NICAS at London Climbing Centres
Weekly Kids’ Climbing Clubs (Ages 7–17)
NICAS across London Climbing Centres
Book year-round via your local centre below. If your session is full, join the waitlist to be notified when a space becomes available.
What parents say about NICAS at London Climbing Centres
The session we booked for my daughter and her friends was absolutely brilliant. I have nothing but positive feedback for the centre.
Benedikte Hill
Thank you for empowering my little one, she can’t wait to come back with her friends
Lakster JM
Safety instruction very good, centre was well managed and staffed.
Melissa Khan
How Booking Works
We’ve made NICAS bookings simpler with a rolling subscription model.
Book your climber’s place once and pay through monthly automatic payments, so there’s no need to rebook throughout the year. You’ll only need to update your booking if your climber changes group, progresses to a new NICAS level, or leaves the programme.
Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
If a group is full, you can register for space notifications, and we’ll let you know if a place becomes available due to cancellations or group changes.
About NICAS
NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme) is the UK’s nationally recognised climbing development programme for young climbers.
At London Climbing Centres, NICAS runs as a weekly coached session throughout the year, helping climbers build skills, confidence and independence while progressing through the award levels.
Sessions are available at CroyWall, HarroWall, RavensWall, CanaryWall, BethWall, VauxWall East and VauxWall West, with climbers grouped by age and ability to ensure the best learning experience.
NICAS is open to climbers aged 7-17 and is one of our most popular youth programmes, with spaces often in high demand.
Bookings are managed through a simple monthly subscription, making it easy to secure and maintain your climber’s place.
To learn more about the NICAS programme, visit here
Why should your child start climbing?
Climbing is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, an Olympic event, and a fantastic way for kids to get active, build confidence, and make friends.
Weekly NICAS classes run across 7 of the London Climbing Centres and follow local school term calendars. Each week children progress through structured levels, and climb with the same group for consistency and friendships, all while developing a wide range of skills.
Full-Body Workout
Climbing engages your entire body, building strength in your arms, legs, and core, while also improving balance and coordination.
Cardiovascular Health
Climbing gets your heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing!
Problem-Solving Skills
Climbing challenges your mind as much as your body, promoting problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Social Connection
Find your next climbing crew on one of our social sessions across our centres! Or make a friend on the mats!
Frequently asked questions
What age can my child join?
NICAS is for ages 7–17. Unsupervised junior climbing is 14+ after passing an assessment.
We’re new to climbing — where should we start?
Start at NICAS Level 1. It’s designed for beginners and builds skills step by step. If you’d like a one-off taster first, check the “First-time” sessions on your centre page — but it’s not required to join NICAS.
How do bookings and rebooking work?
When do sessions run?
NICAS runs during local school terms at the same time each week for routine and friendships. Check at your centre for current term info.
Can we change day or time after booking?
No — places are fixed to keep classes consistent. If your plans change, please join the waitlist for future terms or speak to reception about options.
What if we miss a session?
We can’t refund or reschedule missed sessions because class sizes and coach ratios are fixed. Coaches will help your child catch up in the next class.
Which level should we choose?
Everyone starts at Level 1. If your child progresses quickly, coaches can move them up after assessment. You don’t need to pick a higher level to begin.
What should they wear? Do you provide equipment?
Wear comfy sports clothing. We provide climbing shoes for NICAS sessions and chalk is included.
There’s a one-off cost for the NICAS logbook & folder at your child’s first session, which is required by the scheme.
Do parents need to supervise?
NICAS sessions are run by our qualified, DBS-checked coaches; parents don’t supervise during the class.
If you’d like to supervise outside of NICAS, become a bouldering supervisor at your centre. Parents can also climb in separate adult sessions.
What can parents do while they wait?
Relax in the café with coffee and snacks, use our free Wi-Fi, watch from viewing areas — or book an adult climb and get on the wall too.
Parking & getting there
Travel and parking vary by centre. Check your centre page for the latest details and tips (some sites have free parking nearby; others are best by public transport).