Up at The O2 – The O2, London

London’s not short of vantage point attractions, but Up at The O2 is the only one which makes you feel like a bit of a daredevil. The O2 (formerly Millennium Dome) is the spacecraft like building that’s become an iconic landmark of the capital. Now, via the Up at The O2 experience, you can see the view from the top of this dome. Though rather than being taken there via a staircase or elevator, you walk there over the top of the dome’s roof.

It’s quite an exhilarating experience. The walkway is made of the same rubber-like material that the dome roof is made of (and is only a mere 0.8mm thick) and feels like you’re walking on a bouncy castle. Whilst that may sound unnerving and unsafe, it is far from either. It’s surprisingly sturdy, even though there’s a bounce in each step you take, and you’re connected to a safety cable via a harness and carabiner.

The overall process is very slick. You’re given a video introduction to the Dome and the walk, provided with jackets, appropriate footwear, gloves, and harness. You cannot take anything with you on the walk, with the exception of a camera or mobile phone, so all your belongings are packed away into storage boxes which are transported to the other side of the dome and ready for you at the end of your descent.

You’re fully accompanied by a guide who, based on this experience, is exceptionally friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable. The walk itself is the highlight of the experience. At its steepest, the walkway has an incline of 30 degrees, so it’s relatively easy for the majority of people. At the summit there’s a large circular viewing platform where you can take in the 360-degree views and (if you’ve pre-ordered them) have a drink.

The view itself is somewhat of a disappointment. The O2 is based on the Greenwich peninsular in the east of London. The main vista is of the high rise, glass and steel neighbourhood of Canary Wharf, but it obliterates the main landmarks one associates with London. But you do get to see a part of London that’s often overlooked and the walk to the summit is the real thrill of this experience, and as such, it’s well worth a visit.

Up at The O2 is for people over the age of 8 and at lease 1.2m in height. The full experience lasts for 90 minutes.