As someone who doesn’t mind heights, but has a slight fear of rope-based climbing, I did briefly wonder what on earth I’d signed myself up for after agreeing to take on the UK’s highest rooftop climb.
On Valentine’s Day, London’s iconic Alexandra Palace, famous for hosting the world’s best darts players, will launch Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure, officially the UK’s highest roof walk, standing 130 metres above sea level.
The fully guided climb, created in partnership with Wire & Sky, leads guests across the ‘Ally Pally’ rooftop to the Angel Plenty Statue, offering uninterrupted 360-degree views of the capital stretching as far as 25 miles.
Now, I love flying, and observatory decks are very much my thing (not to mention sky-high dining in trendy restaurants). Heights, generally speaking, aren’t the issue. Relying solely on a rope and harness, however, very much is.
That fear stems from a short-lived rock-climbing course in secondary school, required as part of our PE curriculum, which included offsite sports.
I remember being strapped in, placing my foot on the first hold and starting to climb – until the instructor not-so-helpfully yelled: ‘Don’t look down!’
Rookie mistake. I did. And the sudden realisation that I was suspended by a single rope was enough for me to not only feel nauseous, but to call time on my climbing career for good.
Fast forward 15 years to a windswept January day, I can confidently say that climbing one of London’s most historic landmarks has been an absolute breeze – but also an absolute freeze.
Daily Mail travel writer Jowena Riley takes on the UK’s highest rooftop climb at Alexandra Palace: Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure
The fully guided climb, which opens to the public on 14 February, leads guests to the Angel Plenty Statue, offering uninterrupted 360-degree views of London stretching as far as 25 miles
The hour-long climb provides a provides a bird’s eye view across four counties – including Hertfordshire and Kent – as well as 28 of London’s 32 boroughs
Our hour-long lunchtime ascent begins with a quick introduction to our expert guide, Oliver, who is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and has a reassuringly calm approach to easing people’s nerves.
We exit via the building’s East Court entrance before we’re led around the side, climbing roughly four flights of stairs before we reach an outdoor balcony area.
Here, we’re fitted with harnesses and carabiners – surprisingly, helmets aren’t required – and carefully shown how to secure ourselves and clip though each ‘stopper’ along our trek.
Then, we’re off!
The climb itself isn’t quite what you might expect – it doesn’t start with a straight ascent from ground level.
Instead, winding staircases inside the building take you part of the way up, with the final section completed via metal stairs running from the base of the roof up to the Angel statue.
As we near the summit, the views become nothing short of spectacular. I didn’t experience nausea or vertigo at any point – and even one climber ahead of me, who openly shared his fear of heights, was pleasantly surprised by how manageable the climb felt.
For those who have grown up in London or lived here for years, this sky-high adventure offers a perspective of the city you’ve probably never seen before.
Before we begin our ascent, we’re given step-by-step instructions by Oliver on how to fit our safety equipment on ourselves
At this point, we hadn’t even begun the climb (this was at the base of the roof) and we’re blessed with a clear view of London’s iconic skyline
The ascent: This is the point the wind really picks up – it’s important to wear several layers if you plan to climb on a wintry or mild spring day
Pictured: My group of climbers and I brave the cold and pose for a photograph before making our way back down
Reaching the summit delivers more than just a sense of achievement; it provides a bird’s eye view across four counties – including Hertfordshire and Kent – as well as 28 of London’s 32 boroughs.
From the rooftop, several world-famous landmarks are clearly visible, including Canary Wharf, The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral and, further in the distance, Wembley Stadium.
What’s more, climbers can pick their preferred favourite time of day to see London from a different perspective: a standard daytime climb, a sunset walk at golden hour, and a climb into the night to see the capital light up.
Group climbs, private climbs, and educational climbs are also available.
Once at the top, we pause and take in the panoramic views while Oliver shares insights into Alexandra Palace’s history – who knew it was originally intended as The People’s Palace, and that it’s wider than Buckingham Palace? – along with pointing out the sights below.
However, I should warn that the conditions for this climb in January and February are unforgiving.
At certain points, the ice-cold wind leaves me numb, a feeling that only intensifies as our group reaches the summit.
At one stage, a strong gust thrashes me into the railings. Oliver laughs as this happens, which, oddly, is reassuring – essentially his way of confirming we’re safe.
The descent: Although it might have not been ideal to take on the climb on a blustery January day, the views made every frozen second worth it
Anyone can take on the summit, whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the experience
The female climber behind me has the right idea: thermals, skiwear, hat, gloves and scarf. My puffer jacket, on the other hand, offers little protection against the elements.
We all agree that a warm spring day or mild summer evening would be the ideal time to take on this experience. Nonetheless, the views make every frozen second worthwhile, especially when followed by a hot coffee and a portion of posh chicken goujons from the building’s food outlets below.
So, whether you’re a seasoned pro, completely new to the experience, or hoping to conquer a long-standing fear like myself, I’d encourage anyone to tackle the Summit.
A quiet, uninterrupted view of the city – a stark contrast to the noisy chaos below – can really only be truly savoured from above.
TRAVEL FACTS
Tickets for Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure are on sale now at summitallypally.co.uk
Prices: From £22.00 advance – £28.00 advance per person + booking fee
Open to ages 8+. Adult to child ratio of 1:4
Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum height: 1.2 metres
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