10 adrenaline-fueled adventures you can have in the UK
Your favourite summer activity might be relaxing in the gorgeous sunshine, but it is also the perfect time of year to embark on an adventure.
From zip lines to abseiling into caves, the UK boasts an endless number of extreme sports and thrilling activities.
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a day with your loved ones this summer, read on to discover 10 adrenaline-fueled adventures that will get your heart pumping.
1. Zip World, Bangor
Ride the 3 km Velocity zipline above Penrhyn Quarry to experience the longest zipline in Europe and the fastest in the world, reaching speeds of over 100 miles an hour.
Take in the fantastic views of Eryri before flying down one of the four parallel lines, which allow you to ride alongside your loved ones.
If Velocity might be too daunting for you, Zip World also offer gentler zip lines as well as a quarry tour if you prefer to keep both your feet on the ground.
2. Thruxton Circuit, Andover
Many places in the UK offer supercar driving experiences, but Thruxton Circuit is one of the best.
Once you’ve been trained in how to drive racing cars, you can drive and ride in six vehicles worth more than £800,000 in total, including the Ferrari 458 Spider and McLaren 5705.
To finish a day of white knuckle racing, you also get to ride in a high-speed two-seat racing car, driven by the iconic British racing driver and Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell.
3. Bridge bungee jump, Whitby
You might know Whitby for its world-famous fish and chips, stunning beach, or historical significance thanks to the iconic Whitby Abbey. But did you know it is also home to the only bridge bungee jump in England?
Experience the incredible thrill of leaping off the Larpool Viaduct and falling 42 meters over the gorgeous water.
4. Hang gliding, Bannau Brycheiniog
The grassy field and hills of this Welsh national park are ideal for gliders, paragliders, and hang gliders to soar over.
If you have a license, this is the perfect destination to spread your wings. But if you’re new to hang gliding, you can also visit the local Crickhowell Paragliding school, where you can embark on unforgettable tandem flights or learn how to become a pilot.
5. Virtual reality experiences, across the UK
If you’d rather keep yourself out of danger while still getting an adrenaline rush, you might enjoy a free-roam virtual reality experience.
These games are carefully designed so you can walk around a room unobstructed, interacting with the virtual world in completely immersive environments.
Meetspace VR have locations all over the country, including:
Nottingham
London
Birmingham
Reading
Manchester
Guildford
Bristol
Choose from a wide range of games, from fighting zombies, travelling through space, or walking through a topsy-turvy world where gravity doesn’t apply.
6. Skydive Northwest, Cumbria
Although many places offer skydiving experiences in the UK, Skydive Northwest’s excellent safety record and its incredible views of the Lake District make it a great option.
Freefall at speeds of 120 miles an hour from up to 15,000 feet and enjoy the stunning views of Lake Windermere and Morecambe Bay from the sky.
7. Dancing Ledge coasteering, Dorset
Dancing Ledge is one of the most popular coasteering venues in the UK and for good reason.
The company can tailor the experience to the group attending as their route along the Jurassic Coast boasts jumps of all heights, as well as caves to explore and swim through, making it perfect for families and thrill-seekers alike.
8. White water rafting, Aberfeldy
Splash Rafting offers a range of water activities in Perthshire, including the opportunity to white water raft down the River Tay.
The rafting trip is about six miles in distance and allows you to practise your new rafting skills with some fun challenges before the river drops away and you have to navigate a series of challenging rapids.
If you prefer a gentler water activity, they also offer paddleboarding, kayaking, and river duckies, which are a cross between a white water raft, a kayak, and a Canadian canoe.
9. Cornwall Underground Adventures, Cornwall
Combine a history lesson about Cornwall’s mining heritage with an exciting underground adventure by going below the surface and discovering the subterranean world carved out by centuries of Cornish miners.
Their easiest trip is perfect for families with children over the age of 10 and ventures into an ancient mine, with the opportunity to abseil down a few levels if you’re brave enough.
Or, if you want to push yourself, you can embark on their vertical caving trip where you use ropes to traverse across shafts and climb along the walls of gaping chasms of a 16th-century mine.
10. Ultimate Indoor Paintballing, Liverpool
If you have ever fancied shooting your loved ones, this might be the activity for you.
The firm offers a range of paintballing games, including capture the flag and free-for-alls. Every activity can be tailored for different age groups, making it perfect for a children’s party or a team bonding day for your colleagues.
For smaller children aged four and up, they also run Nerf Liverpool with fully padded crash mat walls, flooring, and obstacles to ensure everyone’s safety.