Zipwire Experiences in Kent

 Dive deeper into sky-high adventures in the Garden of England. From adrenaline junkies to younger daredevils, Kent offers thrilling zip wire experiences for all ages.
By Julia Roy

Beyond zipwires, Kent is brimming with excitement! To discover more incredible days out, from heart-pounding adventures to unique and leisurely pursuits, be sure to explore our comprehensive Things To Do in Kent menu with the Activities category for Sports & Leisure, Adventure and Unique Experiences listings. Our website’s search and filter tools are also perfect for helping you find exactly what you’re looking for across Kent.

For a full round-up of adrenaline adventures in the Garden of England, see our 18 Adventure Activities in Kent Guide.

For more 

The Thrill of a Zipwire: Soar Above Kent’s Landscapes

For true adrenaline junkies and nature lovers alike, zipwires offer an exhilarating way to not only get your heart racing but also to enjoy incredible aerial views of Kent’s stunning landscapes. From a bird’s-eye perspective, you’ll truly understand why it’s called the Garden of England.

Imagine soaring through the air, naturally embracing the ‘Superman’ position and feeling like a true caped hero! Your heart will pound and your eyes will be amazed by the views. The sensation is one of pure freedom, a unique perspective that truly transforms your appreciation for Kent’s natural beauty. Zip wire experiences are often designed so you can even fly alongside friends and family, sharing the unforgettable moment together.

The Psychology of Adventure: Why We Seek Thrills

Being adventurous is not for everyone. While See Kent’s editor may be scared of heights, they hold a deep admiration for those who can venture high, and a desire to one day conquer that fear for the rush down to the ground at speed.

According to research cited by The British Psychological Society, engaging in these types of activities is important for humans:

Adventure is an important part of being human, it teaches us about what we are capable of, lets us find out how capable we really are, opens up doors to discovering our own inner capabilities and facilitates growth.*

Kent’s Top Zipwire Destinations

Kent is home to several impressive zip line experiences, each offering unique views and thrills:

The Hangloose Bluewater Skywire: England’s longest zipline, this impressive 720-meter line offers an extensive journey through the air. You’ll fly past the dramatic chalk cliffs of an old quarry and glide over Bluewater’s beautiful lakes.

For the latest prices and booking, visit their official website – Hangloose Kent. 

St Andrews Lakes (near Rochester): For another stunning water view, enjoy the thrill of soaring over the beautiful waters of St Andrews Lakes with their exhilarating zip wire adventure.
For the latest prices and booking, visit their official website – St Andrews Lake.

 Go Ape have two locations in Kent:
Bedgebury in Tunbridge Wells  and Leeds Castle in Maidstone
For the latest prices and booking, visit their official website – Go Ape Bedgebury and Go Ape Leeds Castle

Zip Wires for Younger Adventurers & Families

For younger children and families there’s plenty of choices for enjoying zip wire experiences together. For younger children and families, many local parks offer play areas with smaller zip wires. These are often where little ones get their first taste of soaring, building confidence as parents initially support them, eventually learning to ride independently. See our 9 Country Parks in Kent feature for a guide, or select the Parks & Garden category under Things to Do in Kent heading – use the Kids See Kent tag and location filters to find the right park near you or where you are visiting.

Benefits For Children

Research by AdventureMind details the benefits of adventure for children and the opportunities for learning and development that it can bring, supporting children and young people to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Adventure helps to generate a range of positive emotions, including excitement, joy and wonder.  It also helps to develop a healthy relationship with uncertainty, which is crucial for boosting confidence and helping children learn to manage fear and anxiety.**

According to research by AdventureMind, adventure is all about facing challenge and risk.
It exposes children to new experiences, making them feel physiologically energised and can provide an opportunity to learn about coping effectively. This in turn can help children to feel more comfortable when faced with future challenges. It will help reduce the likelihood that they will feel anxious and overwhelmed, supporting them to live with good mental health. **

Top Kids Places For Zip Wire Fun in Kent

 Quex Adventure Farm Park, in Birchington: challenges families with their 30m Giant Zip-Wire as part of the entry to the park – for prices see their official website  Quex Adventure Farm Park

Go Ape, in Bedgebury and Leeds Castle: adventures start at 4 years with a trio of tree top thrills for all ages.

Essential Information for Your Zipwire Adventure

Before booking your zipwire experience, it’s essential to be aware of the specific age, height, and weight requirements, which vary by venue.

Venue specific age and weight restrictions:
Hangloose Kent
Age
8 years minimum
Weight
Minimum: 30kg/4 stone 10lb
Maximum: 120kg/18 stone 12lb
Additional Advice
On average, children under 10 years old are likely to be too light for the activities. Recommend that you weigh them before booking an activity.

St Andrews Lakes Zip Wire Experience
Age
6 years minimum
Weight
Minimum: Not specified
Maximum: 120kg/18 stone 12lb
Height
Minimum 122cm

Go Ape 
Treetop Adventure
Age
4 to 6 years
Height
Minimum 1m
Treetop Adventure Plus
Age
6 to 10 years
Height
Minimum 1.2m
Treetop Challange
Age
Minimum 10 years
Height
Minimum 1.4m
Weight
Maximum: 130kg/20.5 stone

Quex Park Adventure Farm Giant Zipwire
Age
Broader range than the very young ones, best for older children and adults
Weight
Under 15 stone.

Speed & Safety
Expect potential speed of up to 50 mph! Enjoy the thrill of the zip line and remember safety comes first, with experienced instructors at hand.

Preparing For Your Big Adventure

What to Wear
• Wear clothes that are comfortable, and something you don’t mind getting dirty and, dress for the UK weather.
• Legs: Trousers or knee-length shorts are essential. Tops: Shoulders and midriffs must be covered. Footwear: Closed-toe, flat shoes are mandatory.  Wrap up warm especially in Winter months, even think of wearing gloves if it is cold. Go Ape recommend gloves all year round to help with the ropes as you navigate their course

Accessibility

Good to know: Hangloose believe everyone should be able to experience the joy of adventure.

Capture The Moments

Don’t forget that many zipwire venues offer photo and video packages to capture your exhilarating flight. This is a fantastic way to preserve the memories!

More Adventures in Kent

While zipwire adventures offer an incredible experience, many adventure parks in Kent also offer a wide range of additional activities to extend your day of thrills. These can include Europe’s largest swings, outdoor skydiving simulators, obstacle courses in the sky and many more adventurous activities. See our comprehensive guide –  18 Adventure Activities In Kent full of ideas from kite surfing, axe throwing, paintball, helicopter rides and lots more.

Booking Tickets

It is generally cheaper to buy online, but do factor in any booking fees when you compare costs. Most places will refund or reschedule if they have to close due to adverse weather conditions.
For the most current pricing and to book your experience, please visit their official websites:
Hangloose Kent

Health & Welfare

You must be reasonably fit to take to the wires and pregnancy will prohibit you taking part. There are certain conditions and ailments that would need to have doctors advice – so think before your book! As with most organised adventurous sports venues, there will be qualified instructors – so listen carefully and do what you are instructed to do!

A helmet is required on almost all courses of any size. Rest assured, all reputable zip-line courses are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure proper cable tensioning for a smooth and safe ride.

Parties & Team Building

Most venues offer corporate, birthdays and stage and hen parties – perfect activities for team building, school trips and celebrations.

Fascinating Facts

(source: wikipedia.org)

Steepest Inclines

Saint Martin’s Rockland Estate Rainforest Adventures zip-line drops 320 metres (1,050 ft) across the 853 metres (2,799 ft) of cable

The Letalnica bratov Gorišek zip-line,  Planica, Slovenia is 566 metres (1,857 ft) long with a 202 metres (663 ft) vertical drop. It has an average 38.33% and a maximum 58.6% incline.

ZipFlyer in Nepal, with a maximum incline of 56%, claims to be the world’s steepest zip-line. It has a vertical drop of 610 metres (2,000 ft)

Highest Elevation Zipline

The La Tyrolienne in Val Thorens, France is the highest altitude zipline, at 10,600 feet.

Oldest Daredevil

On his 106th birthday, British great-grandfather Jack Reynolds became the oldest person to ride a zip-line, on 6 April 2018, at Go Ape in Grizedale Forest, Cumbria.

Most of all enjoy!

See Kent, Know Kent

Links
* The British Psychological Society

** Research by AdventureMind reported on Mental Health Foundation.

Picture Credit: © Top to bottom -Quang Nguyen Vinh at Pexels.com, and Kelly Sikkema at Unsplash.com

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