alien bloc
BEST FOR
Ages 8+
ENTRY
from £7.80
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Real bouldering and roped climbing for kids aged 8 and up, with off-peak tickets to soften the price a bit.
This is climbing, not soft play with a wall stuck on. Kids boulder short routes over crash mats or get harnessed up for rope climbing, and a fair bit of the fun is working out which handhold actually gets you up rather than just hauling yourself there. It suits a child who wants a physical challenge with some thinking attached, and the site is firm that under 8s aren't allowed on the wall at all.
The age rules matter before you turn up. Under 14s can only climb with an adult supervising on the mat, and 14 to 17 year olds need a parental consent form or an adult with them. If you're happy just watching and shouting encouragement, you get onto the wall area free, which is handy if one parent wants to climb and the other would rather hold the coats.
Pricing moves with time of day. An under 16 ticket is £7.80 off-peak and £8.30 at peak, while adults pay £11.50 to £13.50 depending on when you go. Boot hire is £3.50 extra if you haven't got your own shoes, which stings a bit once you've already paid full price at the weekend. There are also younger-friendly options away from open climbing: a taster session for 5+ is £40 per group for an hour with up to three kids, and a parent and child course for 5+ runs £55 per adult over two hours, teaching you to belay so you can bring your own kids on the wall afterwards without needing another adult there.
There's no need to book for a day pass, you just turn up and fill in some paperwork. That's handy if plans change last minute, though it also means weekend afternoons could get busy with no way to guarantee a slot. A day pass gets you into their sister centre too, which is worth knowing if your kids still have energy left after one wall. There's a café for afterwards and parking on site.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 8 and up; under 8s only via the taster or parent and child course
- Booking
- No booking required for day passes
- Parking
- Dedicated on site parking available
- Parties
- Birthday parties for aged 8+, 1.5 hour session, min 2 participants, £96 per group of 6, gear included, seating area available for food
- A day pass covers both this centre and its sister centre alien rock on the same day
- There's a weekly kids' club for aged 8+ at £16 a session with gear hire included
- Off-peak pricing applies on weekdays before 4pm, weekends count as peak
- 14 to 17 year olds need a parental consent form if not supervised by an adult
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Under 16s pay £7.80 off-peak or £8.30 at peak, adults pay £11.50 to £13.50. Boot hire is £3.50 on top if you need it.
Do we need to book?
No booking for day passes, you just turn up and do the paperwork. Courses and birthday parties do need booking.
What age can kids start climbing?
The minimum age for open climbing is 8, and they must have an adult supervising on the mat at all times.
My child is younger than 8, is there anything for them?
There's a taster session for 5+ at £40 per group for an hour, or a parent and child course for 5+ at £55 per adult for two hours where you learn to belay them yourself.
Can I watch without paying?
If you're supervising rather than climbing, you get onto the wall area free. You do need to stay on the mat with them.
What about food and parking?
There's a café on site for afterwards and dedicated parking, so no need to hunt for a space nearby.
Can we do a birthday party there?
For aged 8+, a 1.5 hour session with gear included costs £96 for a group of 6, and there's a seating area for food.
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