Last Updated on 14 August 2024 by Colette
Ben has always enjoyed climbing – in fact on his very first day at Nursery when he was about a year old I had to sign an accident form because he’d been climbing to reach things he wasn’t supposed to be touching! His first roped climbing experience was at a Clip n Climb but since trying bouldering at The Climbing Hanger in Liverpool, that’s where his heart has been! Chloe very much prefers the security of roped climbing, of knowing that she’s fastened securely to the climbing wall!
Climbing in general is a great activity for building upper body strength, for general over all fitness and for making new friends! Dave was really impressed last time he took Ben climbing at just how hard he pushed himself to try the more challenging routes not only demonstrating his desire to master new skills but also his resilience and perseverance – qualities I am absolutely keen to encourage in my teenage boy.
There are lots of great options for climbing in the North West with places like Clip n Climb offering a great introduction to climbing for children to indoor climbing centres with bouldering walls and roped climbing. Many of these climbing centres run social climbing events too if you’re looking to meet new people as well.
Do bear in mind that, even if you are an experienced climber, you may be required to complete an induction if you are visiting a new climbing centre of the first time – just to ensure that you are familiar with the venue and their equipment.
Rockover Manchester, Park Garage, Cheviot St, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1LW
Located in Manchester city centre, within walking distance of Manchester Victoria Station, Rock Over Climbing is the original “Rockover” in Manchester. This popular indoor climbing gym in the centre of Manchester offers a variety of climbing walls suitable for all levels of experience including 10 auto belays, along with bouldering facilities and training areas as well as a dedicated event space and competition training area.
Rockover Manchester Central run a range of classes including instructed group sessions for all ages and abilities.
Book your climbing session at Rockover Manchester Central
Rockover Sharston, Shentonfield Rd, M22 4RW
New to the Manchester indoor rock climbing scene is Rockover Sharston in Wythenshawe. The website doesn’t actually give much information about the facilities at Rockover Sharston but I’ll update this when I’m able to find out more!
Rockover Sharston is open from 11 am to 10pm Monday to Friday and then 11am to 8pm on weekends.
Book your climbing session at Rockover Sharston here.
Rockover Bolton, 21 Lostock Ln, Lostock, Bolton BL6 4BL
There is little information on the Rockover website as to what facilities they have available!
Rockover Bolton is open from 11 am to 10pm Monday to Friday and then 11am to 8pm on weekends.
Book your climbing session at Rockover Bolton.
Summit Up, Egerton St, Oldham OL1 3SE
Summit Up plays host to one of the largest Clip ‘n Climb arenas in the UK featuring 35 exciting challenges including the ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Leap of Faith’ and 10 metre ‘Vertical Drop Slide’. (The Leap of Faith and Vertical Drop Slide are add ons to your main Clip ‘N Climb booking and are cheaper if you book online ahead of time.)
As well as Clip ‘N Climb, the centre features traditional bouldering and roped climbing walls, ValoClimb (an exciting, interactive climbing game) and a soft play for the youngest climbers!
Summit Up is our local climbing wall and now that Ben is 14, he is super excited to get on and have an induction / assessment session as once he’s done that he will be able to use the climbing walls without having me accompany him on site.
Summit Up is run as part of The Stoller Charitable Trust with all profits from the climbing centre going directly to supporting the charity. Summit Up Climbing Centre was created with the intention of leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation of the Oldham community.
Although there is no parking at Summit Up itself, Bradshaw Street car park is just behind and offers free parking on weekends and is pretty cheap the rest of the time. Just make sure you grab a ticket from the pay & display machine.
SUMMIT UP CLIP ‘N CLIMB DISCOUNT CODE:
If you fancy heading to Summit Up Climbing Centre for a Clip ‘n Climb session this summer, I’ve got a special code for you giving you 10% off until 7th Sept 2024). Code is ADV10
T’s and C’s – Exclusive code for Going on an Adventure. Valid for bookings 14.8.24 – 07.9.24. can not be used in conjunction with other offers. Add ons can be added but will not be discounted. Cannot be used for parties or mini mountaineers.
You can read more about Summit Up here:
Summit Up Climbing Centre Oldham – Review
Parthian Climbing Manchester, St Benedict’s Church, Bennett St, West Gorton, Manchester M12 5ND
Situated in Gorton, in an old church, Manchester Climbing Centre is a dedicated indoor climbing facility offering a variety of routes for climbers of all ages and abilities. Parthian Climbing Manchester provides 125 of the best top rope and auto belay routes for roped climbing, a range of bouldering challenges, and coaching for those looking to improve their skills.
Parthian Climbing are keen to make climbing as accessible as possible offering climbing classes for adults, private tuition and even outdoor climbing sessions in the Peak District and Portland & Wye Valley.
Parthian Climbing centre is open daily, from 10am to 10pm on week days and to 6pm on weekdays.
Book your climbing session at Parthian Climbing Centre
Blockhaus Climbing, Unit 1, 34 Wood St, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2FB
Blockhaus Climbing is a rock climbing gym in Openshaw – Blockhaus Climbing don’t offer roped climbing, this is specifically a bouldering climbing centre. They offer a range of climbing courses for all abilities – including social nights and a Saturday morning BlocKids club for families and children.
Under 14s need to be supervised at Blochaus. This can be done by a registered adult climber or by joining a specific kid’s class. Over 14s are able to climb without supervision – if you haven’t climbed before Blockhaus offer a tour of the facilities and a short induction to get you going or you can book onto the Bouldering Induction sessions covering basic safety and climbing technique.
Blockhaus Climbing centre is open daily, from 10am to 10pm on week days and to 7pm on weekdays.
Book your Blockhaus Climbing session here.
Depot Climbing Centre, N2, Central Park Estate, Central Park Trading Estate, N1, 14 Mosley Rd, Stretford, Manchester M17 1PG
Located in Trafford Park, The Depot Climbing Centre is a spacious indoor rock climbing and bouldering venue. It offers a wide range of climbing walls, including bouldering areas, top-roping routes, and lead climbing walls.
Depot Manchester offer a range of adult focussed climbing sessions, from group coaching to 1:1 personalised training as well as junior sessions for younger climbers age 1 to 14 years.
Book your Depot Manchester session here – if you’re climbing at Depot Manchester more than twice a week, it might be worth investing in an “Unlimited Climbing Pass” priced from £39 a month and giving you access to seven Depot climbing centres in the Midlands and North West (who is going to tell them that Leeds isn’t in the Midlands or the North West?)
Awesome Walls Stockport, Mill, Lower Bredbury, Pear, Stockport Rd W, Lower Bredbury, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2BP
Situated in Stockport, Awesome Walls is another indoor climbing centre that caters to climbers of all abilities. It features a variety of roped climbing routes and bouldering problems including 23.5m”Tall walls” – one of the highest artificial climbing structures in the country.
Blockhaus Climbing centre is open daily, from 10am to 10pm on week days and to 8pm on weekdays.
Book your climbing session at Awesome Walls Stockport. Awesome Walls Stockport offer pay as you go, pay monthly or “punch card” (essentially block booking) options.
Rock Up, Beyond, 7 Trafford Way, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M41 7JA
Rock Up at Beyond is a new indoor climbing and adventure centre featuring 27 brightly coloured climbing walls, which can be used by adults and kids – though to my mind you’d only find adults on the climbing walls if they were there with their kids, this isn’t somewhere I think you’d go as an adult who wanted to give climbing a go. Ben, at 14, was a bit non-plussed by our visit and whilst he did enjoy the challenge walls, he’d had enough by the time his booked session was over and said he didn’t feel he needed to go back.
Anyone from the age of four can take part in a standard climb, but there are separate Toddler Climb sessions bookable for little ones up to five years old as well as Autism & SEN Friendly sessions and Home Ed sessions too!
Book your climbing session at Rock Up, Beyond
The Ridge Climbing, Goyt Mill, Upper Hibbert Ln, Marple, Stockport SK6 7HX
Previously The Rope Race but now under new management and rebranded, The Ridge Climbing in Marple offers a 20m “rock” feature wall, adult and kids’ bouldering, outdoor style climbing, a gym and qualified instructors who run a range of courses to help you achieve your climbing goals!
Book your climbing session at The Ridge Climbing.
And, whilst The Climbing Hangar definitely isn’t in Greater Manchester, it is one of Ben’s favourites and was where he chose to take his mates for his 14th birthday this year so I think it deserves a special mention!
These climbing centres in the Manchester area offer a mixture of both top-rope climbing and bouldering, making them suitable for climbers of every experience level. Whether you’re a beginner looking to try climbing for the first time or an experienced climber seeking a new challenge, these climbing venues should provide you with a variety of options to suit your climbing needs!
Have a read of these posts next:
Things to do in Manchester when it’s raining
Teen approved family activities
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