MADE BY CLIMBERS.
RUN BY CLIMBERS.
LOVED BY CLIMBERS.
Bouldering Canterbury Wall Climbing Wall
Bouldering Canterbury PreWall Climbing Wall Tunbridge Wells

Dedicated bouldering centres

Indoor bouldering centres across Kent and the South East

the 3 walls

discover your routes

our BOULDERING CENTREs locations

Chimera Climbing have three bouldering walls in the South East – in Canterbury, Chatham and Tunbridge Wells. Each wall boasts hundreds of incredible climbing routes, from beginner through to advanced. There is plenty for children to climb too, with everyone from five upwards able to come and climb.

Fancy a challenge? Come along for a climb. There’s no need to pre-book, just turn up and try bouldering for yourself, and with three locations to choose from, climbing is more accessible than ever.

chiimera climbing

getting started...

Climbing is our passion.

Chimera has three indoor locations across the Southeast of England, along with an outdoor presence at the wonderful Southern Sandstone crags, which are dotted around the Tunbridge Wells area.

Made By Climbers

Who Are Chimera?

Chimera was created by local Kent climbers, who wanted to share their passion for this brilliant sport with as many people as they could.

Tunbridge Wells is Chimera’s original gym, then came Canterbury and now Chatham.

Run By Climbers

WHat is bouldering?

Bouldering is climbing low walls over crash mats with no ropes – it's the easiest way to get into the sport, you don’t need a lesson to get going, you can just turn up and try!

Come and see why climbing is growing so quickly, with hundreds of routes to choose from ranging from complete beginner through to total pro, all setup by our amazing squad.

Loved by climbers me?

How do I get started?

We welcome all ages and skillsets at Chimera. Not only is it a great way to build fitness and strength, but it's perfect for making friends as it is an incredibly social sport. Picking up the sport is really easy, all our routes are colour coded for you, so don't panic!

Whether you are looking for a new way to get fit, the thrill of adventure, to challenge yourself or just make friends, Chimera is the place for you.

chiimera climbing

where to go from here...

MMXV • Established in 2015

Chimera Climbing has been at the forefront of the bouldering scene for over a decade and has watched a niche sport go mainstream. Constantly evolving and innovating, the Chimera centres are a wonderful place to give climbing a go for the first time. So why not get down to your local centre and get climbing today!

BMC Climbing Associate MemberClimbers Against CancerFive Ten ClimbingABC Climbing WallsDMM ClimbSouth East Climbing

What people are saying

"NOW I’M HOOKED!"

"Never attempted bouldering before. Now I'm hooked! Chimera is a beautifully accepting, no-judgmental area to climb. Calm, helpful staff and plenty of climbing options for all abilities. Kids are also welcomed.”

C. McCarthy

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

About Chimera
A different breed
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faq's

Questions Answered

Thinking of coming for a climb? Check out some of our frequently asked questions for more information before your first visit to one of our three gyms: Canterbury, Chatham and Tunbridge Wells.

Where are your three gyms located?

Our Canterbury centre is on the Wincheap industrial Estate, Chatham is in the dockyard opposite St Mary’s Island and Tunbridge Wells is on the High Brooms Industrial Estate.

Most Common Query:
Do I need to bring anything?

You can rent specialist climbing shoes at reception. You can also hire chalk if needed - chalk is useful for drying the sweat on your palms, or you can buy chalk from our shop. You can bring a reusable water bottle as there is a refilling station near reception.

When are you open?

All three walls are open seven days a week. Monday to Friday, they all open at 10am and shut at 10pm. At the weekend, Canterbury opens at 8am until 6pm, while Chatham and Tunbridge Wells open at 9am until 6pm.

There are restricted opening hours for under 12’s - they can climb until 6pm in the week and 2pm at weekends.

What is bouldering?

Bouldering is a type of rock climbing. It is where you climb smaller walls or rocks without a rope. Instead, there are big crash pads under you in case you fall.

Do you run kids clubs?

Yes, we run clubs across our three centres. Our Little Monkeys clubs are for 5-7 year olds, Rock Ninjas are for 8-11 year olds and Academy are for 12-16 year olds. To find out more about our kids clubs, please select which location you are closest to: Canterbury - ChathamTunbridge Wells.

Unsupervised Climbing for Under 16's?

Under 16's must be supervised by an adult on the mats unless that climber has been signed off by an instructor to climb unsupervised. We do have restricted climbing times for under-12's:
Weekdays, 10am to 6pm
Weekends, 9am to 2pm

To be approved as an under-16 independent climber at Chimera, your child must be at least 12 years old and have visited the centre at least 10 times under supervision. This can be achieved through participation in Chimera's kids clubs or by attending free climbing sessions at Chimera. After meeting these requirements, the climber can be assessed during their kids club session by a senior coach or in a private session if they are not part of the kids clubs. During this assessment, the climber will be evaluated on their knowledge of the centre's rules, safety practices while climbing, and their general behaviour within the centre.

Once your child has been assessed and approved for unsupervised climbing, they will be allowed to attend the centre on their own. However, this unsupervised status may be revoked if they are found to be behaving dangerously or disrespectfully toward other climbers or staff.

Can I bring my kids?

Yes, absolutely. Everyone over the age of five can come and climb. We do have strict supervision ratios though. One adult can supervise two kids, but if the adult wants to climb they can only supervise one child. Everyone under the age of 16 needs to be supervised, and everyone under the age of 18 needs their waiver signed off by an adult.

You don’t need any previous climbing experience to supervise kids.

If you're still unsure of anything, then feel free to get in touch

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