Hit new heights at London's Alexandra Palace

A new one-of-a-kind London experience opened this weekend in the north of the city: officially the UK's highest roof walk, rising 130 metres above sea level.

‘Summit: Ally Pally Rooftop Adventure’ takes you to very top of Alexandra Palace on a fully guided climb, and rewards you with spectacular panoramic views of the capital in every direction, encompassing 28 of the 32 London boroughs, and even surrounding counties like Hertfordshire and Kent.

The unique experience has been created in partnership with Wire & Sky, Britain’s leading experts in urban aerial adventures, who helped design and operate ‘Up at The O2’ for more than ten years.

My personal climb took place the weekend before its Valentine’s Day opening, on what was a cloudy and cold February afternoon. But that didn’t detract from the epic views awaiting at the summit, while I stood next to the ‘Angel of Plenty’ statue, seeing my home city as I’d never seen it before, including all its most iconic landmarks from The Shard and Canary Wharf to the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Being a lifelong football fan it was also great to see certain football stadia from this lofty position, including Tottenham Hotspur’s new ground and the unmistakable arch of Wembley Stadium in the opposite direction.

It’s certainly an achievable mini fitness challenge ascending to the summit, and all completely safe as you’re tightly harnessed up with a rope and carabiner, which attaches to a guard rail on the final metal-stairway climb into the sky.

My helpful guide regaled me on the way with a potted history of Ally Pally, which opened in 1873 – did you know it is wider and higher than Buckingham Palace, and was built using over 15 million bricks? It’s now also the only palace in the country you can literally walk over the top of.

The guide will also take a selection of snaps of you at the top, which you can view on a computer screen back in the lobby and have sent to you by email.

There are three standard climbs offered by Summit: a standard daytime climb, a sunset walk at the golden hour, and a nighttime option to experience the capital twinkling after dark. There will also be options for group climbs – great for team building, corporate days out or charity fundraisers – and ‘private climbs’ for that exclusive tour or special occasion.

I for one will definitely be returning for a second go in the spring or summer – the London sunset climb my new and much more attainable bucket list ambition.

To book a ticket for the experience yourself, and for further information, visit www.summitallypally.co.uk