Vertical Chill – Ice Climbing Wall

One of just three ice walls in the UK, tucked away at the back of (my favourite) outdoor shop Ellis Brigham, is the Vertical Chill Ice Climbing Wall.
Two storeys high and kept at –5°C, the wall is open to everyone: from complete beginners to seasoned professionals who want to practise their ice pick skills at little closer to home than the the Alps
Kitted out in warm jacket, trousers, boots, ice axes, crampons and helmet, in I go to the Vertical Chill. Tom, my instructor, goes through all the basic skills and techniques before sending me up the ice wall. It is tough, and physically demanding, but brilliant fun: a heady mix of adrenalin and excitement. You might be ten minutes from Trafalgar Square but it feels like you’re scaling a distant glacier.
It happens that I rock climb as a hobby, so the rope work and heights weren’t an issue for me. But those with a spot of vertigo should think twice before parting with your £50 for the hour-​long lesson — two storeys might be higher than you think! Overall though it is a great experience, and another one of London’s unexpected attractions!