Up at the O2 | Review

 

Fancy becoming an urban mountaineer for the day, climbing 52m above London kitted out in a climb suit, boots and harness? Of course you do!

A few weeks ago Russell and I did just that after being invited to review the Up at the O2 experience. There’s no lift, no escalator, and no-one to carry you (unfortunately). This is an experience that gets your blood pumping, your head in the great outdoors and blows away the cobwebs.

The exhilarating 90 minute experience sees you ascend all the way to the top of The O2 on a fabric walkway suspended 2m above the surface of The O2 roof (52m above ground level and 380m long).

Before setting off on our adventure we were fully briefed about our 'expedition' at the 'base camp' and issued with our climbing gear - don't worry about footwear as they provide you with boots, (make sure you bring spear socks) or a coat as you're issues with a very flattering climbing suit.

We were also given a harness and safety latch which attaches you to the cable system that runs along the full length of the walkway. I must admit this damped my experience as you need to wiggle it through safety points every few meters which was rather fiddly when you're walking up a steep incline on a bouncy walkway - I couldn't help thinking that the must be an easier system out there!

 

 

 

The walkway is pretty steep at points with an incline of 28° on the way up and 30° on the way back down; their website explains you will 'require a little physical exertion' but I was completely puffed out after the initial incline! That might be due to the massive lunch I had just devoured...

However, the stunning reward for your efforts when you reach the observation platform makes the short but steep climb worth it. You're detached from the cable system and free to walk around to take in the spectacular 360 degree panorama views.

  

With views of Canary Wharf to Wembley Stadium and the QE2 Bridge, it's a totally different way to see London. Being outside we felt connected to our surroundings compared to inside a glass building, and being at the O2 there was plenty to do after our climb finished.