by Kate Albrecht
One afternoon in early January, I found myself happily enjoying a cup of coffee and some peace and quiet while watching my 5-year-olds scrambling up a 14-metre climbing wall. I had never been to the Westway Sports Centre in Notting Hill before, but I already knew this was going to become part of our regular routine.
I had passed the centre many times but hadn’t given it due appreciation until then. I turned at the sign on Bramley Road leading under the Westway. I found parking, a spacious facility much larger than I had imagined, an enormous climbing wall with hundreds of routes, extensive indoor tennis courts, outdoor courts, football pitches, a gym, classes, and a cafe. Now I wonder how it took me so long to discover this gem.
I ended up there on a lark. We were all feeling a bit stir-crazy as we neared the end of a holiday break that involved a lot of quality time indoors. In need of some outdoor activity when the weather was not cooperating, I jumped at the chance to let them climb up someone else’s walls for an afternoon. When I told the kids what they were going to do that afternoon, they seemed perplexed. They had never heard of rock climbing before. I’m not sure they knew it was possible.
Any concerns they had were put at ease when their instructor attached their harnesses and showed them that they couldn’t fall. She started them out small, teaching them how to read the path they were meant to follow, the best way to position their feet and hands, how to push up with their legs. She taught them how to “walk” back down the wall safely. She also had them working as a pair: while one climbed, the other was continuously monitoring the rope and pulling the slack through a belaying device that keeps it from slipping, and the climber from falling. (Don’t worry, the whole rig is also anchored to the ground.)
The kids loved it—they left with the air of having conquered something. They were working together, watching each other, communicating. My son is now asking for a Spiderman-themed climbing party for his 6th. He’s in luck, the Westway Sports Centre also does birthdays.
More information: The Centre is run by the Westway Development Trust, a not-for-profit set up to develop the area under the Westway for the benefit of the local community. Climbing costs start at £8 for an adult during off-peak times. Children’s drop-in groups start at £6.25. Family climbing times are available as are private tuition. There is a one-time registration fee of £5 for adults and £3 for children.
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