London’s skyline is unmatched, a stunning spectacle of old and new that is best seen from above.
There are plenty of ways to get a great view of the city but one of the original and best to climb the O2. The Up at the O2 experience is a fun way to get a unique perspective on the city and a great thing to do whether you live in London or are visiting.
Having climbed the O2 the first time over a decade ago, it was great to go back recently and try the experience again. If you’re considering the Up at O2 experience, here is everything you need to know.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I have been or could be if you click on a link in this post compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy for more details.
What is the O2?
But first it’s worth understanding what exactly the O2 is. Located on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London, the giant white tent was originally built as the Millennium Dome to mark the start of the 21st century. The idea was to clean up and redevelop what was an old, polluted industrial site and to create a celebratory space to herald the dawn of a new millennium.
It would house the Millennium Experience, a tribute to humanity with 14 themed zones.
In the end, however, it was a disaster. Over budget, underwhelming and an opening night fraught with issues, including politicians and celebrities left waiting outside because of ticketing issues.
Millions visited but never the 12 million that were projected and it was deemed a financial failure. At the time, it felt like the Millennium Dome was never out of the papers and, when the Millennium Experience came to a close, it lay empty. There were calls for it to be demolished or even moved. Fortunately, however, it was bought by Meridian Delta who began converting it into the entertainment venue that it is today.
Today, the O2 is one of London’s biggest arenas where pop stars, rock stars, comedians and sports personalities have all performed.
Prince played an extraordinary 21 night residency at the O2 Arena in 2007 and Take That have played here an incredible 39 times. It’s where the Laver Cup tennis tournament takes place and where the AEW broke the attendance record for a professional wrestling event at the O2 Arena with an attendance of 18,992.
As well as shows, the O2 Arena is home to restaurants and bars, outlet shops and the excellent Mamma Mia! dining experience that I think is excellent.
Up at the O2 experience
Up at the O2 launched in June 2012, before the London Olympic Games both as a way to bring traffic to the O2 centre and to give visitors incredible views of London. I’ve enjoyed the experience twice, once to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday (proving that this experience is available to everyone!) and again recently with my teenage daughter.
If you are visiting during peak periods such as the summer holidays or want to take part in one of the O2’s themed climbs then I highly recommend booking your climb tickets well in advance. We visited mid-morning, mid-week in July and our climb was almost full, as were the ones before and after us.
You’re advised to arrive 15 minutes before your climb time, which gives you the chance to complete and sign the waiver form if you haven’t done it online already. You’re then lead into a room where you meet your climb guide and watch a brief safety video.
After that, it’s time to suit up. Up at the O2 provide shoes for everyone to use. Even though my daughter and I were both wearing trainers, we were asked to use the O2’s shoes as they have a better grip.
You’re given a numbered box where you can put all your personal belongings that you won’t need during the climb, including shoes and bags (I recommend taking a photo of your number so you don’t forget it!). These boxes are then placed in a locked trunk so everything will be safe while you’re standing at the top of the dome.
Up at the O2 do provide a jacket or gilet if it’s cooler (London was in the middle of a heatwave when we visited so extra layers were not needed!). There are also waterproof suits available if your visit takes place on a rainy day, although you have to hire these for £15.
There are toilets here and it’s recommended that you use them before climbing as there are certainly no loos once you’re clipped into the safety-latch system, or anywhere on the dome!
The O2 climb
Once we were all kitted out, our tour guide Jamie handed out harnesses and then took us outside to explain how to put them on. There’s a handy zipped pocket in the harness where you can put mobile phones although the only time you’re allowed to take photos is when you are on the viewing platform.
There are, however, a number of places where professional photos are taken including at the start of the climb and at the end. These are available to purchase once you have finished the climb. Personally, I always find these professional photos over-priced so we did not buy ours but they do make a good London souvenir.
As soon as we were ready, Jamie checked every safety harness individually, and we walked up a set of stairs to the start of the climb.
The climb itself takes place along a 380m-long suspended fabric walkway. Once you’re clipped in, you stay attached to the safety-latch system until you reach the viewing platform. The start of the climb is the steepest point reaching 28 degrees on the way up but there’s no rush, and everyone is allowed to take their time. The walkway has a little bounce to it although you are reminded that it’s not a trampoline and should not jump!
It takes about 10 minutes to talk up to the top and, once you arrive at the viewing platform, you are unclipped and can walk around freely.
The Top
Groups are given around 15 minutes at the viewing platform. If you have ordered a drink when checking in (everything from water to Prosecco is available) then your guide will hand these out now.
Some guides give a talk at the top, explaining some of the buildings that you can see from this vantage point and tell fun stories or anecdotes about London. Our guide was on hand to answer questions but did not give a talk, which seemed a shame.
That said, there are information panels telling the history of the River Thames and pointing out the names of some of the more famous buildings that you can see.
There’s no denying that it’s a great view from the top. It’s also a unique vantage point. Many of London’s viewpoints such as the London Eye are located in the central London whereas the O2’s position on the Greenwich peninsula, gives you a new perspective on the city including Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, historic Greenwich, the Olympic Park, and the Emirates Cable Car.
Once it’s time to go – typically when the next climb group has arrived – you clip back in to the safety rail and make your way down the blue walkway. The final part of the descent is steep but again, you are told to take your time. In any case, you don’t want to rush as this roof walk is all about the views.
O2 Facts
London’s O2 is the world’s largest fabric structure and apparently it can be seen from space! Here are some other interesting facts about this unique venue:
- The O2’s 12 bright yellow masts represent the 12 months of the year.
- The steepest part of the climb is at 30 degrees.
- The summit is 52 metres high, representing the 52 weeks of the year.
- The viewing platform is 12 metres across with a diameter of 365 metres.
- The roof appeared in the opening sequence of the 1999 James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough, when Pierce Brosnan lands on it after jumping from a hot air balloon.
Why you should book Up at the O2
If you’re are looking for a fun and unique sightseeing experience that now only shows you the sights but gives you a rush of adrenaline along the way then Up at the O2 is a great experience.
There are plenty of viewing platforms in London, but there’s nothing quite like this climb across the world’s largest tensile structure (where the roof fabric is held up in tension by cables and masts).
It’s inclusive and accessible: Up at the O2 offer a special wheelchair climb using a bespoke wheelchair and a team of four specialised guides.
It’s a fun thing to do with family members and friends, and they also offer themed climbs including Summer Sessions with live music and drinks, yoga sessions on the viewing platform, and sunset climbs.
At 90 minutes long, it’s easy to add to a London day out. I recommend doing this as the first or last stop on your itinerary, perhaps choosing a twilight climb watch the city lights come to life.
It’s a unique London experience to do for a special occasion – my mum organised for my family to do a climb to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday, which we all loved.
How to book to Climb the O2
Timings: Climbs run every 15 minutes and operate seven days a week for daytime, sunset and twilight climbs.
Departure point: Tours leave from Basecamp, which is located outside the main entrance of The O2. The nearest tube station is North Greenwich Station on the Jubilee line.
Group sizes: It’s a maximum of 18 people per group.
Tour duration: 90 minutes.
Minimum Agę: Participants should be aged 8 years or above 1.2m tall.
Ticket prices: Daytime tickets start from £37 for weekday climbs and from £42 for weekend climbs. Twilight tickets start from £40 during weekdays and £43 at weekends. Sunset Climbs start from £42 during weekdays and from £44 at weekends. Children tickets are the same price.
You can book your tickets here.
