Let’s be honest, Manchester is a stone’s throw away from some of the best real rock in the country. The Peak District is a heaven for climbers of all types. Even so, this is North-West England we are talking about and it rains. A lot! That’s why bouldering in Manchester also takes place in some top quality gyms.
Although some cities have more choice when it comes to the gyms on offer, Manchester does pack a quality punch. With three in total located in the city centre. There are a number of others in ‘Greater Manchester’, and we will list our favourite down below. Overall, there is more than enough to satisfy your needs.
The gyms cater for all abilities. Beginners feel welcome, whilst more advanced climbers have a range of suitable climbs and training facilities.
List of Bouldering Gyms in Manchester
In the following section, we will list all of the bouldering gyms in Manchester. We will give you some information, such as opening times and the address. Furthermore, we will also give you our verdict on what we thought when we tried the gym out! We recommend trying them all for yourself, they all bring something unique to the table, so it just depends on your personal preference.
The Depot Climbing Centre, Manchester
Address:
Unit N1/N2 Mosley Road
Central Park Estate
Trafford Park
Manchester
M17 1PG
Opening Times:
Mo – Fr : 06:00 – 22:00
Sa – Su : 09:00 – 20:00
Website: www.theclimbingdepot.co.uk/manchester
Verdict – Our Favourite
Located in Trafford Park this is one of the best bouldering gyms in the whole country. It claims to be the largest bouldering wall in Europe and maybe even the world. There is over 1000m² of climbing surface with a whole host of differing holds. We really enjoyed our time here.
They reset up to 40 problems each week, with hundreds of problems ranging from V0 – V11+. For those of you looking at training, they come well equipped. There are campus boards, peg boards, kettlebells, a rowing machine, and two training boards at 30 and 55 degrees. Additionally, there are also two circuit boards.
There is a dedicated section for beginners which is a really nice touch. The staff are very friendly. In terms of transport, it is best if you drive by car and there is free parking. It can be reached by public transport, with the tram the best option, even so we would prefer if it was closer to the city centre!
Rock Over Climbing
Address:
Park Garage
Cheviot Street
Manchester
M3 1LW
Opening Times:
Mo – Fr : 10:00 – 22:00
Sa – Su : 10:00 – 20:00
Website: www.rockoverclimbing.co.uk
Verdict – the Best in the City Centre
Probably the best-located bouldering gym in Manchester. It is just a five-minute walk from Victoria Station. It is perfect for every type of boulderer. Furthermore, it also caters for families, with a great soft play area.
One of our favourite things about this gym is the room dedicated to a so-called ‘World Cup Standard’ set. The Great British Climbing team trains here, and it is for good reason!
There are over 300 boulder problems in varying styles, from slab to roof. There is also a dedicated training room and a cafe if you need a break. They also have auto-belay routes and some roped climbs for those who fancy something different.
Overall, it is a very good bouldering facility. The one area it could improve is the changing area, but no one really cares about that!
Manhchester Climbing Centre
Address:
St. Benedict’s Church
Bennett St
Manchester
M12 5ND
Opening Times:
Mo – Fr : 10:00 – 22:00
Sa – Su : 09:30 – 18:00
Website: manchesterclimbingcentre.com
Verdict – Better for Rope Climbing
This gym is more of a rope climbing gym than a bouldering one. Even so, there is a bouldering section, with around 80 routes for you to have a go one. The problems range from VB – V8, so for some of you, this won’t be hard enough. They do have a dedicated training room which has everything you need.
The location is the most impressive thing here, with it being built into an old church. There are plenty of top rope, lead climbing, and auto-belay routes, and is one of the best around in this regard. Even so, if you are looking for bouldering in Manchester, there are better places to go to. The weekend opening times are also quite short.
The Best Bouldering in Greater Manchester
Awesome Walls Stockport
Address:
Pear Mill,
Lower Bredbury,
Stockport
SK6 2BP
Opening Times:
Mo – Fr : 10:00 – 22:00
Sa – Su : 10:00 – 20:00
Website: awesomewalls.info/stockport/
Verdict – A Great Facility
Located in Stockport, just off the M60, you will need a car to get to this one. Even though they cater expertly to rope climbers, with a massive 23.5-metre wall, they also provide a top bouldering facility. They are a chain facility, with six centres across the UK & Ireland.
The bouldering walls are located at the back of a gym in a completely different section to the roped are. It is still big enough with plenty of variety of problems and a very nice traverse wall. There are over 100 different problems, so you do still get enough choice. The staff are friendly and it is just a very good overall facility. The one area it could improve is the training facility as it is very small.
Quality Over Quantity for Bouldering in Manchester
Compared to some bouldering gyms from other cities which we have reviewed, bouldering in Manchester has a small choice. Nevertheless, our two favourite places, the Depot and Rock Over, more than make up for it. They boast a wide range of problems and truly cater for beginners and experts alike. You’ll never be left wanting on those rainy days!