Conditions of Use for London Climbing Centres

Risks – “The British Mountaineering Council & London Climbing Centres recognise that climbing, mountaineering, caving, bouldering, and use of gym equipment are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.”

Although our Climbing Centres are artificial environments, the risks involved are no less serious than when climbing outside on a boulder, crag, or mountain. There is an additional risk that bolt-on holds can spin or break.

The soft flooring under the bouldering walls is designed to provide a more comfortable landing for climbers falling or jumping from the bouldering wall. THE SOFT FLOORING DOES NOT MAKE THE CLIMBING ANY SAFER. Broken and sprained limbs are common on this type of climbing wall despite the soft landing. Uncontrolled falls are likely to result in injuries to yourself or others.

Climbing beyond your capabilities on any wall is likely to result in a fall. Any fall may result in an injury despite the safety systems in place to avoid it. You must make your own assessment of the risks whenever you climb.

Our Duty of Care – The Rules of our Climbing Centres that are set out below are not intended to limit your enjoyment of the facilities. They are part of the duty of care that we, as operators, owe to you, the customer, by law. As such they are not negotiable and if you are not prepared to abide by them then the staff must politely ask you to leave.

Your Duty of Care – You also have a duty of care to act responsibly towards the other users of our Centres. Statements of ‘Good Practice’ are posted around the Centres adjacent to the relevant facilities. These describe the accepted methods of use and how customers would normally be expected to behave towards each other.

Unsupervised Climbing – Before you climb without supervision, the Centres expect you to be able to describe the dangers involved with the relevant facilities and accept the risks involved.

You are required to register to say that you understand the Conditions of Use, that you are prepared to abide by the Rules below and that you understand the risks involved in your participation. When you are climbing without supervision, we expect you to be aware of all other climbing users.

Anyone who cannot register as competent is classed as a novice and must not climb without supervision.

Unsupervised climbing is just that! If you are not confident in the use of any climbing or training facilities, then do not attempt to use them without the supervision of someone who is competent to do so.

Supervised Climbing – An adult who has registered at the Centres as competent and passed a supervisor assessment for the relevant facilities may supervise up to two novices/juniors.

Children (Under 18) – All children in the Centres must be supervised by an adult unless they have been assessed by the management and registered for unsupervised climbing. In addition to the obvious risks of climbing, children on the ground are at particular risk of being seriously injured by falling adult climbers. Supervising adults are responsible for making sure that children are never directly below climbers.

Gym Equipment & Training Areas – These are integral facilities of our centres and accessible to all adults who are experienced in their use. Using gym equipment carries a risk of personal injury and even death and should only be used if you are competent to do so. Specific policies, rules and good practice guidelines are clearly displayed in each Training Area. By entering and using these areas, you agree to read and adhere to all relevant information. If you do not feel confident in the use of any gym equipment, you must seek third party instruction and refrain from using it until you are prepared to take responsibility for your own actions and safety. There are specific restrictions for children (Under 18) which must be adhered to, which are clearly displayed at the entrance to all Training Areas.

Under-18s Registration Form