Summer is all but completely and utterly over. The evenings are drawing in, the nights are getting longer, it is colder, everything is a hue of amber and awash with pumpkin spiced, cinnamon everything. It won’t be long until Christmas songs are playing in all of the shops and everyone is getting oh so festive.
Before I go ahead with my Winter Bucket List for 2019/2020, I did tick a lot off of my summer list this year. Whilst I will do a separate post on what I have achieved, as you might be able to tell by the name of this piece, one of the things on my summer bucket list this year, and actually last year, was to zip wire across London. Hot on the adrenaline filled heels of tobogganing in Wales, I found myself super motivated to get zipping ticked off my list.
Yes, London has a zip wire line (in summer)! Located in the centre of the capital, a stones throw from Waterloo, the launch pad/zip is 35 metres high and up 183 steps *pants*.
As it was something I had wanted to do last year but never really got around to, I made sure I picked up tickets when they were on offer for £15. I had previously seen them ranging between £30 and £45 which I definitely did not want to pay, but at £15 each I snapped up two and luckily my Mr took little to no convincing, as he signed himself up to be my zip buddy.
When you arrive, you have to check in. This involves checking the tickets, getting weighed (really briefly so nothing to worry about), and watching a safety video. After the video, you get a locker for your bags, any clothing not acceptable for the zip, valuables and basically whatever you need to put in there. You then step outside into the kitting up area where you get into your harness and put on your super sexy hard hat.
Members of staff make sure that you are all fitted and tied in safely and securely. You then need to walk to the other side of the park where you climb the tower, and all of those steps. You are allowed to take your phone or camera to the top of the tower, but obviously using them on the zip is not permitted. For this, you get a wonderfully unattractive bum-bag/fanny pack that clips on to your harness. They do permit the use of Go Pro’s when attached to a wrist strap, but this needs to be checked first with security advisers at the venue.
At the top of the tower you can see many of the iconic London landmarks, as well as the super pretty park below. You get yourself into position and more security advise you on what to do at the start and end of the zip, where to hold and where to place yourself.
You walk down onto the metal steps, which hang precariously off the top of the tower. They call out to bend your knees, and then in 3-2-1 JUMP! You’re off. Whizzing along, through the London skyline and reaching up to 50km per hour, it feels like you are flying through the sky.
There were four parallel zip wires so you could do it in groups if you wanted to. When you are coming in to land, the breaking system on the zip slows you down. For me, this was the part I really hated. The breaking system is obviously really powerful and as you come in, it is very jarring, especially on your arms, as you are basically supporting a large percentage of your own body weight in the harness and your hands.
They advise reaching out for a red rope, so they can pull you in. Now this is fine, but unfortunately on the day I visited, they seemed to have a 12 year old weakling pulling people in. She struggled a lot trying to pull me, which didn’t exactly make me feel great, before shouting to her larger, male colleague for assistance. This seemed to make the last part of the zip a little chaotic. As I approached the landing ramp and tried to stand up, it was really poorly managed as the lady and her male colleague advised me of conflicting things, like what to reach for after the rope, what to pull on and where to walk.
Fortunately I don’t have any issue with heights at all, but if I had, and had been completing the zip as a personal challenge to myself, I don’t think that this would have been a good end to the experience, something which I fed back to the company after my zip.
The staff putting on the harnesses on the ground, and advising you of the safety features, were really large, muscular guys – these people would have been a lot better suited for pulling people in than the tiny person at the top on the day I visited – or even just a stronger woman was needed.
At the end of the zip, there is a ‘Mega Drop’ zone, which no doubt intensified the excitement if you wish to add this on to your booking. Instead of taking the stairs, it is a leap off the top of the podium/tower and a 40ft free fall to the ground – harnessed of course.
Once at the bottom, you de-kit and are able to collect your belongings. I am glad I finally got to do this, dodgy landing aside. As it is something that is only in London over the summer months, I hope it comes back next year as I would like to do it again. I think…
Have you ever zipped? Where did you do it? Would you like to do it in Central London?
Ellies London 
Wow! I had no idea that London had Ziplining. Looks like you had a great time and the post was very informative! Now I know for the next time I go to London.
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I hope it comes back (it’s not there in winter as far as i know!) It was so much fun – minus the few snags 😜 Thank you for reading 🙂
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I wanted to zip line and had a chance once in Oklahoma. Sadly, I was not able to go since I did not have the right kind of shoes. So it is still on my bucket list but glad you crossed it off yours. 😃
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Oh no, that’s a shame. I guess it really important that your shoes do not fly off and hit someone below or just leave you shoeless for the rest of the day really, it would not be good! Hopefully you will get to do it one day soon! x
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I hope so! 🙂
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This sounds amazing! I’ve always wanted to zipline. My friend FINALLY got here passport and we are planning a Europe trip next year! Might have to swing by this beauty!
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I hope it is there next summer too – it is so much fun and has done pretty well the last few years. I would like to try this in another location for sure ♥ I hope you have a fab time on your visit x
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Oh my gosh this sounds amazing! You’re a much braver person than I am haha.
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It was super fun! Thank you for commenting and reading ♥ x
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I want to zip line, what an awesome experience in London. That’s great you added the extra drop at the end, I am not sure if I would do that end bit or not haha xx
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t was so much fun – I would definitely recommend it. I didn’t take the extra drop at the end, that was only an option/extra. I took the stairs! I think I might like to take the extra drop next time though! ♥
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I had no idea you could even do this but it sounds like so much fun! Definitely worth £15!
Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
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It really is. Apparently it’s been there for a good few summers now – I hope it comes back next summer too – definitely worth a go! x
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It was such a great experience, I really enjoyed it and definitely going to drag you next year again 😃😁
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Drag me, eh? Well in that case, if we go again, I think that we would take the extra drop zone at the end and also go back to Cubana afterwards! ♥
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I did a zip line at night during Halloween once. It was a lot of fun. Love the pictures in this post!
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That sounds amazing! Was it Halloween themed? Like dressed as a ghost, flying through the air 🤣
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That would have been cool, but no
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Oh my GOD, this looks amazing! I never even knew you could go zip lining in London but I love stuff like this, so much fun! I’ll definitely have to put it on my list for next summer 🙂
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I think I will be putting it back on my list for next summer too – I would love to do it again and add in the free drop at the end of the zip!
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That looks like so much fun! I’m sure I would chicken out!
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Noooo, the team there are super supportive and encouraging. You would be so proud of yourself too after completing the zip – I am sure you would even want to jump off of the tower! ♥ Thank you for reading my post x
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This sounds so much fun!! I didn’t even know you could do this in London! I’ve always wanted to do a zip line but that ending has me a little worried! I’m not the lightest thing (or the heaviest haha!)
Daisy xoxo | TheDeeWhoLived
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To be fair I think it was just bad luck for me. My partner thoroughly loved his experience and had someone perfectly equipped to pull him in at the end. I’m not the heaviest or lightest either 🤭 but it still didn’t make me feel too great! X
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Wow! I had no idea there was a zip line over London; this is definitely going on my bucket list. I love zip linning when I did it at GoApe!, its so much fun. It sounds like you both had a great time apart from the confusing landing experience.
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Yeah i wouldn’t let the landing put me off of doing it again. I hope it comes back next summer so more people get to try it! 🥰
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I do admire you! I wouldn’t have the guts to do it, but fascinated to hear that it’s available. Where does it go from, is it the south bank? Jubilee Gardens?
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It’s over the park at Carlisle Lane near Lambeth Station. It’s Waterloo side of the river. You can see the Eye, Parliament and the skyline from the top of the zips! You can also sign up on the Zip London site to be notified when it comes back next season 😁
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So much fun. I would definitely give this a go. We did it in Switzerland and was such a buzz.
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Oh wow – that sounds amazing ♥ I would love to do it again in a different place perhaps! The London one was great – I hope it comes back next summer.
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This sounds like such fun, I love that your boyfriend didn’t even need convincing to go with you as well, I’m not too sure what mine would say!
MB | http://www.meaghan-bethany.blogspot.com
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I’m sure he could be convinced! The views are so worth it once you get to the top you just forget that you have to jump! I think I would like to do it again but next time add in the jump at the end! x
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Braver girl than me I have to say….I have zilch upper body strength so would struggle glad you loved it though well done 🎢🎢🎢🎢
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My upper body strength is soooo terrible as well – I think that is why it felt so jarring in my arms. Thanks, I am so glad I went for it! I think I prefer tobogganing though!
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I’ve never zipped. Get sick in a cable car. You two look as though you enjoyed yourself though.😊
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Oh no 😦 that’s not fun! I like a cable car too! The zip wire was fun, the only thing i didn’t like was the strain on my arms so i think it could be better in that sense, or maybe I’m just crazy weak 🙄
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