Image via Complex Original
It’s not often we mere mortals have the luxury of training in the most decorative and scenic climates the world has to offer. Actually, now that I think of it, athletes and Olympians are the only privileged individuals who get to do this, and even they have limits on where they can train. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone categorized some interesting ways to train, and also highlighted the ultimate places to workout in the UK? Let's begin in order of danger and exhilaration…
Tunnel Flying at Bodyflight Bedford
Location: Bedfordshire, England
Season: All year
Cost: Starting at £34.99
Website: bodyflight.co.uk
Interesting fact: Best in the UK for size, power, and air quality
Bodyflight was first introduced to aid with skydiving skills, however the whole concept dates back to the 1960s, where it was used for aerodynamic training. The concept has grown over the years, and with competition comes bigger and better facilities to entertain and train the body for flying. This particular centre boasts the fastest 180-mph experience, which pushes the body to the absolute limit. Although you don’t have to be the strongest person to perform the skills, there are still technical complications that make this both complex and fun at the same time. When you are trained in the typical five routines, you can then practice for real and jump out of a plane.
Rock Climbing at The Castle Climbing Centre
Location: London
Season: All year
Cost:£20
Website: castle-climbing.co.uk
Interesting fact: The castle was built solely for the public to climb
Climbing can technically be done anywhere. However, this place offers a more diverse approach with the additions of bouldering and climbing inside and out. The 450 dedicated routes are sure to get your heart pumping with added challenges to suit all ages. It has more annual visits than any other centre in the UK, and changes its courses to suit the variety of people who go. Not only is climbing an unbelievable workout, but there are not many people who can boldly say that they have scaled a castle for fun.
Cave Trampoline at Bounce Below
Location: Llechwedd, Wales
Season: All year
Cost: Starting at £20
Website: bouncebelow.net
Interesting fact: It’s the world’s biggest cave trampoline and the first of its kind
With more than 10,000-square-feet worth of bouncy nets, this has to be the coolest place to work out and generally jump around and fall down. There are not only three levels on which to jump, with the highest trampoline set at 180 feet from the cavern bottom, but there are connections to other areas of the cavern via zip lines, slides, and ladders. You are allowed to bounce for an hour of ecstatic, elastic fun before you have to exit.
Free Running at Parkour Generations
Location: London
Season: All year
Cost: Average of £5.15
Website: parkourgenerations.com
Interesting fact: The UK’s first and only dedicated free running indoor park
Free running has been around for over 10 years and originated in the UK and France. The beauty of this sporting activity is the freedom and movements, which you can do just about anywhere in the world. Granted you need objects to run off, bounce on, leap over, run through, and grind on, but you can pretty much perform the skills anywhere. This spot is like no other and offers classes and group sizes to accommodate anyone who wants to give it a go. Boasting an indoor and outdoor space, it is arguably the best overall body exercise you can do while only using your own bodyweight.
Tough Mudder at Culden Faw
Location: London
Season: Spring
Cost: Starting at £109
Website: thehambledenestate.com
Interesting fact: Regarded as the toughest Tough Mudder in the UK
Some people say you must be insane to participate in a Tough Mudder, and this particular course is between 10-12 miles of hell. At one moment you are being electrocuted while passing through underwater tunnels and the next you are walking a 15-foot plank above trenches of ice water. It was invented by two English students in America and has since circulated the continents, influencing over a million brave-hearted participants. Personally, anything that you need to sign a waiver for in case of severe casualties is a little out of my extreme tolerances, but for some lively folk out there, this is becoming the greatest overall psychological and bodily challenge around.
Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill
Location: Gloucestershire, England
Season: One day a year
Cost:£0 to play; £20 to watch
Website: cheese-rolling.co.uk
Interesting fact: The event started in the 1800s and has since been banned
Okay, I know what you are all going to say, and yes, I still classify this as working out. To some people the annual unofficial event of rolling/running down a 200-yard hill seems stupid. Well, you are not wrong. This is for the brave and reckless and comprises of thousands of people running down a steep treacherous hill after a nine-pound block of cheese. Surprisingly, this is now a very popular event for people around the world to participate in and certainly pushes the body to its limits. With only four serious casualties, I think that it’s safe to say that this “workout” is not only dangerous, but thrilling as well.
Flying Trapeze at The Regent’s Park
Location: London
Season: Summer
Cost:£25
Website: gorillacircus.com
Interesting fact: Leotards are named after the father of the flying trapeze, Jules Leotard, who was the first man to jump from one trapeze swing to another
We’ve always wanted to fly, and, for you adrenaline junkies, this is something that can be done on a daily basis. People who are looking into more ways than the normal skydiving and bungee jumping to push their bodies to the limit—look no further. Although this is performed throughout the UK, it has become a popular cult of athletes in London as it’s taxing on the entire body. Time to fly.
Go Ape at Crathes Castle
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Season: All year
Cost: Starting at £31
Website: goape.co.uk
Interesting fact: Boasts a 595-acre estate of zip wires and treetop climbs
Go Ape is an awarding-winning forest adventure for everyone. Depending on the site you choose, it could include zip lining, treetop jumps, or forest Segways to push your bravery to the limit. We chose this particular site in Aberdeen due to the inclusion of an epic Skateboard Zip Wire. This is the coolest (yet strangest) variation of normal zip wiring we’ve ever seen. There is a skateboard attached to lower cables and a bar attached to wires above, meaning you have to balance the two together while standing straight—not easy! Once you are done with this don’t forget to try out the rest of the 592 meters of zip wiring.
Biking at Tour de Yorkshire
Location: Yorkshire, England
Season: May 1-3
Cost: Free
Website: letour.yorkshire.com
Interesting fact: The Grand Départ generated over £100m for the Yorkshire economy
Don’t think you have what it takes to compete in this year’s Tour de France? Well, we’ve got the next best thing. The Tour de Yorkshire, which is run in partnership with the Amaury Sport Organisation who operates the Tour de France, is a unique opportunity for riders in the UK to experience the Tour de France legacy. And if you can’t commit to all three days, they host a mass sportive with several distances on the third day.
Canoeing and Kayaking at Lee Valley White Water Centre
Location: Waltham Cross, England
Season: All year
Cost: Starting at £49
Website: visitleevalley.org.uk
Interesting fact: Used during the 2012 Olympics
The Lee Valley White Water Centre was a peak attraction during the 2012 Olympics in London. During the canoeing and kayaking course, two gates offered six upstream, 90-degree angle courses pushing peak athletes to their limit. We only mention this tidbit of information since it is now thankfully available to the public. Not everyone attempts this climb due to the danger and technical applications needed to successfully get up the stream. However, the option is there for the taking. It’s not often you can say you have completed the same circuit as an Olympian, so this is definitely one for the bucket list.
