Which UK cities are leading the way in thrill-seeking fun for children?
Physical activity is an integral part of promoting children’s health and wellbeing. An active lifestyle supports fine motor development and can help prevent health issues. It also helps children burn off excess energy, relieves stress, and helps them focus on other tasks, such as reading, schoolwork, and creative pursuits.
However, a 2023 study by the Youth Sport Trust [1] found that almost 4 million children don’t get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. So, what can be done to keep our kids active?
While parents can provide their children with fun home-based activities like garden trampolines or climbing frames with rock walls, joining a club focused on their favourite activities helps them build friendships and receive guidance from coaches and trainers. Taking part in high-adrenaline activities is also a great way to distract kids from addictive technology and sedentary pastimes, getting them excited to stay active, which can be great for both their physical and mental health.
Inspired by our new ninja range, we took a look to see which UK towns and cities offer the best opportunities for high-adrenaline youth activities. We’ve found the number of clubs and facilities for various active pursuits, from parkour to horse riding, to reveal the best locations for youth activities that will really get their blood pumping!
The best UK cities for adrenaline adventure for kids
1. Watford Adrenaline Adventure Score: 9.65
Watford is the best place in the country for high-adrenaline youth activities, earning a score of 9.65. The town is particularly good for children interested in horse riding, with six horse riding centres within 10 miles, equal to 4.6 centres per 100,000 people. The town also has plenty of local skateparks and nearby climbing walls, each with 3.8 per 100,000 residents.
Watford also has lots of high-adrenaline activities for its size, with two nearby zip line locations and a Ninja Warrior centre, ideal for energetic children seeking adventures.
2. Bolton Adrenaline Adventure Score: 7.93
Bolton claims second place with an Adrenaline Score of 7.93 out of 10, making it a great place to keep your children active and healthy. The town scores well across most factors, with numerous nearby horse riding centres and trampoline parks per 100,000 people. There are also plenty of nearby go-karting centres, climbing walls and other high-adrenaline activities, providing a good mix of options for physical activities.
However, kids who are into skateboarding may find it challenging to pursue their passion as there are few nearby skate parks. That said, skateboarding can still be enjoyed in other public spaces, but they may not have a dedicated space with a fun mix of ramps to master.
3. Slough Adrenaline Adventure Score: 7.61
Slough follows closely in third place, with an Adrenaline Score of 7.61. This Berkshire town has a good mix of nearby activities for kids to participate in. There are many horse riding centres, with 4.2 per 100,000 people, and many skateparks and trampoline parks for kids to enjoy.
Slough could improve by offering more parkour clubs and climbing walls, as there are only 0.6 of each per 100,000 people. These physically demanding activities can help children build upper-body strength, agility, and fine motor skills.
The top UK towns and cities for different blood-pumping activities
Having highlighted the best towns in the UK for offering a range of physical activities that kids can enjoy, we can also reveal which locations are the best for each.
The best place for horse riding
Watford is the best place for horse riding in the UK, with six nearby horse riding centres (4.6 per 100,000 people). Six horse riding centres are within a ten-mile radius of the town, including the Littlebourne Equestrian Centre and Kings Langley Riding School.
Horse riding is a unique hobby in that it involves learning to handle and respect a living animal, which can help children learn patience and responsibility and provide physical activity.
The best place for go-karting
Watford is also the best UK town for go-karting, with four nearby centres (three per 100,000 people). These include TeamSport Go Karting Watford in Bushey, which offers a classic go-karting experience on an indoor track, and BattleKart London Saint Albans, which combines go-karting with video game elements in an innovative augmented reality experience.
The best place for trampolining
Bolton is the best place in the country for trampoline parks, with five parks within a 10-mile radius, or 2.7 per 100,000 people. Two of these parks include the Jump Xtreme Trampoline Park on the Trinity Retail Park just south of the town centre and AirVault Inflatable & Trampoline Park in nearby Westhoughton. Depending on the child's age and ability, trampolining can provide anything from a safe place to bounce around and have fun to a serious sport within the field of athletics.
The best place for parkour
Watford is the best place in the UK for parkour clubs and parks, with three in total (2.3 per 100,000 people). Parkour is an excellent sport for combining creativity and freedom with intense physical exercise. Dedicated parks and parkour clubs are a wonderful resource for people looking to get involved in a safe and controlled environment.
The best place for skateboarding
Cambridge is the best UK city for skateboarding, with ten nearby skateparks (6.5 per 100,000 people). Skateboarding is an ideal activity for children to develop balance and coordination, and it can be a great way to make friends and meet new people. Additionally, the hobby has a thriving subculture encompassing music, art, and fashion, providing enthusiasts a sense of community and belonging.
The best place for climbing
Watford and Newcastle upon Tyne are tied as the best places in the UK for climbing. Newcastle has 11 nearby climbing centres to choose from, and Watford has five, meaning both have 3.8 per 100,000 people.
Climbing is an activity that helps build upper body and grip strength, coordination, and a willingness to persevere. Climbing centres provide a safe way for children to get involved and burn off some energy, and can also be a popular choice for birthday parties and events. Adding a garden climbing frame with a mini wall is a great way to introduce young children to the hobby and encourage them to keep practising between sessions.
The best place for aerial adventures
Bournemouth is the best UK town for aerial adventures, with six in total (3.1 per 100,000 people). This includes five nearby zip lines and a Go Ape high ropes centre with three courses. Activities like these are a great way to get kids outdoors, tackle physical challenges, build confidence, and form great memories of a fun and active childhood.
Methodology
We wanted to uncover the best places in the UK for youth activities. To do this, we compiled a list of the UK’s 50 most populated towns and cities using 2021 census figures obtained via City Population. We then collected the following data for each town and city:
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The number of British Horse Society horse riding centres within 10 miles, sourced from the BHS website.
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The number of go-karting centres within 10 miles, sourced from Day Out With The Kids.
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The number of trampoline parks within 10 miles, sourced from Day Out With The Kids.
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The number of parkour clubs & parks, sourced from Parkour UK.
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The number of skateparks, sourced from The Skateparks Project.
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The number of climbing walls within 10 miles, sourced from UK Climbing.
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The number of zip lines within 10 miles, sourced from Day Out With The Kids.
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The number of Ninja Warrior venues, sourced from Ninja Warrior UK.
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The number of Go Ape locations, sourced from the Go Ape website.
The figures for zip lines, Ninja Warrior venues and Go Ape were grouped under a single category: aerial adventures.
All seven factors were then normalised against the town or city’s population and combined into a single, equally-weighted score out of ten. We used this score to rank the cities and reveal the best UK locations for youth activities.
Additional sources: