Jump to it
The eternal conundrum of what to do with the kids on weekends and during school holidays seems to have been solved by a quirky new craze. Trampolining and free-jumping centres are springing up (groan) all over the place and, along with climbing schools, they are providing a great outlet for parents and kids to let off steam and have fun together. We’ve rounded-up the UK’s best indoor activity centres to keep the kids hopping and happy.
1/7 The Project Climbing Centre, Poole
The Project is fast becoming the heart of the local community in Poole, Dorset. With 300 metres of climbing and bouldering wall, this centre is less overwhelming and has an intimate and friendly atmosphere that beginner climbers may prefer over the larger venues.
Parkour, Taekwon-Do and massage therapies are also available and the centre is conveniently located in a shopping mall and has its own Lookout Cafe; a great place to grab a smoothie and enjoy the view from the lookout balcony over the climbing floor.
Price
Junior casual climbing sessions (for 7–13 years) cost £12 for 90 minutes; Junior Club coaching sessions are £70 per half term
Book
01202 660 153
Find out more about The Project
2/7 Oxygen Free-jumping, various locations, England
With Little-O sessions especially for the under-fives and 150 connected trampolines for school-aged kids, Oxygen is the perfect place to come if you need to entertain children of different ages.
A jumping runway, giant airbag, foam pit and obstacle course ensure that no one will have time to complain that they’re bored in the school holidays. Bear Grylls has even given Oxygen his stamp of approval with his own obstacle courses installed at the centres.
Price
Around £8.50 for a one-hour free jumping session
Book
0203 846 1386
Find out more about Oxygen
3/7 Air Space Freestyle Jumping, Glasgow, Scotland
Known as Scotland’s original trampoline park, Air Space certainly has everything you could want from an extreme bounce venue. The impressive 37,000 square feet is filled with every kind of trampoline imaginable, from giant squishy air bags to the UK’s only walk-up-wall of its kind.
Trampoline basketball and dodgeball are just some of the 12 separate bounce-based activities on offer, as well as group and private lessons. Free parking and a cafe add to the convenience; perfect for a memorable day out. Sessions for children with Autism are also run at every Air Space venue on Sundays from 9-10am.
4/7 Awesome Walls, Dublin, Ireland
If you prefer coffee to climbing, why not take a seat in the Awesome Walls cafe and watch the little ones have the time of their lives in a kids’ climbing class? Children between six and 16 can enjoy two hours of rock climbing with an experienced instructor and learn how to become a real-life Spiderman or Spiderwoman.
A weekly School of Rock also runs for kids who want to progress in their techniques and learn more advanced skills. Taster sessions are available for the less confident and parties or school trips are also catered for.
Price
Climbing class is £14.50 per session on weekend mornings and the School of Rock is £14.50 per session on weekend mornings or Friday evenings
Book
Phone 01880 0088
Find out more about Awesome Walls
5/7 Ice Factor ice climbing centre, Kinlochleven, Scotland
Deservedly claiming the title of ‘coolest’ climbing centre in the UK, the climbing experience at Ice Factor is second to none. 500 tons of snow and ice reach 12 metres high, and there is a combination of beginner to extreme routes to ensure that everyone has a great time.
Everything from taster sessions to unsupervised climbing is possible at Ice Factor, and regular rock climbing is available for those who fancy keeping warm. There are also climbing expeditions and activity breaks organised through the centre and staff will help you arrange a break tailored to your family’s needs.
Price
A child’s first lesson with an instructor costs £25; adult lessons start from £48
Book
01855 831 100
Find out more about Ice Factor
6/7 Bounce GB, various locations, England
The ‘first and original’ trampoline centre in the UK, Bounce GB has something for everyone. A hundred interconnected trampolines span 20,000 feet of activity space including a foam pit, ‘tumble tracks’ and the ominously named Gladiator Pits.
Teens can do their thing on Beatz Teen Fridays on the first Friday of each month, and pro-bouncers can practise for the annual Dodgeball Championship or push themselves to the limit at a Reboot Fitness class.
Price
A one-hour bounce session is £11.99 or £9.99 when booked online
Book
01908 630 783
Find out more about BounceGB
7/7 Rock UK Summit Centre, South Wales
Formerly the Welsh International Climbing Centre, Rock UK offers brilliant climbing opportunities both indoor and outdoors. With 18 metre high indoor walls and 180 climbing routes there is certain to be something to suit every skill and confidence level.
The unique feature of Rock UK is its indoor man-made caving system complete with waterfall, for those who like their challenges with a little more adrenaline! Membership costs £25 a year which we think is more than offset by the incredible value of the individual climbing sessions.
Price
Climbing centre prices vary from £2.50 for the under-fives to £8 for adults
Book
0844 8000 222