylebone Mountaineering & Climbing Club
The 8th Day Adventure Club
The Alpine Club
ICAS Climbing Club
Ibex Mountain & Hill Walking Club
Brixton Climbers' Club
NotSoTrad LGBTQIA+ climbers who climb in and outdoors together, based in London
The many universities centred in the capital have a great club scene on offer.
Birkbeck Climbing Club
Brunel Mountaineering Society
City Mountaineering Club
Goldsmiths Bouldering Club
Imperial Mountaineering Club
King's Climbing/ Mountaineering
Kingston Mountaineering (Climbing) Club
London Business School Expedition Club
Queen Mary Climbing
Royal Veterinary College Mountaineering
UCL Climbing and Mountaineering Club
St George's Climbing Society
SOAS Climbing & Mountaineering Club
University of the Arts UAL Climbing
University of London Mounaineering
University of Surrey Mountaineering Group
University of West London UWL Climbing
Lastly, there are great opportunities for outdoor climbing. This ranges from free-to-use boulders in city parks to natural cliffs and crags in Kent. They give unique experiences not to be found indoors.
Fairlop Waters boulder park, East London
The UK's largest boulder park consisting of nine man made boulders
Shoreditch boulder, Central / NE London
Single granite boulder with over 19 problems in Shoreditch Park
North East London A massive piece of quarried Cornish granite located in open green space in Hackney
Near Tunbridge Wells Sandstone crag popular thanks to its south-facing, quick-drying rock, range of climbs and the ease of access - top-roping and bouldering only
Near Tunbridge Wells Most popular sandstone crag in East Sussex
Cardiff
Our film looks at the great and lively community that thrives there. It also looks at the indoor walls, the crags and the clubs. It’s a great place to live as a climber and if you want to get involved, then here are a few places to start out. Let’s check it out!
WATCH: City Climb | Cardiff
In Cardiff itself there is Boulders, with roped climbing and bouldering
Roc-Bloc, which is pure bouldering.
Further up in the Valleys there is The Spot Climbing Centre
If you want to connect with a climbing club, there are several in the area:
Formal Clubs
Gwent Mountaineering Club
South Wales Mountaineering Club
Uni based
Cardiff University Mountaineering Club
Cardiff Met University Mountaineering Club
University of South Wales Climbing Club
If you want to get a guidebook to climbing outside, then there are some great ones available:
Bouldering
South Wales Bouldering Guidebook by Eliot Stephens
South Wales Bouldering Guidebook by Julian Sykes
As well as this website.
Routes
A good select guide to local crags is South Wales Rock.
And if you are going to venture outside, remember to check out the BMC’s Respect the Rock video series.
Liverpool
Welcome to Liverpool! City Climb is our tour of some of our favourite climbing cities and in this episode we are travelling to the home of The Beatles to see what is on offer to a climber.
Liverpool is acknowledged as one of the friendliest cities in the UK and its townspeople are full of smiles and a warm welcome. And if you dip your toe into its climbing scene you will soon find that to be true. Let’s check it out!
WATCH: City Climb | Liverpool
For roped climbing and bouldering, check out Awesome Walls. "Great climbing for all ages, friendly staff and fab coffee!"
For bouldering-specific walls, Liverpool is blessed with two great venues:
The Climbing Hangar Sandhills: "Great vibes, chilled atmosphere, amazing food, helpful and friendly staff."
The Climbing Hangar Matchworks: “The staff are all really friendly and helpful, especially as I'm still early on in my bouldering career!”
A great way to meet people who share your interest is to join a club. These also are great for giving guidance on things like climbing outside.
Merseyside Mountaineering Club
Vagabond Mountaineering Club
If you are at one of the city’s universities, there are great clubs on offer:
University of Liverpool Mountaineering Club
Liverpool John Moores University Climbing Club
If you are venturing outside for a climb on the region’s fantastic crags, then the BMC have a beautiful guidebook to everything in the area. Check it out.
And of course, as one of the BMC’s roles is to care for the rock we love so much, so have a look at one of the BMC’s Respect the Rock videos before you venture outside.
And if you are smitten with the climbing locally, have a look at Friends of Pex Hill for inspiration and info on how you can help keep your local crags pristine.
So there you go. If you are new to climbing or new to Liverpool then come and check it out. And if you like it, why not join the BMC and add your voice and support to the work we do on your behalf.