At the highest point there is a viewing
platform that gives views around the O2 in all directions. Views can be had to
Canary Wharf, the Olympic Park and the City. The altitude reached is not as
great as the nearby cable car but you have the opportunity to stop and have a
look around before making way for the next group - the cable car just keeps on
moving!
The Which magazine asked'Is it really
worth it?'. There findings [visit
link] are:
"You can now walk over the roof of
The O2 arena, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, and view the city in a
whole new way. But does it offer the best view in London?
Last week I found myself wearing a
rather unflattering jumpsuit standing beside The O2 dome at North Greenwich,
London. I had a safety harness on, sensible walking shoes, and had just signed a
document to say that I was medically and physically fit. I had confirmed I
weighed under 20 stone, was taller than 1.2 metres – and was ready to climb Up
at The O2!
Yes, I was indeed up for an
adventure and about to experience London’s newest visitor attraction, but are
the views at the top worth all the effort and the £22 price tag?
Bring on the adrenaline
rush
If you’re a bit of a daredevil,
there’s no denying that Up at The O2 should be on your thrill list. Climbing up
over this iconic London landmark with its distinctive yellow masts on what feels
like a big blue trampoline is certainly something a bit different – though,
unfortunately, you’re not allowed to bounce.
That said, when you are clinging on
to a rope (gloves are provided) and trying to pull yourself up the first part of
the climb, the last thing you really want to do is bounce. And I certainly
didn’t want to bounce on the even steeper descent down.
The tensile fabric walkway that you
go along is suspended 52 metres above the ground, and visitors – in groups of no
more than 15 – climb with an enthusiastic guide whose main priority is your
safety. The 90-minute experience is fun, it’s exciting, but when I was safely
back down with both feet on the ground, it wasn’t really the views that I was
raving about.
Views from the top
When you reach the summit and the
viewing platform, visitors are able to unclip their safety harness, relax and
take in the views. You’re allowed to take mobile phones (in a special
compartment in your jumpsuit) so it was cameras at the ready. It wasn’t the
clearest of days (it was wet and windy), but I could still make out the Olympic
Village across the Thames, London City airport, the Shard and the Thames
Barrier.
But can you see similar sights from
the top of the London Eye, and save yourself £7 and the bother of safety checks
and waiver forms? And what about all those tall buildings you can get to the top
of, in the comfort of a lift, for free? I have friends who work at the Blue Fin
building on the Southbank and the views from IPC’s roof garden are every bit as
impressive.
Of course, I don’t think you’d go
to all the effort of climbing The O2 just for the views, but the experience has
left me wondering; where can you get the best views of London?"
The O2 website [visit link] tells of the opening
times and cost:
"Climbing Times
Climbs take
place every 20 minutes.
Summer: Jun - Sep
Weekday
Daily 10:00 -
20:00*
Winter: Oct - May
Weekday
12:00 to 18:00*
Weekend
10:00 to
16:00*
*Final climb
Pricing
Online
Tickets
Off-Peak £22
Mon-Fri 10am-4:40pm (Summer)
Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm
(Winter)
Peak £28
Mon-Fri 5pm-8pm (Summer)
Sat & Sun all day
(Summer & Winter)
On The Day Tickets
10am-8pm £28
Only available at
The O2 Box Office, all day Mon-Sun
Subject to availability"
Parking is available close by but can
be expensive and limited. The best way to get to the O2 is by the Jubilee Line,
bus or river.