STAFF REVIEW: UP AT THE O2 CLIMBING EXPERIENCE

I’ve always been intrigued by the Up at The O2 Climbing Experience in London, so when Kaia and I were invited to take part for this review, I was excited to see what was in store for us!

The Up at The O2 Climbing Experience is a unique 90-minute London adventure, where participants get the opportunity to climb the O2 building – with ample photo opportunities at the summit. Many popular artists have performed at The O2, including Beyoncé and One Direction, so some would say you are literally “on top of the stars” when climbing.

Travelling To The O2

Kaia and I arrived at North Greenwich tube station, which is a two-minute walk from the entrance. This venue is easily accessible, as signs are provided from the tube station right up until you arrive. Looking up at the O2 and feeling extremely small, it reminded me of the scene on EastEnders where Jean conquers the climb, which made me very determined. This experience took place during COVID-19, so there were safety precautions put in place.

Arriving at the experience 15 minutes before our time slot, we were greeted by the friendly team. Next, we were given a safety form to fill out prior to the climb, and this is completed outside in order to ensure social distancing from other participants. Following on from this, we went into the briefing room in our ‘group bubbles’ where we met our brilliant instructor Jacob. He showed us a video of what we were going to expect from Up at The O2 to ease our nerves.

Up At The O2 Safety Equipment

Next, we were taken through to the equipment room where we were given some shoes, a harness and a box to store our valuables whilst we climbed the O2. As we walked to the starting point and I saw the walkway, I underestimated how steep it really was! I knew that this was going to be a real achievement once I had completed it.

At the start of the walkway, there is an opportunity to get your photo taken by the professional photographer. You are also able to take your phone up in a secured pocket, for your all-important pictures at the top platform (52m above ground level).

View Up At The O2

As someone who is not from the area, it was an interesting experience to gain some knowledge about London and we had a great, knowledgeable instructor to help. After a lot of sweat and amazing views, we made it to the top! Getting the opportunity to see a 360-degree view of London was surreal. After taking in the views and reading some history about the River Thames, Jacob was on hand to take mine and Kaia’s photo.

It was time to head back down the walkway, which included the steepest section of the climb. Jacob chatted to Kaia and I on the way down, which took my mind off how steep it was, and we soon arrived on solid ground. At the end of the walkway there was a sign that said we had just lost 450 calories; I couldn’t believe it! If only all workouts were as fun as that.

The instructor made sure that everyone had a great experience and lead us to our belongings, which then followed through to the gift shop and the professional photographs. Last of all, we made our way out, which lead to a shopaholic’s dream including shops such as Nike, Adidas and Levi’s, to name a few. There were also many restaurants participating in the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, to continue our fun day out in London. 

I was extremely impressed with the team at the O2 for implementing COVID-19 safety procedures including social distancing, hand sanitiser and making sure we stayed within our group bubbles throughout. Kaia and I had an amazing time climbing the O2, and would like to thank Jacob and the team for making it so memorable.