Paris 2024 has sparked a fresh wave of Olympic fever – and not just on the sofa. With skateboarding,sport climbing and 3×3 basketball now rubbing shoulders with athletics and swimming,the Games are starting to look a lot more like the sports you scroll past on TikTok than the ones you watched in PE. In London, that shift is already visible on the ground: bouldering gyms are booming, park skate spots are packed, and even fencing and rowing clubs are reporting surging interest.
But where do you actually go if you want to swap spectating for trying an Olympic discipline yourself? From indoor climbing walls hidden under railway arches to skateparks designed for serious tricks, and pools, tracks and courts that have hosted Olympians, the capital is full of places to test your medal. Here’s how – and where – to sample the Olympic sports on your doorstep.
Discover Olympic sports in the capital from hidden skateparks to elite climbing walls
Slip off the main tourist trail and you’ll find London quietly perfecting its own Olympic playground.Beneath railway arches in Peckham, bowls and street-style ledges attract late-night sessions under floodlights, while a repurposed car park in Shepherd’s Bush doubles as both community hub and concrete canvas for local artists. Out east, the legacy of 2012 still hums through the ramps and rails scattered around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where beginners on hired boards share space with seasoned skaters filming their lines for the next viral clip. These DIY arenas might look gritty,but they’re rich with coaching sessions,women-and-non-binary-only nights and inclusive programs that welcome total newcomers.
Those craving vertical adventure can trade tarmac for textured resin. London’s new generation of elite climbing centres mix Olympic-grade facilities with a surprisingly low barrier to entry: auto-belays for solo climbers, dedicated bouldering caves and curated training zones where national squad hopefuls quietly tick off comp-style problems. To help you plan your next session, explore this mix of hotspots:
- Converted warehouses offering towering lead walls and speed routes.
- Neighbourhood skate plazas designed with input from pro riders.
- Hybrid gyms that pair strength studios with world-class bouldering.
- Community-led parks running free taster days and youth schemes.
| Spot Type | Vibe | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Urban skate bowl | Loud, creative, street-culture heavy | Learning tricks and meeting locals |
| Olympic-style climbing wall | Focused, performance-driven | Structured training and coaching |
| Community bouldering hub | Relaxed, social, coffee-and-chalk | After-work sessions with friends |
Skateboarding in London where to drop in for bowls street and vert sessions
London’s concrete playgrounds now look tailor-made for anyone inspired by Olympic replays of perfectly stuck kickflips and soaring airs. From purpose-built plazas to heritage parks under railway arches, the capital offers terrain for every style: buttery street ledges, tight, whippy bowls and imposing vert ramps that demand commitment. In East London, BaySixty6 and Hop Kingdom attract a loyal crew of all-weather regulars, while south of the river, Telegraph Hill and the sculptural forms of Peckham Rye invite both beginners and seasoned riders to experiment with lines. Early mornings and late-night sessions tend to be calmer, giving newcomers space to fall, laugh and try again without feeling on show.
- BaySixty6 (Ladbroke Grove) – covered park with street, bowl and vert; regular coached sessions.
- Victoria Park Skate Plaza – open-air, street-focused; ideal for flatground and ledge work.
- Hop Kingdom (SE1) – indoor street set-up under railway arches plus a bar for post-session debriefs.
- Crystal Palace Bowl – flowing transitions and mellow hips for carving and learning to pump.
| Spot | Best For | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| BaySixty6 | All levels, vert & coached lessons | Busy, high-energy |
| Victoria Park | Street lines & flatground | Local, laid-back |
| Hop Kingdom | Rainy-day street sessions | Night-time, social |
| Peckham Rye | Bowls & creative transitions | Community-focused |
Sport climbing hotspots the best walls bouldering gyms and outdoor-style routes
London’s vertical playground is expanding faster than you can lace your shoes, with dedicated centres offering everything from Olympic-style lead routes to Insta-ready bouldering caves. At Parthian Climbing Wandsworth, competition-standard walls mimic World Cup settings, while The Castle Climbing Center in Stoke Newington turns a gothic Victorian building into a maze of overhangs, slabs and crack climbs. Over in Bermondsey, The Arch specialises in pure bouldering – no ropes, just short, powerful problems set in a former arts space that hums with post-work energy and chalk dust.
- Parthian Wandsworth – Olympic-style lead routes, auto-belays and speed-inspired lines.
- The Castle – towering walls, outdoor-style circuits and leafy gardens for post-climb cool-downs.
- The Arch (Bermondsey & North) – urban bouldering hubs with competition-style setting.
- VauxWall – central-London hangout perfect for lunchtime sessions and after-dark training.
| Venue | Best for | Olympic link |
|---|---|---|
| Parthian Wandsworth | Lead & speed-style climbing | Train like competition athletes |
| The Castle | Outdoor-feel routes inside | Endurance for lead events |
| The Arch | Dynamic bouldering | Power moves for boulder rounds |
Beyond the arena London venues to try boxing gymnastics track cycling and more
Once the Olympic spotlight fades, London’s training hubs keep the spirit alive with venues that feel more like insider clubs than tourist attractions. Swap spectating for sweat at boutique boxing gyms where ex-amateurs drill you through pad work under mural-covered walls, then head east to cavernous velodromes offering taster sessions on the same steep banks that host world championships. Gymnastics centres in converted warehouses now run adult-only evenings, where landing your first cartwheel or hanging from the high bar is actively encouraged, no matter how long it’s been since PE class. These spaces prioritise atmosphere as much as athletic performance, with soundtracks, lighting and coaching that make trying something new feel less like a test and more like a night out with added bruises.
Many of these venues have quietly adapted the Olympic program for real life, offering beginner-amiable formats that fit into a post-work schedule. Think express boxing conditioning classes instead of full sparring, intro to track cycling sessions that teach you to ride fixed-gear bikes safely, and adult gymnastics fundamentals focused on mobility and strength, not medal-chasing.Before you book, check what’s on offer – sessions can range from women-only to mixed-ability squads, and from technique workshops to pure conditioning. The snapshot below gives a flavor of how different London spots translate Olympic disciplines into weeknight realities:
| Sport | Typical Session | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Boxing | Pad work & bag drills,no head shots | High-energy,music loud,lights low |
| Gymnastics | Adult basics: bars,beams,tumbling | Supportive,skill-focused,quietly competitive |
| Track cycling | Velodrome induction & coached laps | Adrenaline-heavy,data-driven,Lycra optional |
- Check entry requirements: some velodromes require inductions before open track sessions.
- Look for beginners’ labels: “foundation”,”intro” or “fundamentals” usually signal friendly first-timers’ spaces.
- Kit matters: bring wraps for boxing,grippy socks for gym mats,and layers for cool indoor tracks.
Concluding Remarks
As Paris 2024 looms and the Olympic spotlight burns brighter, London is quietly proving you don’t need a podium finish (or even a gym membership) to get a taste of the Games. Whether you’re lacing up at an indoor skatepark, chalking your hands at a climbing wall or testing your nerve on the diving boards, the capital is full of places to try the sports you’ve only ever watched on screen.
More importantly, these spaces are built for beginners as much as future medal contenders. With coached sessions, pay-as-you-go options and women-focused classes, London’s Olympic legacy is less about elite performance and more about opening doors.
So as the athletes file into the stadium this summer, you don’t just have to be a spectator. Book the taster session, borrow the board, clip into the harness. The next time you sit down to watch an Olympic final, you might just recognize the rush.
