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 If sightseeing everyday is taking its toll, this autumn there are plenty of activities to give you a refreshing day of fun.  London’s seven million inhabitants can’t get away all the time, so they practice their pastimes in the city itself or nearby. Everything’s catered for! Learn to defend yourself in a refined fashion at shooting and fencing classes, take on the challenge of ice climbing or skiing indoors, let the ringmaster hone your skills at the Circus Space, cycle on or off-road, or enjoy a placid drink while bowling with friends. London is brimming with great opportunities for the lively and energetic, a rich seam often untapped by visitors to the capital. Get active and get involved!  Indoor Skiing Britain’s not famed for its snow-capped mountain vistas or winter sports (remember Eddie the Eagle?) but if you can’t go without, and don’t have the time or money to flit off to the Alps for a week, the SnoZone could be the answer. Sixteen snowguns shoot jets of cooled water into the artificially chilled air to form one and a half thousand tonnes of real snow, piled 175m high. There’s something for everyone with a main slope, a beginner’s area for newcomers, and a snow park for all those cunning stunts. For those who prefer something a bit more unconventional, why not try the extreme skiing or tobogganing sessions? A range of courses are on offer, so you’ll be up and gliding down the slopes in no time. Housed in the Xscape complex there are plenty of other activities to get involved in, from movies, to bowling and shopping. Milton Keynes might not have the innate beauty of Europe’s mountain ranges but the SnoZone will certainly satisfy your snowy visions. Milton Keynes train station is about an hour's journey from London Euston. Venue: SnoZone, Xscape Address: 602 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 Phone: 01908 230 260 Price: £20 (1 hour) £26 (1 hour lesson) £150 (8 hour 'Ski / Board In A Day' course) Nearest Station: Milton Keynes Central Rail   Circus Skills Ever wanted to try your hand at circus showmanship? If so, get in the ring and learn all the skills from the experienced instructors at Hoxton’s distinguished Circus Space. Juggle a bevy of balls, traverse the tight wire, direct the diabolo, check out the view on stilts, swing on the trapeze, then finish off making a human pyramid with your classmates. If this doesn’t tickle your fancy, why not try the more leftfield Western Skills course which will teach you how to survive in style of the Old West. Discover how to crack a bull whip, throw knifes and wield a lasso. They run some excellent courses for youngsters too. It’s not your typical day out but you can’t help but be seduced by the possibility of becoming the star of the show. To find out more or to book please click here. Venue: Circus Space Address: Coronet Street, Hoxton, N1 Phone: 020 7437 4370 Price: £45 per day for the adult courses Nearest Station: Old Street Tube  Fencing Step back into the golden age of chivalry and swordsmanship. Well, almost. Fencing isn’t as antiquated as you might imagine; it’s a modern sport practised around the world, even at the Olympics. The deft, subtle movements of the master fencers will inspire those who don’t believe in brute force. Champion fencers are intelligent, master tacticians in great physical shape. However, as soon as you don the protective gear and get your mitts around the hilt of a sword, you’ll feel as though you’re protecting a damsel’s honour. A Touch of Steel offer either one-on-one tuition or group classes. To find out more or book please click here. Venue: A Touch of Steel Address: Finsbury Leisure Centre, Norman Street, EC1V Phone: 020 7437 4370 Price: £280 for a one-on-one 10 hour course spread over five sessions Nearest Station: Old Street Tube  Indoor Ice Climbing Test your climbing talents to the max on this eight metre-high real-ice climbing wall. True, you won’t have to contend with any howling gales, gaping crevasses or the risk of frostbite, but with at least some mountainside conditions recreated, the ice wall can prove a real examination. Built inside a refrigerated unit which runs through two storeys of adventure sports supplier Ellis Bingham’s Covent Garden store, you don’t have to go out of your way to visit. Vertical Chill has proved immensely popular with interested novices and expert climbers alike, since it opened its doors in 2003. Clip on your crampons and close those karabiners before you step up to this frosty challenge. Venue: Ellis Bingham Address: Tower House, 3-11 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, WC2E Phone: 020 7395 1010 Price: £40 (Learn to Ice Climb) £30 (Climb and Hire) £20 (Turn Up and Climb) Nearest Station: Charing Cross / Covent Garden Tube Click here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  Bowling Forget the out-of-town shopping villages, neon lights and arcade machines you usually associate with bowling alleys, this innovative underground bowling bar is about to reignite some ten-pin passions. Being the only place in central London where you can play small town America’s favourite sport, it’s already unique but with its fabulously detailed, retro-chic interior, it really has scored a strike. The décor has a few great touches: bowling balls are shot back at you on above-ground rails rather than the conventional tunnels and heart-shaped diner seats make welcoming thrones around the diner tables. The finger food is fantastic, combining the best of Americana with other nibbles from around the globe. Bloomsbury Bowling offers an alternative night out; the blend of sport, healthy rivalry, inexpensive drinks, and appetizing cuisine in an instantly eye-catching setting is a winner. The outsized bowling chains better watch out, there’s a new kid on the block with some great ideas. Venue: Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes Address: Underneath the Tavistock Hotel, Bedford Way, Russell Square, WC1H Phone: 020 7691 2610 Price: £4.50 - £5.50 per game Nearest Station: Goodge Street Tube Click here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  City Cycling Who says bicycles are old-fashioned? On the tube all you see are walls flashing past, and with the average speed of car in central London clocking in at around nine miles per hour, many are taking to two wheels. The London Bicycle Tour Company whisks visitors around various sectors of the city, explaining the history and points of interest as you pedal. Check out the West End - home to royal palaces, the seat of Government and the famous theatres. Head east to the City of London, and journey from an Ancient Roman settlement to today’s centre of business. On warm evenings they even organise a tour combining a few charming pubs and a taste of their place in the urban fabric. A knowledgeable, professional guide will whiz you around the famous landmarks. Travelling by bicycle also means you discover some of the smaller byways and their hidden treasures. Breath some fresh air into your lungs and see the sights. To find out more or to book please click here. Name: London Bicycle Tour Company Address: 1a Gabriel’s Wharf, 56 Upper Ground, SE1 Phone: 020 7437 4370 Price: £17 for a three hour tour including bicycle hire and guide Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube / Rail  Mountain Biking Epping Forest is a vast 6000-acre area of woodland crisscrossed by tracks and trails, just the thing for a mountain bike. Let’s Off Road organise a day’s adventure through the forest, covering around 25 miles. The ride caters for cyclists of varying skill levels so don’t worry, you won’t be left behind. You can be jumping logs, pelting through bogs or just taking it easy cruising down the smooth wood-lined tracks. Not only that, the area is spotted with fascinating features; Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, the panoramas of London from Pole Hill perched directly on the Greenwich Meridian, the ruins of Copped Manor and the Iron Age earthworks at Loughton Camp and Amesbury Banks. If you’re lucky (and quiet) you might get the chance to see some woodpeckers, deer and other wildlife. Out of doors, out of London, mountain biking in Epping Forest gives you an lively taste of the English countryside. Venue: Meet at Chingford Railway Station Phone: 020 8402 6652 / 07786 072363 Price: £35 including lunch Nearest Station: Chingford Rail  Shooting Set in 120 acres of lush parkland only 12 miles from the capital, the West London Shooting School is a convenient place to don a tweed jacket and feel the thud of a well-oiled shotgun recoiling into your shoulder. One of Britain’s favourite country pursuits might look easy but it’s tricky to master; learn the correct stance, grip, how to align the sights and how to keep relaxed while letting rip. Established in 1901, the school has been voted 'best shooting ground in Britain' and their tuition reaches accordingly high standards. Get your eye in firing at targets and progress to fast-moving clay pigeons. West London Shooting School has it all: lock, stock and barrel. Venue: West London Shooting School Address: Sharrel Lane, West End Road, Northolt, Middlesex, UB5 Phone: 020 8845 1377 Price: £59 per person for a 1 hour lesson with two people sharing Nearest Station: South Ruislip Rail  Roller Blading Tracing rhythmical lines across the tarmac, drifting smoothly forward or backward; a skilled roller blader is a joy to observe. You can make a start, and see one of London’s most striking open spaces, Hyde Park, at the same time. At this time of year trees sprout up through the deep beds of brown leaves as you coast calmly along the banks of the Serpentine Lake. Skatefresh will supply you with a pair of solid, up-to-date inline skates and protective kit, in case of any tumbles. Individual tailored lessons will make sure you get the best out of your session. To find out more or to book click here. Venue: Hyde Park Phone: 020 7437 4370 Price: £83 for 1 individual lesson, £99 for 2 lessons Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube  Hapkido Karate, Judo, Kickboxing, Kung Fu... Hapkido? Less well known than its other Oriental cousins, the ancient Korean martial art is worth getting to know. Grandmaster Gedo Chang's Hapkido martial arts school emphasises practical self-defence, confidence, balance and fitness. The centre maintains that Hapkido is more defensive than other Far Eastern fighting forms, teaching students how to subdue an opponent without causing serious injury. But don’t fret - they admit that in order to defend against punches, kicks and other aggressive manoeuvres, you’ve got to learn them first. Gedo Chang started his empire of martial arts schools near Chicago and opened his first centre – or dojang - in London in 2001, moving to their current location in Blackfriars in 2003. He personally trains all his head instructors and regularly visits the schools. To find out more or to book please click here. Venue: Chang’s Hapkido Academy Address: Top Notch Health Club, 3 Tudor Street, EC4Y Phone: 020 7437 4370 Price: £65 (One Person) £120 (Two People) £150 (Three People) Nearest Station: Blackfriars Tube / Rail  Did you know?- Eddie “the eagle” Edwards was Britain’s first (and only) competitor in the Olympic ski jump. The unlikely star of the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Eddie, a former plasterer, wowed audiences when he managed to come spectacularly last in all competitions. - Thanks to improved cycle routes, 330,000 journeys are now made by bicycle everyday in London. - The Olympics might be returning to London in seven years, but last time they graced the capital, nearly a century ago in 1908, Britain had her most successful games ever, winning 56 gold, 51 silver and 35 bronze medals. |
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