Review: The Dare Skywalk
Photos
![The Dare Skywalk, London](https://media.cntraveler.com/photos/6123b9b64fbeb917c1ae8c34/16:9/w_2560%2Cc_limit/The%2520Dare%2520Skywalk%2C%2520London_AMO27519_2020082581032766.jpg)
What's the real deal here? London’s newest visitor attraction, the Dare Skywalk involves embarking on a journey along a narrow glass walkway to Tottenham Hotspur’s iconic golden cockerel, 88 feet above the stunning new stadium in north London. You need to book tickets in advance, and kids over age 10 can do it as long as they are accompanied by adults, but it's an intense experience. Forget the Go Ape zip-line in Battersea Park; this is about as high as you can go in London in the open air. Phew!
What’s the vibe? This one's not for anyone scared of heights. The thrill of being taken out of your comfort zone here is really quite exhilarating, even if you don't support the north London team that draws many. The mood is nerve-wracking, but then uplifting as the moon.
Is there a guide involved? You are taken along the walkway with qualified staff; it's all pretty safe, and you're hooked in so you can't fall—but there isn't always a barrier or hand rail, so breathe deep. The guide points out lots of iconic spots on the London skyline, and you can see all around the city from here. After an introductory video and briefing you're kitted out with jackets, trainers, and a harness. Using a carabiner attached to a length of steel-wire rope, itself fastened to a fixed line, you'll begin the steep, 90-minute climb.
Who comes here? Adrenaline junkies, soccer fans, people who just want to have a different experience in the city. The only other place you can high walk is at the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, which is equally cool, just with a view north instead of south, as the Dare Skywalk's.
Does it live up to the hype? It's pretty jaw-dropping. The route is built into the outside of the stadium and wound its way up the enormous South Stand. Upon reaching the roof space the views over London are lovely, and I spent a few minutes spotting the landmarks of the capital. The South Stand, the largest single-tier stands in the U.K. with a capacity of 17,500, are topped by an enormous glass roof. You continue on to the golden cockerel, joined only by a tiny walkway. You'll end up smiling by the end.
Anything else we need to know before planning a visit? Acrophobics, obviously don't go. Everyone else, absolutely. If you can't be a bird, here you get as high as one.