The best adrenaline activities in London

A climb to the top of the famous O2 arena's roof is sure to get the blood pumping. Up at the O2 offers daytime, sunset, or twilight climbs, and once you're at the summit, you can enjoy clear views of London, especially the surrounding Greenwich, Olympic Park, and Canary Wharf areas. If you're celebrating a special occasion, you can even get a glass of champagne at the top.

High-speed racing, twisty tracks, and the smell of petrol in the air – go-karting is a classic adrenaline activity that's popular all over the world. You can find go-kart tracks all over London, letting you unleash your inner Hamilton, run an impromptu tournament with your friends, and have a blast speeding around the racetrack.

A state-of-the-art indoor skydiving experience, iFly is suitable for all ages and abilities. Their cutting-edge wind tunnel can generate speed of up to 150mph, simulating freefall sans the need to jump from an aircraft. Strap on a VR headset for full immersion and a massive adrenaline boost. The professional staff are readily available to offer guidance throughout your visit.

The thrills offered by The Dare Skywalk here aren't of the usual win-or-lose football variety, though they might be easier for Spurs fans to handle than recent seasons. Visitors to the famous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium can go for a 90-minute tour along a glass walkway running high above on the outside of the facility, with views of the London skyline and the pitch as a bonus. For the ultimate adrenaline boost, you can upgrade to The Dare Skywalk Edge, with a controlled, 42-metre abseil descent from the top at the end of your tour.

The Go Ape adventure parks offer thrilling treetop adventures for all ages at various locations in London. Whether you're looking for a family outing, a solo challenge, or a corporate event, there are high-rope courses and zip lines to get the heart racing. With challenges designed for different skill levels, including more demanding courses for adults, Go Ape ensures a unique and adrenaline-pumping experience.

Hyper Reality is a cyberpunk-inspired bar that draws on the neon-tinged streets of Tokyo and offers a range of virtual reality experiences. In addition to classic VR shooters, you can board one of their thrilling rollercoaster rides. Hardcore adrenaline junkies can go for the Ultimate Booster with a 360-degree spin, or The Slingshot that shoots you across the air in a life-sized slingshot.

ArcelorMittal Orbit is the world's longest tunnel slide, providing an exhilarating experience as you speed down the tube. Designed by renowned artist Anish Kapoor, this distinctive red structure is also the tallest sculpture in the UK and was built for the 2012 Olympics. In addition to the slide, visitors can book the UK's highest freefall abseil experience, making it an ideal choice for thrill-seekers seeking an unforgettable London adventure.

The Thames RIB Experience boasts the fastest speedboats on the Thames, taking you on a high-speed cruise along the river. There are different routes to choose from, taking you past some of London's best-known sights, with the powerful PA system ensuring you don't miss a thing as you zoom along. Make no mistake, however – this is an adventurous activity through and through. There are plenty other, more sedate river tours to choose from if you really want to see the sights – this one is all about the thrills.

Prepare for high-speed racing excitement at Supercharged VR, regardless of whether you possess a driver's license. Thanks to cutting-edge VR technology and full motion simulator platforms, this immersive experience faithfully replicates the sensations of driving a race car at maximum velocity, allowing you to compete in thrilling virtual contests. Select from an array of cars and tracks to try out and enjoy the adrenaline rush of motorsport without any of the associated risks.

F1 Arcade is a premier bar destination for avid Formula 1 enthusiasts, featuring an impressive fleet of 60 full-motion racing simulators. This cutting-edge social gaming venue provides a variety of racing challenges and competitions suitable for all levels of expertise, complemented by delectable food and enticing cocktails. Additionally, F1 Arcade hosts official F1 Grand Prix watch parties and is available for private event bookings, making it a must-visit establishment for thrill-seekers and F1 petrolheads alike.

Sedately docked near the National Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark doesn't exactly seem like the most thrilling spot around, even if it was once one of the fastest clipper ships to sail the seas. However, you can spice up your visit to this historic vessel with a unique adventure. You can climb the rigging with a special pass and get a taste of sailing life aboard the ship, as well as enjoy great views of the Thames.

Bunker 51 is a nuclear-bunker-themed venue below the ground in Greenwich, offering a range of exciting activities such as paintball, laser tag, and airsoft. It's their “live zombie” experiences that'll have you in a cold sweat as you prepare to fight off the living dead with replica weapons, desperately try to escape a room before a ravenous zombie breaks free and comes after you, or shoot up hordes of zombies in a thrilling game of laser tag.

Babylon Park in Camden is geared primarily towards children and young people, but suitable for all ages. It's themed as an outer-space adventure playground with all sorts of indoor attractions, including rollercoasters, bumper cars, a drop tower and other rides. You can also hit up the various vending machines, play classic fairground games, and do other fun stuff. Admission is free, with each ride or activity charged separately.

Wakeup Docklands offers Londoners the opportunity to learn or practice wakeboarding without the need to travel to the seaside. Beginners can learn the basics on the Blue Cable course, while more advanced wakeboarders can challenge themselves on the Gold Cable obstacle course. You can rent all the necessary equipment here, but it's worth mentioning that the facility is closed during winter.

The Flip Out adventure parks are known for their indoor trampolines, letting you bounce around to your heart's content. The vibrant, colourful venues offer other exciting activities for adults and children as well, including inflatable obstacle courses, ninja tag, drop slides, caving, stunt zones, and more. They're a great family-friendly choice, regardless of whether you're looking to host an action-packed birthday party or just stay entertained for a few hours.

If you'd like a rush of adrenaline on the regular and get in shape at the same time, consider signing up for one of the Parkour Generations classes at the international group's custom London facility. Experienced parkour aficionados can also attend one of the community's regular meetups or challenge themselves in competition with others.

UK Bungee Club's crane comes to Battersea Park only on select days throughout the year, so best plan ahead. If you do manage to get a slot, you'll be able to leap off from 160 feet high, with only an airbag and an elastic cord between you and the ground. UK Bungee Club also offers tandem jumps for those who want to share this adrenaline activity with their special someone.

Thorpe Park Resort is one of the most popular theme parks in the UK, and though it isn't located in the city proper, it's not too far away – just about an hour's drive from Central London. Serious thrill-seekers will happily make the trip just to ride Stealth, the country's fastest roller coaster. It goes from 0 to 80 mph in less than two seconds! Plenty of other exciting rides and attractions are available as well.