Popular Places to Skateboard Around London, UK
London has a rich and storied skateboarding culture that goes back decades. However, it is not just about jumping on a board and rolling down the street. Considering the state of some London streets, you might need some help finding the best places to skateboard. It depends on who you talk to, here are some of the most popular places to skate in London.
It’s also worth mentioning that these spots aren’t limited to only skateboarding. Fans who are into roller skating, roller blading, and even scooters, can enjoy exploring these awesome London skate spots. For roller skating enthusiasts, Slick Willie’s Skate Store who are based in London have a great Impala roller skate buying guide for those looking for new skates.
South Bank
With its variety of ledges, 7-stair set and banks, the Undercroft of the Southbank Centre has been called home by skaters for the last 40 years. Here, you will enjoy the appreciation of the onlooking crowd for every stunt and the sympathetic groans for every spill. More so, the roads are smooth, ensuring that you don’t trip while you skate. Given that it has no set opening times and is always lit, this is the best place for a night-time skate meetup with friends.
St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren, and little did he know that he was creating the ultimate skating spot for kids. The cathedral is a connection to many tourist destinations. It is one of the most popular places people visit to watch skateboarding. Why not try kickflips and ollies down the steps to wow the crowd?
Canada Water
London has many jagged and narrow pavements, making it hard for skaters to find a good skating spot. However, Canada Water awaits with the most surprising view and most comfortable spot for skateboarding. It has a wide space and smooth roads, giving skaters the perfect combination. You will also find steps for grinding and jumping. If you are new to skating and are not ready to try flicks and tricks, you can take advantage of the wide road for practice.
Harrow Skatepark
Located behind Harrow Leisure Centre in north-west London, Harrow Skatepark, opened in 1978 is one of the oldest bowl parks in the UK. It has blocks, four moguls and a steep half pipe, among other details that make it the perfect place for free-style skateboarding. If you are visiting the UK, get to Harrow to see where it all began.
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is one of the most modern skateboarding parks, completed in 2011. For the more adventurous skaters, the massive cradle and nice lines in this park will excite you. Over sunny weekends, the park gets overcrowded pretty fast, so you might want to give it a visit on a weekday.
Regent’s Park
Are you looking to skate in a quiet place? If so, Regent’s Park is the place to be. Here, you will skate quietly for hours, making it the perfect place for those learning to skateboard. It is also a picturesque location for tourists, with its gardens and tree-lined pathways. While you skateboard, be careful not to bump into people.
Stratford Centre
The Stratford Centre has become home to the skating community, despite Westfield being just across the road. The good thing is, Stratford offers skateboarders the opportunity Westfield doesn’t. Every evening, skaters and rollerblades flock here to replace shoppers. However odd the location seems, it is well-lit with smooth floors, making it the perfect choice for skaters.
Parkland Walk
The House of Vans London is a venue purely created for people interested in skateboarding, rollerblades as well as Vans enthusiasts. Parkland Walk skatepark has three tunnel spaces, with the main one being concrete for the professional skaters. The second one presents a street scene for those with medium ability and the third one is a mini ramp designed for beginners.
Skating is not only great exercise for many different people, but it is also an eco-friendly way to travel around the city too. As the Prime Minister recently proposed a green industrial revolution plan to tackle climate change, using eco-friendly methods of travel instead of using public transport could help. As the largest city in the county, London has a significant role to play to help reduce carbon emissions.