The 15 Best Outdoor Adventures in England

1.Coasteering Experience in Newquay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 465 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $76Our pick

Meet at Newquay Activity Centre near Towan Beach for a two-hour guided coasteer through a secret Adventure Gully. With equipment supplied, you will swim, climb, clamber through a sea cave, negotiate natural rapids, and make optional jumps into clear deep water. Guides such as Sean and Oleks coach you through each challenge.

“Wanted to do something that would be ‘an experience’ for me and my daughter. Great fun and scary enough to get the adrenaline flowing……instructors were friendly , patient and very informative…..felt safe throughout……would recommend everyone give it a go even if older and unfit!!!!”

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2.Basingstoke iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience – 2 Flights & Certificate

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 459 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110

At iFLY Basingstoke, you’ll learn to float in a vertical wind tunnel during two instructor-led flights, with enough freefall time to match three tandem jumps. Allow 90 minutes, arrive 45 minutes early, and leave with a flight certificate. The session suits ages 3 and up.

“Disappointed doesn’t begin to describe, how I was left after my IFly experience. We are told we had to arrive 45 mins early otherwise we would be unable to fly. After travelling an hour to Basingstoke we were weighed and left to sit for 40 minutes prior to anyone even approaching us. We were then issued our equipment which took about 10 minutes. We walked to the tunnel and began our experience. What isn’t clear on the website is that 3 skydives is only 120 seconds in the tunnel! We paid £140 to be in the tunnel less time than it took to get the suit on. When you are…”

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3.Manchester iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience – 2 Flights & Certificate

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 387 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110

At iFLY Manchester, you’ll learn basic body position, suit up, and take two short flights in a vertical wind tunnel. A certified instructor guides you throughout, with no previous experience needed. The session lasts about 90 minutes, includes a certificate, and suits ages 3 and above.

“An absolute ripoff! The skydiving itself is good experience but the prices are ridiculous. Probably Booking directly from the organisation may be better. We were promised a certificate but we didn’t even receive one!!”

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4.Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 349 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $62

Meet at Quiksilver Surf School above Fistral Beach for a two-hour beginner lesson led by instructors such as Joe, Jake, Ewan, Martha, or Kyle. You’ll learn beach safety, paddling, wave timing, and several ways to stand, with boards and seasonal wetsuit gear supplied. Groups are capped at eight, and hot showers await afterward.

“Great fun! Ewan was really friendly, helpful and patient. We had an amazing time. Reasonably priced for a decently long session.”

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5.Ghyll Scrambling Water Adventure in the Lake District

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 283 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $97

At Stonycroft Ghyll near Keswick, you spend about three hours sliding, jumping, climbing, and scrambling down a rocky watercourse. Guides such as Andy, Woody, Adam, J, and Justin provide safety instruction and encouragement. Equipment and free photos are included, while a GoPro is available to hire.

“Woody was a great host and guide. I went with my 8 year old daughter and we both say it was our favourite activity of our holiday and probably our lives! Plunging 10 ft into deep pools and head first down raging gorges definitely flung us out of our comfort zones! A fantastic experience, not for the faint hearted.”

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6.Brilliant White Water Rafting in the Lake District UK

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 260 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $131

Meet your guide at National Trust Fell Foot near Newby Bridge for about four hours of guided white water rafting. You receive a wetsuit, dry jacket, buoyancy aid, helmet, paddle, raft, and hands-on instruction. Guide James is noted for his humor and clear help. Bring swimwear, a towel, and old lace-up trainers.

“Great guys running the experience - really went out of their way to make it a day to remember. Make sure to bring old trainers - they will get wet!”

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7.Half-Day Coasteering in Newquay Cornwall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 239 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $76

Spend about three hours jumping, swimming, and climbing along Newquay’s Cornish coast with lifeguard guides such as Nick, Tony, Noah, or Paul. You’ll receive training, a 5mm wetsuit, helmet, and winter gloves and boots, plus GoPro photos and videos. Bring swim confidence, good fitness, and summer footwear.

“Today was an Amazing day held by leader Nick, a great one at that ! Having a small group meant that we could get through the course fairly quick, leaving more time for the big jumps at the end which was great. Nick was informative, assuring, and had a sense of humour which helped divert some of the groups nerves into excitement. A definite revisit for the future !!”

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8.Milton Keynes iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience – 2 Flights & Certificate

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 219 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110

At iFLY Milton Keynes, you enter a powerful vertical wind tunnel and float in free-fall conditions with an instructor beside you. The 90-minute visit includes two flights, supplied flight suit and goggles, and a certificate. Arrive 45 minutes early, and note the 117kg weight limit and strict cancellation terms.

“Although my grandchildren enjoyed this experience, I personally think its was very expensive for the time they were actually doing the air fly”

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9.Beginner Surf Lesson in Newquay, Cornwall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 215 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $62

Meet at Newquay Activity Centre on Fore Street for a two-hour beginner lesson. You’ll use a warm Rip Curl wetsuit, safety vest, locker, and stable Swell foam board before heading to Great Western or Fistral Beach. Instructor Alex is praised for clear, patient coaching, with lessons taught in English for ages 8 and up.

“Alex from the Surf school was awesome. Was very helpful and provided detailed information on how to surf. Extremely professional and super helpful.”

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10.Coasteering

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 191 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $83

Set out from Ilfracombe for a 2.5-hour coasteering session along North Devon’s rocky coast. Your guide chooses a route to suit the conditions, then leads you across cliff bases, through gullies and caves, and over jumps ranging from gentle to bold. Wetsuit, helmet, footwear, and buoyancy aid are supplied.

“Absolutely fabulous company & team - faultless from booking through to saying farewell. The kids absolutely loved the activity and staff.”

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11.Private Surfing Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 173 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $138

Learn to surf at Fistral Beach with a private instructor from Fistral Beach Surf School. Your two-hour session can focus on first stands, basic technique, or more advanced manoeuvres. Boards and wetsuits are supplied, changing rooms and hot showers are available, and lessons suit ages five and up.

“I was in Newquay for three days and the guys at Fistral Surf School were really helpful and accommodating throughout my time there. I had a private coaching session one day and hired a board and wetsuit on the others and the team were always friendly, supportive and happy to answer any questions. I'd 100% recommend, thank you!”

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12.Coasteering Geopark Adventure In Torquay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 150 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $62

Join Ziggy and his team at Maidencombe for a 2.5-hour coasteering trip through Torquay’s UNESCO Geopark. You’ll wear a wetsuit and safety kit while bouldering, climbing, swimming, and jumping from rocky ledges. Along the way, hear stories about pirates, smugglers, geology, ghosts, and the ancient forest beneath the coast.

“Really fun afternoon of coasteering celebrating our son’s 13th birthday. Great mix of jumps, climbs and challenges, sprinkled with some interesting stories and geology chat. We all loved it and will definitely be back for more - thanks Ziggy!”

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13.Taster Surfing Lesson in Bude

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 101 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $62

Meet Freewave Surf Academy at Widemouth Bay for a two-hour beginner lesson on Cornwall’s north coast. You’ll get a wetsuit and board, learn beach safety and basic technique, then practice in the waves with an instructor such as Marco, Reuben, Sally, or Robin. Groups are capped at six, with morning and afternoon times available.

“My 11 year old (who was a total newbie - decent pool swimmer but had never stuck more than his toes in the sea) did two surf lessons with Freewave - the first with Ned at Widemouth Bay and the second with Reuben at Summerleaze. Both lessons were excellent and he made huge progress very quickly. Booked and paid online, met easily with clearly marked van at the beach. Admin was chilled but organised, with wet suit in right size provided, and I could watch and take pictures from the beach without intruding in the lesson.”

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14.Outdoor Rock Climbing Taster Day in Peak District

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $137

Spend about seven hours learning outdoor rock climbing near Bamford with Pure Outdoor Ltd. You’ll practise knots, belaying, abseiling, and real-rock climbing under an instructor such as Owen, Emma, Sandra, or Neal. Groups are capped at six, and routes are adjusted for beginners, indoor climbers, and anyone nervous about heights.

“Great day out with Emma from Pure Outdoor. The basics were explained and then we were guided on to the harder climbs with positive reinforcement.”

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15.2-Hour Coasteering Adventure Near Bude

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $76

Meet at Bossiney Campsite near Tintagel for a two-hour coasteering session with Freewave Surf Academy. Your guide provides a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, and helmet, then leads you along Cornwall’s rocky shore by swimming, scrambling, and jumping. Bring wet-friendly shoes and shorts, and be ready for a physical outing.

“Robin was professional, friendly and found the right balance between safety and fun! He even let us do a big jump that wasn't supposed to be part of the itinery. Definitely recommend this company! :)”

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