Clip ‘n Climb ILKLEY (Independent family business)
BEST FOR
Ages 2-80
ENTRY
from £10.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Ilkley
What it’s like
Twenty-one climbing walls to work through, from a teddy-rescue challenge for tots to disco climbs with the lights down.
There are 21 different wall challenges here, so the plan is usually to let them loose and see which ones they keep going back to. Rescue the Teddy is the one to bring a cuddly toy for (or borrow one on the day), and if you time it right you can catch a disco climb, lights and music included. Under-12s need an adult on site throughout, though once a child can clip themselves in, which the centre reckons is around age 8, you can hand that job over to staff and hover from the sidelines instead.
TOTS sessions run 25 minutes for the 2½ to 6 crowd at £10.50, while everyone from 4 upwards gets a full 55-minute climb for £15. That's not pocket change for an hour of activity, but the number of walls means nobody's queuing for the one good thing all afternoon. Turn up in proper closed-toe shoes, because sandals and wellies get you turned away at the door, and get there 15-20 minutes early for the safety briefing and harnessing or you'll eat into your own climb time.
Term-time opening is a bit of a puzzle: Thursdays are closed, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons only, and it's worth knowing they can close early if nobody's booked in, so booking 24 hours ahead is the safe move rather than turning up on spec. School holidays and weekends open properly from 9:10 to 5. There's a café on site doing coffee and light lunches, and parking's free for two and a half hours in Station Plaza, which should just about cover you if you don't dawdle over the flat white afterwards.
Birthday parties get an hour of climbing plus 30-40 minutes of food, pizzas and hot dogs and the like, for £25 a head with a minimum of ten. If you just want the climb without the catering, weekend parties are £17 a head with no minimum, dropping to £15 in the summer holidays. Ilkley train station is about 50 steps from the door, so if you're coming without a car it's genuinely easy to reach.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 2½ to 12, though the walls flex all the way up to adults
- Booking
- Book online or call ahead. Booking in advance recommended as sessions fill quickly
- Parking
- Free for up to 2½ hours in Station Plaza car park
- Food
- On-site café with fresh coffee, tea, snacks, and light lunch
- Getting there by bus or train
- Ilkley train station, literally next door (50 steps away)
- Parties
- Birthday parties with 1-hour climb and 30-40 minutes food (pizzas, hot dogs, finger salads, crisps, ice-lollies)
- Term-time hours are limited and Thursdays are closed entirely, so check which day you're going before booking
- Closed-toe shoes are compulsory, no sandals or wellies
- Arrive 15-20 minutes early for the safety briefing or it eats into your climb time
- Parking is free for 2.5 hours at Station Plaza, plenty for a standard session
- Gift vouchers are available and valid for 6 months if you want to give this as a present
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£10.50 for a 25-minute TOTS climb (age 2½ to 6), £15 for the full 55-minute climb from age 4 up. Parties start at £17 a head for climb-only at weekends.
Do we need to book?
Booking ahead is strongly recommended, ideally 24 hours before, since sessions fill up and they can close early if nothing's booked in.
What are the opening hours?
Weekends and school holidays it's 9:10am to 5pm. Term-time it's shorter and patchy: Monday mornings into the afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons only, and closed on Thursdays.
Is it OK for a toddler?
Yes, TOTS sessions cover 2½ to 6 year olds and run for 25 minutes rather than the full 55.
Do parents have to stay?
If your child is under 12, one adult over 18 needs to stay on site. Once a child can clip themselves in, usually around age 8, you can often step back and let staff handle it.
What should we wear?
Closed-toe shoes only. Sandals, flip-flops and wellies aren't allowed in.
When should we arrive?
15 to 20 minutes before your booked time for the safety briefing and harnessing. Turn up late and you lose that time from your climb.
Is there food on site?
There's a café doing coffee, snacks and light lunches. Parties come with pizzas, hot dogs, finger salads and ice lollies if you book the catered option.
What about parking?
Free for up to two and a half hours in the Station Plaza car park, with paid options elsewhere in town if you need longer.
Can we do a birthday party there?
£25 a head gets an hour of climbing and food, minimum 10 people. Climb-only parties are £17 a head at weekends with no minimum, or £15 in the summer holidays.
What if we're sick or need to cancel?
Let them know by phone or email as soon as you can and your booking gets moved to reschedule later. There are no refunds for this.
Is it accessible by train?
Very much so, Ilkley train station is about 50 steps from the door.
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