8 White-knuckle Experiences To Have in The UK
If you believe that Britain is all about stiff upper lips and civilised afternoon tea sessions, you’re wrong. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are threaded with adrenaline and adventure experiences. Here are a few of the best.
Zipworld, Bethesda, Wales
Located in a former quarry in Wales, Zipworld is home to what’s said to be the longest zip line in Europe. Riders bullet along the wire at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Two people can take off on adjacent lines at the same time and race each other to the landing point, hundreds of feet below.
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, England
Get an earthworm’s perspective on England with a trip to Cheddar Gorge. The adventure caving experience here leads the brave hearted through underground caverns that were formed back in the Ice Age. The route gets more challenging the further you go, and adrenaline junkies will face subterranean ladders and narrow bore holes before they have to tackle a crawlspace called The Letterbox.
Up at the O2, London, England
Unleash your inner King Kong and scale the heights of the O2 arena in London. The climb takes visitors along a rooftop walkway, 52 metres above the ground, to a summit that overlooks Greenwich, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Canary Wharf. If you’ve not got a head for heights, you might want to pack a spare pair of pants.
www.theo2.co.uk/do-more-at-the-o2/up-at-the-o2
Blackpool Tower Eye, Blackpool, north England
Five centimetres of glass and 380 foot of air is all that separates visitors to the Blackpool Tower Eye from the pavement below. Those that don’t bottle out of the experience will be treated to panoramic views of the Irish Sea, the Lake District, and even Liverpool on a clear day.
The National Diving and Activity Centre, Chepstow, Wales
You run the risk of losing your lunch at the National Diving and Activity Centre in Chepstow, Wales. This attraction is home to a giant swing that subjects riders to 3G. Those who brave it are strapped in, hoisted 50 feet into the air, slowly pulled back to the release point, and then given control of the ripcord. Once tripped, the swing flies passengers out over the quarry edge, with 245 feet of thin air beneath them.
ArcelorMittal Orbit, London, England
There are two adrenaline experiences up for grabs at the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in London’s Olympic Park. The first is the world’s longest tunnel slide, on which riders hurtle down 178 metres in just 40 seconds. The second is an abseiling experience, which – at 262 metres – is the highest freefall abseil option available in the UK.
The Eden Project, Cornwall, England
Unleash your inner lemming at the Eden Project in Cornwall. This attraction is home to The Drop – a leap of faith that sees you throw yourself off a cliff edge. There’s a ride called Gravity here, too. It’s a three-person swing that throws riders out over the edge of a 65 metre cliff, at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
Via Ferrata Extreme, Honister, Lake District
Via Ferrata Extreme lets you scale a mountain in England’s Lake District using only the narrow ladders and rock-side cables of an original miners’ track. There are vertical climbs, edge exposures and a cargo net crossing. You’ll climb seven times higher than Big Ben and twice as high as London’s Shard. If you can bear to look out over the scenery you’ll be treated to eagle’s nest views of the Cumbrian fells.
By Sarah Holt
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