City Climb: London

Posted by Niall Grimes on 08/12/2022

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. This is an article to accompany out City Climb: London film with all the information you need if you want to try it out and want to get involved. So let’s go.

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 on BMC TV

Indoor Walls

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)   

Climbing Communities

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

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  Croydon Mountaineering Club

University Clubs

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   

Outdoor 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

Mabley Green Boulder

North East London   A massive piece of quarried Cornish granite located in open green space in Hackney

Bowle's Rocks

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


Harrison's Rocks

Near Tunbridge Wells   Most popular sandstone crag in East Sussex

We are the BMC

We are the national representative body for climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers in England and Wales. For anyone who ventures onto the hills, crags and indoor walls of the UK, the BMC is for you. We believe in the power of climbing and mountains to change lives and we are here to support, encourage and inspire you in these fantastic activities, and at the same to protect the places we love.

Since we were formed in 1944 we have had a clear purpose: to make the climbing and outdoor experience of the people we represent as good as it can be. And while these activities and participants have changed and grown immeasurably over those years this purpose holds as true as ever. The numbers of people climbing in the UK today is staggering, and grows all the time; our hills call out to more and more people than ever before; the number and diversity of people who share our passion is incredible. We are here to represent you.

You can get involved with the BMC via its area meetings, where you can meetpeople who share your interests, join in activities and stay up to date with the organisation. For more details about the London & South East area, see here.


Youth Outdoor Climbing Courses

Whether you want to make the leap from indoor climbing into Sport or Trad climbing outdoors, we run many courses across the country and throughout the year that are specially for 11-17 year olds.

BOOK: Youth Trad Climbing Course

BOOK: Youth Sport Climbing Course

Subsidised Youth Course Places

There are a large number of free places on courses for families who may struggle to afford it. Any families who live in rented accommodation and who receive income support or universal credit may contact the instructor of a course or Alex West for a place.

U27 Membership 

From just £1.77 a month it's never been easier to join and support our work: 

JOIN TODAY: BMC Under 27 Membership


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