LONDON
Parkour across subway walls,
Waterloo Bridge
On land “I have a two-year-old daughter and wanted to experience the world with the same sense of discovery she does,” says a fellow newbie, a young woman from Argentina, as we jog on to the third section of our training session. For the uninitiated, parkour is the discipline of freerunning through urban environments, dealing with obstacles by climbing or jumping over them. We’ve already done our rather
gruelling warm-ups, tried balancing along a railing outside a block of flats, and learned how to land correctly when leaping from low heights. Our next step is to practise jumping at a wall abutting a football pitch. Soon, there are 20 adults gleefully throwing themselves at walls. The city opens up as we run through it, and I feel like an excited two-year-old. Walls become ramps, pillars become slaloms, bollards become gymnastic pommels. I walk away with some scrapes, and a
roving eye, scanning the high streets for something — anything — to jump off.
DETAILS: Parkour Generations, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JY.
parkourgenerations.com
46
natgeotraveller.co.uk
In air The tower doesn’t look that high from the ground. It’s only 115ſt high. But aſter I’ve climbed the 184 steps to the launch platform, my brain’s panic centre joins my thighs in protest. This is Zip Now London, touted as the world’s longest, fastest city-centre zip-line. Before I can admire the view — I get a
brief glimpse over the tops of the trees, all the way to Battersea Power Station and Big Ben — I’m counted down, step forward, and shoot off. It’s exhilarating. There’s a slight downward dip then I
accelerate quickly, my screams trailing behind me. I’m told aſterwards that I hit 30mph across the 740ſt zip-line, but it’s all a joyous blur of light and motion that’s over far too soon. Thankfully, there’s also the option of
taking the Mega Drop from the landing platform: a 50ſt freefall jump onto a cushioned surface. My stomach lurches as I step off before the wires slow me down for a relatively comfortable landing. As I land, a kid zooms by on the zip-line overhead, screaming with joy. I know the feeling.
DETAILS: Zip Now London, Archbishops Park SE1 7LF.
zip-now.co
MORE LONDON ADVENTURES
BUNGEE JUMPING AT THE O2 Jump from a 160ſt crane next to the O2 Arena, and enjoy fab views across London as you hurtle down.
ukbungee.co.uk
THAMES ROCKETS Race along the Thames at 53mph in a RIB as iconic landmarks such as Big Ben and Tower Bridge blur past.
thamesrockets.com
GO APE BATTERSEA PARK Traverse swingy bridges and scale rope ladders high up in the trees of Battersea Park. There’s also a 160ſt zip-line for speed demons.
goape.co.uk
IMAGE: ALAMY
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