Dive into some of London’s best skating arenas with more venues and people than ever before
Image by Paul Hudson: (Flickr)
Locations:
Baysixty6 skatepark (Bay 66 Acklam Road, North Kensington, W10 5YU)
A popular undercover skate cover that is just around the corner from Ladbroke grove. This Skate park has an ample amount of space and is one of London’s most famous arenas, thanks to its sponsorship by Nike. The park includes street-style ledges, ski jumps, style gaps, and a large bowl. Although the skate park is amazing for experts and intermediates it also has a beginner’s section.
Cantelowes Concrete Bowl and Skatepark (212 Camden Rd, NW1 9HG)
Recognized as one of the United Kingdom’s largest and nicest bowls. This park has gone through a large amount of renovation and for expert skaters, it is one of the best. This park includes a large bowl, an L-shaped street section, flat banks, and grind blocks. This park also offers a range of things for beginners and is a must-go if you’re looking for a good time.
Extreme Barking Skatepark (Mayesbrook Park, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2JR)
Based in Mayes Brook Park between Dagenham and Barking, Extreme is designed and manufactured by professionals for enthusiasts of all abilities, including amazing features such as London’s first keyway birchwood bowl. Not only a skatepark but an activity center, this park is one of London’s finest and the city’s largest indoor venue. Featuring a huge 900 m2 skatepark, this park has 2 different sections. It is suitable for beginners and pros. It has a 3.5k mini ramp terrain, 6ft deep Beachwood bowl, and 2ft extension.
Crystal Palace Skatepark (Crystal Palace Park, SE20 8DT)
This park is one of the United Kingdom’s first parks to host a national skating competition and goes back to 1977. It has hosted both the national skateboarding competition and the skateboarding halfpipe competition. This park includes vast curved concrete belts that are a total of 11 meters wide and 101 meters long. Regardless of your skating abilities and style, this park is all-inclusive. BMX, roller blades, scooters, or skateboards the park can help in each.
Clapham Common Skate Park (10 Rookery Rd, SW4 9DD)
Clapham common skate park is on the edge of the famous Clapham common. This park is all concrete and includes metal ramps, a small tarmac section, ledges, angled flats, and a mini ramp. A well-designed skate park that gives its customers a good variation while being both tricky and interesting. The main point of interest here is the concrete section due to its large space and freedom giving the skaters the chance to move around and find their way through the obstacles.
House of Vans (Arches, 228-232 Station Approach Rd, SE1 8SW)
Just a short walk from Southbank, this skate park has an amazing bowl with many door gaps and extensions. It also includes a mini ramp made of concrete with multiple steep banks and hub ledges. This skate park is more for the experienced skater and it is used as more of a street-style skate park rather than a structured one. The location is amazing and just around the skate park, you have multiple cafes and parks.
Image by: (Wikimedia Commons)
Southbank Skate Space (337-338 Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, SE1 8XT)
One of London’s most iconic skating sites, the space right on the banks of the Thames has been in use for the past 50 years. Not only is it a skatepark but also home to BMX riders, graffiti writers, break-dancers, and upcoming hip artists. Recently restored this skate park is meant to recreate a street style experience. One of the most unique skate parks and many come to just watch the different things going on in the arena.
Alexandra Palace Skatepark (Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY)
Just a short walk from the Alexandra palace station is an outdoor concrete and metal skatepark. With a very plane area containing a few quarter pipes, multiple banks, and a long drive in the middle. For the experienced skaters, it has a down ledge, stairs, and an amazing spine ramp. Although one of the best skate parks, the arena has no lights so it’s best to visit during the day.
Kimber Skatepark (Kimber Skatepark, Kimber Road, SW18 4NY)
Right next to Wandsworth river Wandle. The Skate has metal frame ramps and concrete style loops with one of the best BMX tracks. A small and simple arena but perfect for those who are just learning the sport.