Britain’s 10 best thrill-seeking activities

Action-packed adventures don’t need to mean going abroad to get your kicks. There are plenty of thrills and spills to be had right here in the UK, with Britain having some of the most amazing water sports, climbing and caving opportunities in the world.

Discover some of Britain’s most thrilling activities you can try on your next staycation.


1. Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

Coasteering- thrill seeking Britain

Whether it’s a big belly flop into the water, paddling in amongst a rugged coastline or just going with the flow of the water, coasteering is a great activity for you and the family to ‘let it all go’ and enjoy the rush of the waves. A popular destination for coasteering is the Pembrokeshire coastline, and the people to paddle with are Celtic Quest who offer fantastic energetic coasteering experiences for all ages whether it’s your first try or 100th. Celtic Quest’s fun and safe approach to coasteering has also been named as TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice by other keen adventurers so it’s well worth diving in.

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2. Abseiling in London

Abseiling in London - thrill seeking Britain

Abseiling is one of the most exhilarating and adventurous experiences you can have and can be done almost anywhere. Standing 80 metres above London’s Olympic Park, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the UK’s tallest sculpture. Wire and Sky offers a thrilling abseiling experience where you can enjoy incredible views over the city whilst dangling in free space. Whether you’re a keen adventurer or someone wanting to conquer their fears and try something new, the adrenaline rush paired with the impressive panoramic views will no doubt give you something to brag about when your feet touch the floor.

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3. Paragliding in the Brecon Beacons

paragliding- thrill seeking Britain

If you’ve ever answered ‘Bird’ to the question “What animal would you be?” Then paragliding might just be the thrill-seeking activity for you. Whether you’re 8 or 80, paragliding is something that can be a very freeing as well as thrilling experience. Axis Training offers a breathtaking tandem paragliding experience gliding through the Brecon Beacons National Park with a bird’s eye view. With a paragliding expert guiding the way, you can fly through the air, gaze over the miles of grasslands and marvel at Brecon Beacons’ mountainous landscape and just enjoy being hundreds of metres above one of the most beautiful national parks in the UK.

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4. ZipWorld in North Wales

ZipWorld- thrill seeking Britain

If you want to fly without wings, then ZipWorld’s Velocity 2 adventure lets you do just that. Get yourself harnessed up and discover the freedom of flight as you zoom head first on the world’s fastest zipline across the Penrhyn Quarry. Don’t forget to take a look around at the amazing scenery on your way down as you may reach speeds of over 100mph! This zipping adventure is suitable for the whole family, so why not gather them all for an extra adrenaline-fuelled family race to the finish?

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5. Extreme surfing in Watergate Bay

extreme surfing- thrill seekers Britain

Riding a wave can give you a huge rush of adrenaline and there are so many ways to surf and enjoy the sea, and where better to learn than in one of the most picturesque coastlines in the UK. Whether you want to bodyboard, paddleboard, kitesurf or simply surf, Wavehunters on Watergate Bay offers fun and safe lessons for those of all ages wanting to learn new surfing skills, as well as a supportive community for those who love the thrill of the water.

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6. Adventure Caving in the Mendip Hills

Group of young people caving

Exploring a fascinating archaeological underground world can spark anyone’s inner thrill seeker and caving can take that experience to the next level. Wandering through the rugged formations and discovering never before seen treasures is a true adventure. But, at Wookey Hole Caves under the Mendip Hills, you can up the ante and explore the wonderful world-famous cave from spectacular heights in a Wild Wookey Adventure Caving experience which has won many awards including a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2022. Abseil, climb and crawl around the ultimate thrill-seekers playground, peek into secret caverns, gaze at rare geological formations and enjoy the breathtaking views of the cave from above.

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7. Zorbing in London

Zorbing- thrill seeking Britain

Nothing will get your heart pumping quite like taking an adrenaline-fuelled tumble downhill in a polyurethane ball. While it might sound stomach churning, it’s actually quite a fun- and funny- experience. Go Zorbing London is the UK’s largest zorbing park with specially designed zorbing runs which allow for the optimal zorbing experience. There is more than one way to zorb of course, with the face-to-face experience no doubt bringing more laughs to the rolls as you and your friend tumble over each other downhill, while those who feel braver can opt for an Aqua Zorbing Ride which as the name suggests involves going down down the run with 40 litres of water adding a fun water slide feel.

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8. Canyoning in the Yorkshire Dales

Canyoning in Yorkshire - Britain thrill seeking

Scrambling, jumping, crawling, climbing, swimming and abseiling. Canyoning embodies all of these fun activities in some of the most dramatic environments. In the western Yorkshire Dales right by the Ingleton trail is Beezley Falls– which has the highest jumps and the biggest chutes in Britain perfect for an epic heart racing canyoning experience. There is something for everyone here with the upper falls section being the most challenging with thrilling rapids, smooth rock chutes, 8 metre jumps and an epic zip ride finisher into a refreshing pool below. The lower falls section is a more family-friendly experience where you can marvel at the 12 metre high waterfall from a safe distance and explore the rocks, thrashing water and crevices by swimming and wading your way around.

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9. White Water Rafting in Scotland

white water rafting- Britain thrill seekers

The UK has some of the best places in the world for white water rafting and Scotland has some of the best rivers for getting the most out of your rafting experience. The award-winning ACE Adventures run white water rafting experience days on the rivers of Findhorn, Tay and Tummel all within the beautiful surrounds of the Scottish Highlands. Each river comes with its own unique rafting experience with the river Tummel having a double waterfall for extra thrills, while the river Findhorn offers a calmer river ride with stunning Highland scenery making it perfect for first timers and family days out.

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10. Tree Top Trekking – UK wide

Tree canopy trekking- thrill seeking Britain

Embark on a tree topping experience of epic proportions at Go Ape– UK’s number 1 forest adventure. Harness up and prepare to unleash your inner Tarzan as you swing on ropes, negotiate obstacles, walk rope bridges and zip across the canopy in an adrenaline-fuelled feast of forest fun. All ages and abilities are catered for here with a forest trek to suit everyone. While the bigger kids explore the longer, higher ziplines and more challenging wooden bridges, the little ones can discover the thrilling canopy world above or run amuck on the forest floor with lots of exciting trails and activities to get involved in. And, with dozens of UK forest locations from Aberdeen to Alexandra Palace, you can truly go anywhere with Go Ape.

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