The O2 arena is an iconic landmark in London. But is it worth climbing over the O2 arena? We’ve had the pleasure of trying this experience out so read our thoughts on this unique London landmark sightseeing experience before you consider forking out your hard-earned cash.
The O2 arena was originally known as the Millennium Dome and is a large entertainment complex sitting on the edge of the Greenwich Peninsula, in southeast London. The arena is known for its dome-shaped roof, which is 52 metres high and is made up of over 100,000 square metres of fabric. It quickly stands out from a bird’s eye view of London as its white dome is huge making it easy to spot in any city image from above.
Most people know about the O2 arena for different reasons. Now It is used for large concerts and sports events regularly so it tends to be packed out most weeks.
Climbing the O2 experience. What exactly is it?
The O2 arena offers a unique experience for those who are looking for something different to do in London. The overall experience is around 90 minutes long and begins with a safety briefing before getting yourself into some safety equipment including a harness and boots.
The climb is led by a guide and it involves climbing up the 52-metre-high roof of the arena on a bespoke rubbery ramp that goes up and over the other side of the dome. The dome is mostly made of canvas so it is quite a soft, bouncy climb but not enough to floor you.
The climb offers great views of the surrounding Greenwich area and also of London itself. The walkway is designed to make the climb as easy and comfortable as possible, and it offers plenty of opportunities to take in the stunning views.
As you climb the O2 arena, you will be able to see some of London’s most famous landmarks, including the Canary Wharf, the Shard, and the London Eye. The view can be especially breath taking at sunset when the sky turns shades of orange and pink if the weather is kind.
Is the climb hard or scary?
I would say the climb is not too physically demanding and we found it quite easy, but it can be challenging for those who are afraid of heights. However, the safety harness provides a sense of security, and the guides are experienced and reassuring.
You get plenty of chances to stop along the way for pictures and some extra time at the top with the option of alcoholic drinks to add a little luxury and there is a nice sense of achievement that comes with finishing the arena climb.
How much is the Up at the O2 climb experience?
It is £35 to £40 depending on if you want a daytime or more expensive sunset climb when the skies add more to the views. However we didn’t pay full price…
Top tip: We used a Go City explorer attraction pass as this attraction is included on the pass among many others. We saw three different attractions over two days so we saved ourselves about £30 overall as opposed to paying direct attraction gate fees.
The highlights and best bits
The best bit is at the very top where you get time to take in the views of East London. You can see some major landmarks in central London albeit from a distance. The fact that the climb is fairly easy makes it enjoyable and I quite liked the rubbery bounce throughout. The guides are good value and they make it a relaxing but fun experience offering plenty of facts about the arena’s construction along the way.
The not-so-good bits
For us it didn’t have that wow factor that comes with a landmark London rooftop view. That’s mainly because it’s quite far East of Central London so the main view is of Canary Wharf and Greenwich, which isn’t bad but it’s not central London. At 52 metres high it’s not actually that tall either compared to other landmarks.
You are open to the elements here. We had a windy, grey day in March, it would be nicer in Summer but definitely less enjoyable in the winter or in the rain. Feeding the harness hook through each fence post along the way is necessary but can be tedious and repetitive.
Our overall rating 3 out of 5
While the experience of scaling a landmark is a nice achievement it doesn’t have as much of a wow factor as it would if it was bang in the centre of London. It’s fairly easy to climb the O2 but not as high as many other lookout points that are available in London but I had saved money on this activity with an attraction pass so I got the value out of it. Personally, I would go for the climb at the Golden Gallery at St Paul’s which is harder but more rewarding.