I'm impressed with the variety of routes here, but it does have its down-sides.
As already pointed out, getting there isn't the easiest.
I've yet to find a quiet time; it's always ALWAYS busy.
And, to be honest, I get annoyed with a lot of the instructors. I was trying to do a tricky lead move and needed to be able to talk/shout to my belayer (for obvious reasons). But my belayer couldn't hear me because right next to her was an instructor with a kids group who was encouraging them all to recite this encouragement chant at the wee one who was climbing. Very annoying, and very unsafe.
On another occasion, an instructor shouted up at me to "keep both hands on your knot" as I was about to be lowered off. I'm all for safety, and for reminding other climbers how to be safe - but this kind of took the biscuit. What made it worse was that one of the climbers he was instructing wasn't even tied in properly (which I had to point out to him).
The Urban Rock shop is great, and the staff are fantastic.
I'd find the wall a lot more bearable if it weren't always so busy, and if there weren't always groups of beginners in. I have nothing against people starting up - we all did it at one point! But there always seem to be at least three beginners groups who, through no fault of their own, don't understand the rules and etiquette. I'm kind of sick of having to tell people wearing outdoor trainers not to stand on my rope, or tell them not to climb over me, or have groups of them shouting whilst I'm trying to talk to my belayer/climber.
Before we got there we thought it was a bit me a trek from luton. But as soon as we walked in there is a friendly atmosphere and great staff. Really busy but did not take up long to get climbing. Some great routes, and a lot of lead climbing which is nice. For someone that has only climbed at small walls this was a amazing nights climbing which we will do again soon.
I signed up here a while ago, it rocks! the heating is sorted now and a bit too toasty if you ask me, but plenty of good walls to choose from and some nice 'feature' routes.
Signed up here a month ago now and it's just been the best sporting experience of my life. There is no attitude from anyone, everyone is just so friendly and unlike anything i've experienced before. A+
Joined at the weekend just to check it out. There isn't any written exam anymore. Just need to show you can put on a harness and tie in, and also belay someone pulling on the other end of a rope.
Lots and lots of routes to choose from and no attitude.
At last west London gets a top class wall. If it weren't for poor underground access (Hammersmith and City Line to Latimer Road) even more people would transfer here from The Castle and Mile End.
There are acres of space and the lighting superb - through translucent walls plus uplighters shining on the white-painted undersurface of the M4 flyover.
There are grades to suit most tastes, brilliant routes just using features, great bolt on routes with less hold crowding than you get at the Castle. It is all one floor level (eat your heart out Castle) and all one room (ditto Mile End) but the cafe is out of the climbing area so yoyu can't sit and watch whilst drinking and eating. The cafe staff (in my single visit experience) don't speak good English and can't make good drinks.
The Urban Rock shop is brilliant with lots of space.
This place will be a magnet for people in West London as it boots the Brunel Wall into the past and decants numerous small and inferior walls in the west London Reading area into the disposal bin.
This place is simply top-class - but the heating in winter needs sorting.