UKC

We're backpacking at the moment and one of the things we really want to do is visit the 10 or 20 best indoor climbing gyms in the world. I couldn't find this anywhere on the internet, and although I know this is 'UK Climbing' I'm assuming you guys probably have some experience outside the UK too!

Here's my experience so far to start the list off:
* The Castle (London, UK) 10/10 - amazing walls & people but expensive
* YMCA (Hong Kong) 6/10 - small but good walls and friendly instructors
* Metro Sports (Cebu, Philippines) 4/10 - not great facilities but a great group of regular climbers who will show you where to climb outdoors

Ideally, you only need to list the best places you've been in each country. Hopefully this list will be helpful for other people in the future too.

Thank you!

In reply to duckling:

you should get out(side) more.

In reply to Morgan Woods:
I've tried out door climbing in some really great locations but I don't like it because of the bugs!!! I always thought outdoor climbing would be so much better than indoor climbing so I learnt how to lead rope and started learning about cams and things but it turns out all I really want to do is top rope indoor walls.

In reply to duckling:

Ratho, near Edinburgh.

www.eica-ratho.com

In reply to AlasdairM:
Great! Thanks. We're planning to climb ben nevis this summer so we will stop by Eica Ratho

In reply to duckling:

This seems like an odd ambition. If I was backpacking across the world I'd be motivated to go to the ten best crags.

Konala Boulderkeskus in Helsinki. http://www.boulderkeskus.com/ (link available in English)

This is a bouldering wall. The person who runs it is an excellent carpenter and built the walls. They are really whacky and original shapes, including a giant sphere, a free standing boulder which you top out on and then descend a staircase in the middle of and many uniquely contoured surfaces. It is probably the third biggest dedicated bouldering space (a little smaller than climbing works in Sheffield) , but due to the friendly staff and the uniqueness of the walls could well be the best (I wouldn't really know as I've never been to the other contenders). Certainly the people set about making the best bouldering wall in existence.

Helsinki also has a pretty cool roped climbing wall. There are some pictures here http://www.kiipeilyareena.com/gallery.php but unfortunately no information is available online in English. The competition wall is great. It's 16m high and overhangs 11m. There's also a 28m high sculpted wall. Is this one of the top 10 in the world? Probably not, but I would think that Konala boulderkeskus may well be.

Perhaps I'm overhyping Helsinki. But honestly, it offers the best indoor climbing I've ever seen. Feel free to ask anymore about it.

Get yourself down the depot. Leeds, England.
www.theclimbingdepot.com

In reply to TonyB:
The Helsinki place looks *amazing* - wow!

In reply to duckling:

Klatreverket in Oslo, Norway, is a great gym. Though expensive 100 Norwegain Krone drop in price, which is roughly 10.50 GBP at todays exchange. Big main hall roughly 15m, 3 levels of bouldering, and training room.
Link is below, they even have a 360 degree tour on the web page.

http://klatreverket.no/site2/

360 view is here

http://360visning.no/panopublisher/flash/5/1

In reply to duckling:

Thalkirchen in Munich just started building works to become allegedly the biggest climbing wall in the world. Also opening in one month in Munich: yet another claimant to "biggest dedicated bouldering facility in the world".

Also: Broughton

In reply to duckling: there is a bar in Prague that has a bouldering wall in it!

In reply to duckling:


Excellent Troll pal!! You had 'em all fooled!

In reply to higherclimbingwales:

Now that's what I call a climbing centre!

In reply to duckling:
Magnet Halle, Bern, Switzerland

In reply to darren-surrey:

I am in Prague, almost all the climbing gyms have a bar

www.boulder.cz

http://www.hudy.cz/praha.smichoff/

In reply to duckling:

I liked Camp 5 in Kuala Lumpur when I was living there. Nice and modern, reasonable size, good selection of bouldering, top roping, leading and fake rock and very empty every time I climbed there.

http://www.camp5.com/

In reply to duckling:

It might not the furthest afield but The Depot in Leeds takes some beating for a bouldering wall