If your children are climbing the walls at home why not take them out to climb instead (sorry that joke was too obvious). There are a range of climbing walls in Essex from clip and climb locations with colourful walls to dedicated climbing and bouldering centres which focus on teaching the skills of climbing and offer coaching. It is surprisingly hard work and requires a good amount of arm and leg strength.
You will be expected to sign a waiver and have a briefing before climbing. It is pretty safe if they follow the instructions, but it's really important they pay attention to where they walk and don't go in the drop zone underneath where someone is climbing. The more serious climbing centres like The Lock Climbing Wall, Colchester Climbing Project and Rock and Boulder require proper shoes, for the more "fun" locations sensible closed toe footwear like trainers are fine.
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| My children and I had great fun when we went to the climbing walls at Lakeside, Essex |
Age recommendations vary between sites, but younger children are often limited in what they can climb on due to their strength and length of their limbs.
Indoor Climbing Walls Suitable For Children in Essex
Air Hop (Chelmsford)
12 Richmond Road, Dukes Park Estate, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6UA
There are 32 climbing challenges and 3 extreme challenges (stairway to heaven, the leap of faith and the vertical drop slide) which have a minimum height of 1.2m. A session starts at £15.95 for an hour (Well 55 minutes), but the extreme challenges cost extra.
Children age 4 and over can take part in sessions.
Colchester Climbing Project
Unit B&C Global Park, 12 Moorside, Colchester, Essex CO1 2TJ
Essex's only dedicated bouldering centre. Bouldering is a type of climbing that doesn't use ropes, but has padded flooring. They offer kids classes and holiday clubs for 7 plus. It is possible to climb without attending a club, but adults must complete the required supervision training.
Colchester Clip 'N Climb
Colchester Leisure Park, Northern Gateway, Colchester, Essex
Expected to open in April with a climbing and soft play centre for younger children. You can sign up on the website for updates.
Essex Outdoors - Lock Climbing Wall
Burntmill Lane, Harlow CM20 2QS
The Lock Climbing Wall claims to be Essex's largest indoor climbing wall. Children can climb from age 8 with either an adult supervising (if they are a competent climber themselves) or in an instructor led session. They offer intro sessions and training for children to progress. There are over 120 climbing routes available. This is a climbing centre for people who are serious about climbing rather than bright colourful adventures for a party. They offer 1:1 training sessions for children aged 5 upwards.
There is also a high ropes course and vertical obstacle course on site at Harlow High Adventure.
Limited free parking onsite or use the free car park at the Moorhen pub
Indirock
First Floor Victoria Plaza, Southend-on-Sea SS2 5SP
An indoor bouldering wall. The minimum age for the main climbing area is 4, with 1:1 direct supervision. For children aged 6 to 13 they offer various options including a bouldering club and school holiday sessions. Adults can also climb. Day pass for a child is £11, £13.50 for adults. Child monthly unlimited climb and weekly training cost £65. You also need to have climbing shoes or hire them for £3.75
Leisureworld Tiptree
Leisure World Tiptree, Maypole Road, Tiptree, Colchester, CO5 0EW
The "big red climbing wall" is primarily targeted at adults, but they do offer climbing courses for juniors age 8 to 15.
NAMCO Funscape/ Clip n Climb Braintree
Freeport Leisure Village, Charter Way, Braintree, CM77 8YH
A clip and climb with 8 different challenges. Children can take part from age 4 upwards from £12.50 an hour (peak). The climb time is 45 minutes with 15 minutes introduction and harness fitting.
Oxygen Rayleigh
26a Brook Road, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7XL
Primarily a trampoline park, it says you can book a climbing add on to your free jump session for children over 5 for their small climbing area. However at time of updating no available slots are available for the combo ticket so it looks like they aren't available.
Oxygen Romford
Spilsby Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex RM3 8SB
Primarily a trampoline park, a 30 minute climbing session can be added on to an hours jump session for children over 5. The climbing area is small with 8 walls, suitable shoes are required for climbing. £21.50 per child, plus you will need Oxygen jump socks (£3) and there is £1.50 added per booking.
Rock and Boulder
Unit 5, Brooklands Mews, Brooklands Approach, Romford RM1 1DX
Children must be 8 or over to climb and be supervised by an adult at all times, from £9 a session (children), £12.50 (adults) plus shoe hire (£3.50). Membership also available. £4 joining fee which covers an induction for new climbers, free parking and free lockers. Boulder climbing doesn't use a hardness or ropes. Limited parking.
Rock Hub at Basildon Sporting Village
Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, SS14 3GR
They have a small climbing wall with 16 lines of 10 metres high climbing, two auto belays and a bouldering and training area. They accept children from 4 years. They offer courses, family climbs and taster sessions.
Rock Up Lakeside
Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock Way, Grays RM20 2ZP
A climbing centre inside Lakeside shopping centre with "over 25" climbing walls for age 4 and upwards and a softplay for 8 and under. They also have a Toddler climb & play session for children aged 5 and under. Normal climbing sessions last 90 minutes which includes safety briefing and harness fitting. Free parking.
Read my review from our visit to Rock Up.
Stubbers Adventure Centre
Ockendon Road, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2TY
The adventure centre has an indoor Clip n Climb area with 15 walls. This is available for private bookings, but can also be booked for one off sessions. These can be booked for £8 per person for 30 minutes when on site (weekends and holidays). General entry needs to be purchased in addition £3.50 children, £4.50 adults, entry is free with a prebooked activity eg axe-throwing or Kayaking.
VertiGo, Harlow Leisurezone
Second Avenue, Harlow CM20 3DT
The climbing wall area at Harlow Leisurezone is called VertiGo and has 19 challenges. Suitable for age 6 and up, children under 8 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Sessions last 90 minutes which is 30 minutes briefing and 60 minutes climbing. Leap of Faith and Step Tower (called stairway to heaven elsewhere) cost £2.70 each in addition to session price, only open weekends and holidays.
Sessions cost: £8.30 (age 6-7), £10.30 (age 8-15), £13.40 (16 plus).
Make sure you ask for a car park voucher when you pay so you don't have to pay for the car park.
Fairlop Waters (Outdoor free and unsupervised bouldering area)
Technically this Country Park is Redbridge (London) and the climbing is outside, however it deserves a mention due to it's proximity to Essex and it's claim to be the largest boulder park in the UK, plus it's free. You can find the Boulder Park between the lake and Forest Road. It has a variety of sized boulders, some which are easier to climb than others so children can have a go. There are 2 car parks an easy walk away, but they are app parking only (RinGo).
Information as accurate as possible at time of posting, but may be changed by the venues without notice. Check their websites/ facebook pages for the latest information.
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