Indoor walls are popping up all over London and the South East, but will they curb rebellious buildering—the urban counterpart to bouldering—or simply fuel the desire for more?
So mostly we are talking about low-level clinging to infrastructure, but there have been some climbing stories which hopefully won't cause any reputational damage to the art of buildering. One of these stories ended in a prison sentence a few years back for George King-Thompson from Oxford.
World's Top 10 Buildering Destinations
1. Paris, France
• Highlight: Eiffel Tower (historically climbed multiple times).
• Paris is often considered the birthplace of modern buildering, thanks to figures like Alain Robert, the famous “French Spider-Man.” The city’s many historical and modern structures provide opportunities for adventurous climbers.
• Key Areas: In addition to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and La Défense skyscrapers, Paris has various old buildings, bridges, and monuments that offer interesting buildering challenges.
2. New York City, USA
• Highlight: The Flatiron Building, Empire State Building (climbed by George Willig in 1977).
• NYC is home to some of the most iconic skyscrapers and bridges in the world. Although security is high and legality is a major concern, the sheer scale of buildings makes it a tempting location for extreme builderers. The city’s architecture, both modern and old, offers a variety of surfaces and styles to test your skills.
3. London, UK
• Highlight: The Shard, Big Ben.
• London’s mix of old and new buildings provides an excellent canvas for buildering. While climbing famous landmarks like The Shard or Big Ben is strictly illegal, some climbers have managed to achieve these feats. The city also has plenty of smaller structures, perfect for discrete urban climbing.
4. Dubai, UAE
• Highlight: Burj Khalifa.
• The ultra-modern skyline of Dubai includes some of the tallest and most iconic buildings in the world. Alain Robert famously climbed the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, using only his hands and feet in 2011. The city’s futuristic architecture provides great opportunities for those looking to push the limits.
5. Hong Kong
• Highlight: International Commerce Centre (ICC).
• Hong Kong is known for its dense urban environment and high-rise buildings. The ICC, one of the tallest buildings in the city, was famously climbed by Alain Robert. The mixture of glass, steel, and concrete structures makes it a prime spot for serious buildering enthusiasts.
6. Moscow, Russia
• Highlight: Moscow State University, Ostankino Tower.
• Moscow has a rich history of daring urban climbing. The massive Soviet-era architecture provides plenty of monumental structures with unique challenges. Builderers have famously targeted the skyscrapers of the city’s “Seven Sisters” buildings.
7. Barcelona, Spain
• Highlight: Sagrada Família.
• The incredible architecture of Antoni Gaudí, particularly the Sagrada Família, offers a blend of creative and technical climbing. While the legality of climbing these buildings is questionable, their unique shapes and textures present a rare buildering opportunity.
8. Shanghai, China
• Highlight: Shanghai Tower.
• China’s urban growth and the rise of mega cities like Shanghai have made it a target for builderers. The Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world, was climbed by two Russian daredevils in 2014. The city is a hotbed for those looking to tackle modern skyscrapers.
9. Tokyo, Japan
• Highlight: Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing Buildings.
• Tokyo’s endless urban sprawl and iconic structures provide many buildering possibilities. While highly illegal, some urban explorers are drawn to areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku for their maze of smaller buildings and occasional skyscraper.
10. Berlin, Germany
• Highlight: Berliner Fernsehturm (TV Tower).
• Known for its street culture and urban exploration scene, Berlin offers plenty of opportunities for buildering. The city has numerous abandoned sites and construction areas that attract climbers looking for unique challenges.
George climbed the 310-metre (1,017ft) Shard skyscraper in London. London Bridge Station was briefly closed when the 20-year-old took 45 minutes to make the free-solo climb - without ropes or protective equipment. Apparently George had been planning the climb for eight months, even moving to east London and visiting the building on up to 200 occasions.
In his defence the court was told he had not been seeking "fame or notoriety", but had "laudable aims" to "inspire others".
This ill-conceived effort was in stark contrast to Mick Fowler’s first winter ascent of St Pancras station back in the eighties. A couple of things are worth noting – firstly, Mick’s an experienced (and already was then) climber. Secondly, no one was inconvenienced or endangered by the climb.
We dug this out from an article in The Telegraph (2005):
"I worked in the head office in London and would drive past the station every morning," he (Mick) says. "There was a leaking toilet outflow that was gradually freezing down the side. It was just the perfect ice climb on a building really." With two climbing mates, Fowler ascended the 65ft ice-flow while a partner paid out rope from below, using a nearby parking metre as a belay anchor. "It was a bit unpleasant at the top - it was a leaking lavatory outlet, after all - but we did it," he says.
A wee ice climb up a railway station is something quite different to buildering of course but it does further highlight the appetite that urban climbers have for being drawn to anything outdoors that presents itself as a challenge. Mick's friend Victor Saunders has also been known to have a go.
Buildering in Bern
Festival Wildcard Award Winner: Let it Baern uncovers Bern’s underground bouldering scene. Following the Banksy-like characters Dr. Bäri and Dr. Bomb, the film takes us on a journey through hidden urban climbing spots, reclaiming joyless city spaces for play and exploration. Director Hannes Tell reflects, “In bouldering, we experience a unique playfulness and curiosity… to see fellow climbers reclaiming cities sparked something within us.” Let it Baern is a celebration of urban climbing’s rebellious spirit, inviting viewers to rediscover their passion for climbing in unexpected places.
Not being builderers ourselves some research was required to try to find people who are currently clambering about our streets. It didn’t take us long to find a YouTube builderer called QrowX. Not only does the enigmatic QrowX provide films and photos of his adventures, he’s even graded routes and provided a Google Map of buildering challenges in the capital.
#LondonMountainFilmFestival #BuilderingLondon #Buildering #UrbanBouldering
