The Climbing Lab

What it’s like

Bouldering walls with colour-coded kids' routes, a power tunnel to try, and no need to book once you're a member.

This is bouldering, not high ropes, so there's no harness faff and no queueing for a belay partner. Kids get their own area with routes graded by colour and holds sized for smaller hands, and there's a Titan Olympic replica wall for anyone who fancies the grown-up version. The power tunnel is there for the ones who've worked out that climbing sideways under an overhang is harder than it looks, and usually more fun.

Under 5s climb free with a paying adult, though the routes and grading really seem built with 5 and up in mind, so a toddler is more likely to potter than climb properly. The family pass is £15 for one adult and one child, plus £7.50 for each extra family member, and it includes free shoe hire for everyone, which saves you £3.50 a head on the door. Chalk hire is £1.50 if you need it. It's not a cheap Tuesday afternoon out at full price, but the Tuesday and Thursday community deal (£8.50, 6am to 4pm) and the Monday/Wednesday/Friday student deal at the same price make it a lot more forgiving if your week is flexible.

Once you've done an intro session, you don't need to book again; you just turn up and climb whenever you like, which suits families who want to drop in after school rather than plan a whole outing. There's a café on site and indoor seating if you want to watch rather than climb, and dogs are welcome too, with water bowls out for them.

Birthday parties get their own space as a basecamp, with a guided hour of climbing built round it. You can bring your own food or order a takeaway in for afterwards, and there's room for the cake and candles without anyone needing to clear a bouldering mat first.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

5 to 18, with under 5s climbing free alongside an adult

Dogs

Allowed. Water bowls available

Getting there by bus or train

Secure cycle shelter and close to city centre

Parties

1-hour guided session with food and party space

Worth knowing

Free shoe hire included in family pass (£3.50 value)

• Under 5s climb free with a paying adult, but the kids' routes are really pitched at 5 and up.
• The family pass shoe hire saves £3.50 a head, worth doing even for one visit.
• Party sessions run Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 1pm and 3pm, so those slots book out fastest.
• There's a secure cycle shelter if you're coming by bike rather than car.
• Monthly pass holders can bring a friend free once a month, shoes included.

Plan your visit

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