Seeking advice!

[allochthonous]

I've been reading this community with envy for a while and finally decided to take the climbing plunge (hopefully not literally) this weekend.

I've tried climbing a couple of times before and loved it but for various didn't take it any further; now I have a bit of time I'd like to try indoor (and eventually outoor, although this may not be the time of year for it...) properly. I am effectively a complete beginner and wondering where to start.

I've been looking at beginners classes and I am a bit confused with the variety of introductory sessions available for indoor climbing. Some walls offer six-hour beginners sessions while some are happy with an hour-long induction session before they let you start climbing. Would you recommend doing a short induction first, or going straight for the longer sessions (given that I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it)?

Also, if anyone has experience with climbing walls in London, and recommendations which to go for and which to avoid, I'd love to hear about it!

Comments

[allochthonous]

Thank you, both for the welcome and the advice! I am in west London (not far from Westway, and I've got a taster session there tomorrow to hopefully remind myself how much fun it is!) but the only friend I know who climbs regularly does so at the Arch (which is apparently closing according to its website? And also seems to be mainly bouldering as far as I can tell?). I would like to try route climbing as well as bouldering, so maybe I'll stick to Westway for now.

[rydra_wong]

Just to clarify: the original Arch building, at London Bridge, is closing because of the station expansion (I was there earlier today for my last climb, and am currently all verklempt about it -- I have a lot of memories associated with that place).

However, they've got another (newer and larger) building at the Biscuit Factory, not far from Bermondsey Tube station, which is very much open. And I gather the plan is to open a second building to replace the London Bridge one.

The Arch is bouldering-only; it's where I most often climb, because I'm primarily a boulderer. And it's lovely and they've been very good to me.

The Westway has lots and lots of of route-climbing (I sometimes go there to route-climb with friends), but a relatively small amount of bouldering.

So it's a good place to get started and to learn the skills to top-rope and belay safely, and an excellent place if route-climbing turns out to be your primary interest. There's a noticeboard there which often has messages up from people looking for climbing partners; the UKclimbing.com forums are also often used by people looking for partners to climb at various London climbing walls.

However, if you find you enjoy bouldering too, I'd recommend trying the Arch as well. *g*

ETA: This time I forgot to say: I hope you have an excellent time tomorrow!

[allochthonous]

Thank you, I've just come back and it was great! My upper body strength is non-existent so I was defeated by a tiny overhang on the last wall we did, but it was so much fun, despite the pain in my forearms right now... I'm definitely going to see about signing up for a proper course some time over the next two weeks!

[aella_irene]

Another London climber *waves* I go to the Castle, up near Manor House station. Both top roping and bouldering, various types of lessons, and a cafe at the top which does wonderful organic food. Lots of routes, changed regularly, but not too regularly, and for a decent spread of abilities.

[wpadmirer]

Jealous! You have a cafe in your gym? JEALOUS.

[rydra_wong]

I can second the rec for the Castle too -- it's one of the other places I sometimes route-climb, depending on who I'm climbing with and where the group consensus dictates that we go.

Further to travel if you're coming from West London, but it's a nice place.

[allochthonous]

I was looking at the Castle and it seems to have lots of good things said about it, but it's such a schlep over from where I'm based that I think I'll stick to the Westway at the moment. But if it's something I end up doing a lot of, I definitely intend to take a polygamous approach towards climbing walls!

[ridicully]

I'll third the Castle rec!

[aella_irene]

Oooh, do you go? What time of day?

[ridicully]

Mostly Wednesdays and Fridays in the later afternoon/early evening.
But with occasional early afternoons on other days thrown in.

You?

[aella_irene]

Late afternoons/Early evenings Tuesday and Thursday, sometimes Fridays, but my normal bouldering partner fences then. Sometimes weekends.