City Climb: your guide to climbing in some of the UK’s finest cities

Posted by Niall Grimes on 19/11/2022

City Climb is a series of short films from the BMC that look 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.

In the first series we choose 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.

Our first films is out now and Ness and Aimee would love to tell you all about Sheffield, Rotime and Annie want you to learn about London and Eben and Hannah are buzzing about Cardiff..

WATCH: City Climb | Sheffield on BMC TV

WATCH: City Climb | London on BMC TV

WATCH: City Climb | Cardiff on BMC TV

WATCH: City Climb | Liverpool on BMC TV

Courses for indoor climbers making their first moves onto rock

Who are they for?

These courses are ideal for novice climbing club members, students, parents and individuals who may have had the odd taster of climbing outdoors and wish to gain key safety skills at an excellent price. They may also be a good precursor for people contemplating the Single Pitch Award training. You should already know how to put on a harness and belay. These courses are for people aged 18 or older.

Under 18?: Check out our rock climbing courses for climbers aged 11-17

What do the courses cover?

A variety of topics will be covered during the day as well as offering a fun taster to outdoor climbing. Topics may include:

Types of trad climbing equipment
Placing good protection
Building good belays
Using guidebooks
Seconding/top roping