First time climbing?

Do I need a course before I can climb?

If you already climb and can belay, just come in. If you are new to ropes and want to learn how to climb, book a taster or a beginners course and we will cover everything you need. If you are just bouldering you do not need to do a course.

For bouldering, we have small warm up bouldering areas and training boards at The Church. Our main bouldering facility in Bristol is The Mothership.

Getting started is easy

You can pay per visit or buy passes for discounted entry. View prices.

Pay Once, Climb Twice

If you’ve never visited a TCA centre before, you can pay for your first visit and your second visit is completely free.

Roped Climbing

In the Southwest you can try roped climbing at The Church (or The Arc in Chippenham). Try a Taster first to get a feel for it. To start rope climbing independently, you must complete a beginners course or be accompanied by an experienced friend who is happy to supervise.

Book a Taster

See all roped courses

Bouldering

New to bouldering? We’d recommend starting with a Bouldering Induction at The Mothership — our flagship bouldering centre in Bristol. Start solo, or bring friends and family along to learn together.

The Church has limited bouldering but two great training boards. Prefer to jump straight in without an induction? Just turn up and hire shoes. Over 16s can boulder unsupervised. Complete forms before you arrive to save time. This includes our safety video.

Book a Mothership Induction

Can I climb with kids?

Do your kids want to learn to climb?

Roped climbing

Children of any age can climb on ropes at The Church, as long as they are with an adult who has been signed off to belay them or supervise auto belays. Under 18s must be supervised on the ropes. New to it? Ask about our free auto belay inductions. Auto belays do the belaying for you, so it’s a super easy way to get your family onto the tall walls.

We also offer fun Kids and Family Tasters (for over 6s), where you get to try top-roping and auto belays with an instructor.

Classes

Kids classes at The Church start at age 6, running through term time, with holiday activities in the school breaks.

See all Youth classes

Birthday Parties

We run awesome climbing birthday parties for over 6s.

Can I visit without climbing?

Yes, we have cafes in every centre where you can enjoy great coffee, sweet treats, savoury snacks and beer. These are open to the public. You do not need to register to use the cafes. We offer take out hot drinks if you are passing and need a quick caffeine (or decaf) fix.

St Werburgh's Church
Mina Road, Bristol
BS2 9YQ

View in Google Maps

Mon-Fri: 12pm-10pm
(Peak 3-8pm)

Sat-Sun: 9am-4pm
(Peak 9am-3pm)

thechurch@theclimbingacademy.com

0117 941 3489

Bouldering
Roped Climbing
Shop
Training Facilities
Auto belay
Cafe
Outdoor Courses

Welcome to

The Church

The Church in St Werburghs is one of the UK’s first indoor climbing centres — the kind of place you come to get fit, meet people, and enjoy the workout. You’ll find walls up to 12m with top-ropes, lead and auto belays, two warm-up bouldering spaces, and a training zone. Our café with a mezzanine viewing area pours locally roasted coffee and serves savouries and sweet treats.

New to climbing?

The easiest way in is a Taster — a relaxed session to try roped climbing and see how you get on. We also run outdoor courses. Come solo, or bring friends and family along to learn together. Ready for more? Our Roped Beginners course will set you up to climb independently.

Book a Taster

Book Roped Beginners

Just here to climb?

No booking or course needed for competent roped climbers or to boulder*— just turn up and hire kit at reception. Complete forms online to save time before you arrive. Under 18s roped climbing must be supervised by a registered adult.

*Bouldering in Bristol? Head to The Mothership, our flagship bouldering centre — The Church has two small warm-up areas and training boards, but The Mothership has two whole floors of bouldering. Under 16s must be supervised bouldering (max two per adult).

Group bookings For enquiries about group sessions and instructed courses, please use our group enquiry form rather than email — it's the quickest way for us to help.

“I recently signed up to the adult beginner’s course…It was so much fun and the instructor was really friendly. He was a great teacher, and made it easy to learn the knots and belaying techniques…The centre is great too — even though it was busy, there was still space to practice on, and a good range of routes for beginners as well as advanced climbers. Will definitely be back now I’ve qualified!”

Google review ★★★★★