London is a fantastic city to visit whether you want to have an adrenaline fuelled experience or you want to lie low for the duration of your visit and just relax. And that really is the great thing about London; there is such a variety of ways to explore and enjoy the city that there is something for everyone and every taste and if you want to enjoy an outdoor and exciting adventure then here are just some of the ways that you can do that:-
Abseil Down the Tallest Sculpture in Britain
Standing at 262 feet, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the largest sculpture in the UK and it is now entirely possible to climb the 455 steps up to the top, admire the view across London before abseiling your way back down again. Run by company Wire & Sky, you will be given a full safety briefing before being escorted to the upper viewing platform of the ArcelorMittal Orbit. From this platform it is possible to see across London towards landmarks such as the Shard, Big Ben and Canary Wharf. Once you have taken in the sights you will then begin your adrenaline-fuelled decent to the ground along the outside of the structure which gives you more opportunity to look across the city and see what other famous landmarks you can spot.
Horse Riding in Hyde Park
Hyde Park itself is full of ways to enjoy and engage with the outdoors but one of the more interesting ways is by booking a horse riding session with Hyde Park Stables, located on Rotten Row. These stables are one of the most famous equestrian venues in the whole of the UK and have been open for around 300 years making them pretty historical too. Your horse riding session could see you following paths along the Serpentine Lake or through Hyde Park itself and it is the perfect activity if you are looking to plan something for one of the most romantic London weekend breaks as couple riding lessons are also available. The stables can cater for riders of all abilities so even if you have no experience of horse riding but it sounds like something you would like to do, you will be able to enjoy this unique opportunity to ride through Hyde Park.
Go Swimming Outdoors
For such a built up metropolitan city, London has a surprising number of outdoor swimming pools and lidos which visitors and members of the public can enjoy, and some are even open all year round for those who feel brave enough to face the cold weather afterwards. There is a good mixture of ponds which are open for swimming and constructed swimming pools depending on the type of experience you would like. In North London you have Hampstead Ponds and Kings Cross Pond and in West London a section of the Serpentine Lake has been sectioned off for use during the summer. For more formal swimming pools there are plenty more options such as the Brockwell Lido and Tooting Bec Lido in South London or the ever popular London Fields Lido in East London which would be very accessible if you were booked into the M by Montcalm Shoreditch London Tech City Hotel.
Kayak Along the River Thames
Did you know that it was possible to enjoy kayaking along one of the most famous stretches of water in the world? Kayaking London offer a number of different tours all of which take in the sights as you float your way along the River Thames. There is the Love Float which sees you and your partner in a tandem kayak travelling along the Thames and seeing landmarks such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament before enjoying a glass of prosecco on your return. Other tours include Big Ben and Back, Little Venice and Back and Big Ben by Night for those who truly want to add a unique aspect into their kayaking adventure. Each tour takes around 2 and a half hours and all equipment and all equipment and training is provided. The kayaks are entirely stable as well so you needn’t worry about accidentally tipping over into the water; although much has been done to clean the River Thames up in recent years!
Picnic with a View
For those who enjoy being outdoors but like to take things at a more sedate pace, you may enjoy a picnic at one of the best places in the city to take in the London skyline. With such a stunning backdrop you couldn’t fail to have a great time. There are two potential locations for this, both of which are free; Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill. Both require you to endure a little climbing before you reach the top and get to enjoy the view spread out before you but in both cases it is absolutely worth it. Primrose Hill is located in Regent’s Park and Parliament Hill is in Hampstead Heath with Primrose Hill being perhaps the tamer of the two climbs. A word of caution if you plan to visit during the warmer months of the year; these are two very popular places so you need to turn up early if you want to be able to grab a good spot and while away the day.
Go Ape in Battersea Park
Go Ape’s very first urban adventure is located in Battersea Park and is the ideal choice if you want heart in your mouth moments, aerial challenges and more adventure than you can shake a stick at. Making use of the park’s taller trees, this course is also more exhilarating than some of the other Go Ape options with crossings which are twice the height of most other Go Ape adventures and twice as long making them extra challenging for participants. It takes between two and three hours to complete the course but can be taken entirely at your own pace if needed.