London's best adventure activities for thrill-seeking kids and teens

By Jen Barton Packer on 19/6/2019

London is every child's playground, from theatre-lovers to animal fans. It's also a brilliant city for urban adventurers of all kinds, whether your child's an aspiring archaeologist who wants to go digging along the Thames or a wildling who dreams of scaling an ice wall. Here are the amazing, adrenaline-pumping adventures kids and teens should try now...

Best for soaring through the sky: Zip Now at Archbishop's Park

Travel across a 225 metre zip wire at speeds of 50 km per hour and step into the sky from 35m high as you take in the awesome views of Southbank's most famous landmarks with Zip Now's zip wires at Archbishop's Park. Done the zip wire and hankering for yet another thrill? Then try the Mega Drop - a freefall jump - to get back down to the ground.

WHEN

12 Jun 2019 – 15 Sep 2019, various

WHERE

Archbishop's Park, Carlisle Lane, Lambeth, London, SE1

Best for watersports: WakeUp Docklands

You don't need to go somewhere warm and exotic to try extreme watersports - all you need is a bit of sunshine, the River Thames and WakeUp Docklands. Based in Royal Victoria Dock, it's London's only cable wake park and offers wakeboarding, stand up paddleboarding and hydrofoiling. Suitable for urban explorers aged 10 and up.

WHERE

Royal Victoria Beach, London, E16 1AG.

Best for bouncing like you've never bounced before: The Monster

Billed as the "craziest bouncy castle in the world," The Monster is a massive, 300-metre soft play zone coming to Alexandra Palace this summer. With over 40 obstacles, including an 18-metre "Mega Slide" and terrifying "House of Hell," kids will also love the insane amounts of glitter, flamingo ball pits and unicorn floats. Look out for kids sessions, suitable from age 7.

WHEN

August 27-August 28, 2019

WHERE

Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY

Best for scaling new heights: Clip 'n Climb Chelsea

A beloved birthday party destination, Clip 'n Climb Chelsea is a brilliant and colourful climbing arena designed to appeal to kids and adults of all ages (and abilities). There are post-school run toddler climbing sessions for the 2-4 set and general climbs from 11am-5pm, where kids aged 4 and up can get harnessed and go. There are 21 climbing challenges, including the Vertical Drop Slide, Leap of Faith (which involves a jump off from the top) and Stairway to Heaven (stepping stone cylinders daredevils will love scaling). Next stop, Everest.

WHERE

19 Michael Road, London, SW6 2ER

Best for treetop explorers: Go Ape

With four London locations (Cockfosters, Alexandra Palace, Battersea Park and Chessington World of Adventures), Go Ape's outdoor adventure courses offer plenty of excitement for kids who love to climb and scramble along the treetops. Risk-takers will be pleased to know the most challenging London course is found at Cockfosters, and features ultra-long zip wires, Tarzan swings and loads of rope climbing obstacles. Suitable for kids 10 and up.

WHERE

Locations in Battersea Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Cockfosters and Alexandra Palace

Best for space-loving warriors: Silver Sabres

LED sabre combat, anyone? Yes, this is the stuff of Star Wars fantasy. Silver Sabres teaches combat sports, gladiator style, for kids aged 5 and up. May the force be with them.

WHERE

20 Blackstock Rd, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DW

Best for modern archaeologists: "Mudlarking" with Thames Explorer

Thames Explorer runs foreshore explorations for families at Millennium Bridge, Rotherhithe and Greenwich, where participants have the chance to discover pieces of history: pottery, bones, pipes and more. Thames Explorer runs an ethical policy so no digging or removing artefacts from the foreshore, however the tidal nature of the Thames uncovers a new array of surface objects each day. If this is the kind of adventure that your child can't get enough of, take them to the free Secret Rivers exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands, so they can see other wonders of nature people have uncovered from London's rivers. Climate-obsessed kids will also enjoy this as an alternative to plogging.

WHERE

Locations at Millennium Bridge, Rotherhithe and Greenwich

Best for running off to join the circus: Flying Fantastic

Hands up if you have a child with fantasies of starring in The Greatest Showman? Don't we all? Give them a taste of life as a high-flyer with aerial arts studio Flying Fantastic, which offers aerial classes for kids from the age of 2 who love to swing and hang. As they get older, children learn aerial hoop, trapeze and silks skills.

WHERE

Locations in Bankside, Battersea, Wimbledon and Old Street

Best for London's version of 'The Wall:' Ice climbing at Vertical Chill

An indoor ice wall in central London? Oh, yeah - there's one in the back of the Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports store in Covent Garden. Teens from 14 can climb (with a parent present). The cost of the session (£35) will include equipment and outerwear rental and you can pay another £25 for tuition if you're a newbie. Sure beats another afternoon sprawled in front of Fortnite.

WHERE

Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, Tower House, 10-12 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7HA

Jump around at London's trampoline parks like Flip Out

Best for getting upside down: London's trampoline parks

Ideal for mini-adventurers (there are toddler jump sessions) or more experienced ones, London's top trampolining centres like Flip Out, which has locations in Brent Cross, Barking and Wandsworth, are ideal for practising new tricks, reaching new heights or just getting rid of that excess energy. Jump around.

WHERE

locations in Brent Cross, Barking and Wandsworth

Best for sporty thrill-seekers: Zorb football with Bubble Boys

Zorb football combines the extreme sport of zorbing - what child doesn't want to see what life's like from inside a giant bubble and bounce around a bit? - and football. London Bubble Football's got kids 10 covered and hosts parties for those aged 6 and up.

WHERE

various locations around London