Crazy Climb

What it’s like

Twenty-plus roped climbing challenges, from spinning cogs to teetering towers, with a 1.5-hour session built around real climbing time.

This is proper roped climbing, not a soft play wall. There are over 20 challenges dotted about, including spinning robot cogs and towers that wobble under you, all rigged with automatic safety devices so nobody's belaying by hand. Sessions run about an hour and a half: roughly the first 30 minutes is getting kitted up, briefed and practising, then you get close to an hour of actual climbing before a few minutes to dekit.

Five is the minimum age, and if your child is 5 to 7 you'll need to be up there with them helping clip in and out at each challenge, so don't plan on sitting this one out with a coffee. From 8 upwards, most kids can manage the self-clipping system on their own, which is the point where you can actually hand them over and watch from the ground. One instructor covers up to 14 climbers, which feels about right for a place with this many stations to keep an eye on.

At £16.50 a session if you book at least 12 hours ahead, it's not a cheap hour and a half, and turning up 15 minutes late means you miss the safety briefing and might not get to climb at all, which is a harsh one for a family running behind on a Saturday morning. Parties are £24 a head with a 2.25-hour slot covering the safety brief, an hour of climbing and 45 minutes in a decorated party room with pizza and sweets thrown in, though you can't bring your own food in alongside it.

There's a café on site doing homemade pizzas and wraps if you want to make a morning of it, and parking's free but limited to around 15 spaces, with Luckwell Road as the backup. Step-free access runs right through via the Luckwell Road entrance, and the roped climbing areas themselves are step-free too.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

8 to 17 who can climb unaided; 5 to 7s need an adult clipping in with them

Booking

Early bird discount (£16.50) when booked 12+ hours in advance

Parking

Around 15 free spaces on-site. Additional free parking often available on Luckwell Road

Food

Café with homemade pizzas, salads, wraps, cakes, sandwiches, local beers, ciders, coffee, smoothies and soft drinks

Wheelchairs

Step-free access via Luckwell Road side entrance

Getting there by bus or train

5-minute walk from Parson Street railway station (Bristol Temple Meads connection)

Parties

£24 per person. 2.25 hours including 30-min safety brief, 1-hour climbing, 45-min party room

• Book 12+ hours ahead for the £16.50 early bird rate instead of the standard £17
• Cancelling a single session needs 72 hours notice, parties need 7 days
• Parties need a minimum of 8 participants to book
• Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, with shorter hours over the rest of the festive week
• It's a 5-minute walk from Parson Street railway station if you're not driving

Plan your visit

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