From the museums to the independent eateries and thriving nightlife; there’s plenty to love about a city break. Here in the UK, we’re blessed with some truly great urban escapes and you’ll rarely find yourself at a loose end in one of our regional centres.
But what if you want to step outside the box a little? Galleries and landmarks are great of course – but doing something truly one-off is sure to make your trip a memorable one.
To help you discover something new, here’s our rundown of some of the most out-there activities in British cities.
Go axe throwing in Manchester
Got an axe to grind? Try throwing one instead! Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing is nestled away in the city’s Great Northern Warehouse, and promises a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Visitors are invited to hurl axes across the room at bullseyes, competing with their mates for precision and accuracy. When all the axes are up, the champion will be crowned and thus bestowed with a rather unique bragging right.
If you’d like to get in on the action and need a Manchester hotel, our ibis Manchester Centre 96 Portland Street is just 5 minutes’ walk away, right at the heart of this vibrant city.
Go skiing in Glasgow
Skiing, outdoors, in the middle of a UK city? It might sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. Glasgow Ski & Snowboard Centre is located southwest of the city centre, and is home to three distinct and well-sized slopes. Because the British climate tends to be too warm for any snowfall to hang around long, the centre uses a specialised mesh material that recreates the feel and gliding ability of the white stuff.
If you’re visiting the centre, simply hire whatever equipment you need and be thrilled by an afternoon of skiing, snowboarding, tubbing or tobogganing. Beginners classes are scheduled regularly, so this is a great place to start if you’ve an Alpine holiday coming up and want to hit the ground running when you get there.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Glasgow, the Ski & Snowboard Centre is just an 11-minute drive or 35-minute walk from ibis Budget Glasgow.
Swing through the trees in Southampton
Ever wondered what it’s like to fly through the forest canopy without a care in the world? Nestled away in the beautiful woodland of Itchen Valley Country Park, Go Ape Southampton offers all that and more.
This high ropes course invites visitors to unleash their inner Tarzan, traversing ladders, nets, obstacles and zip wires as they go. After two or three hours tackling the near kilometre-long assault, you’ll be more than ready for the 250-metre glide back to terra firma.
If you’re planning a trip to Go Ape and need a Southampton hotel, ibis Southampton Centre is ideally located, just a 20-minute drive from the site.
Climb high in Edinburgh
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, Edinburgh might have the answer. The Scottish capital is home to the largest indoor climbing arena in Europe, occupying a disused quarry and hosting the largest indoor climbing wall in the world.
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena boasts an incredible collection of courses, with their new Clip n’ Climb zone being a real highlight – it offers visitors 15 colourful and unusual walls that cleverly pose a range of challenges. Whether you’ll be scaling the beginner zones or tackling high-altitude overhangs like a pro, there’s more than a day’s fun to be had here.
If you’d like to test your climbing skills one weekend, our Edinburgh hotels have you covered. ibis Budget Edinburgh Park just a 15-minute drive from the climbing centre, while ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile will place you right at the heart of the capital.
Dine at a prison in Cardiff
Dining out once or twice is a quintessential part of any city break, and it’s only natural to want to sample the best your destination has to offer. But fine dining could come with a twist if you’re staying in Cardiff.
HM Prison Cardiff is located at the heart of the Welsh capital. To provide vital training and employment opportunities to inmates, the facility operates an on-site restaurant called The Clink. More than just helping inmates build a brighter future however, the food here is genuinely exceptional. In fact, it’s currently ranked among the city’s five best restaurants on review sites.
If you’re looking to swing by The Clink and need a Cardiff hotel to crash in, ibis Cardiff is just five minutes’ walk away.
Walk up and over the O2 Arena in London
The iconic dome that encases London’s O2 Arena is one of the city’s most unique structures. Spanning 365 metres across and 52 metres high, it certainly makes a statement on the capital’s skyline. But if that wasn’t enough, you can now experience this landmark like never before.
Up at the O2 offers a truly unique urban mountaineering adventure. You’ll jump into a climb suit and harness up, before beginning your steep ascent up the side of the dome. When you finally make it to the top, you’ll be treated to 360-degree views out over the capital, with Canary Wharf in the foreground and the City on the horizon.
If you’re looking for a London hotel with fast access to the O2, our ibis London Docklands Canary Wharf hotel is just a hop over the water – one jubilee line stop away.
Enjoy all of these incredible attractions, and many more, when you book your next city break with ibis.
