Last weekend, The North Face transformed London’s Royal Docks into a one-of-a-kind playground for the global climbing community via the Climb Festival. At the heart of the two-day event stood a spectacular competition on a 14-metre climbing wall rising from a floating platform on the River Thames, where competitors battled their way to the top before making the only logical exit: a leap straight into the water below.
Under blue skies and in front of a packed crowd, the unique setting alone made for a memorable weekend – and beyond the competition, there was plenty more to discover across the festival grounds.
Whether trying their hand at bouldering themselves, stopping by the Custom Lab, catching athlete talks, or simply taking in the atmosphere at DJ sets, visitors had no shortage of things to explore. One of the weekend’s biggest draws came courtesy of legendary climber Alex Honnold – fresh off his headline-making free solo ascent of Taipei 101 in Taiwan earlier this year – whose appearance attracted huge crowds throughout the day. On the wall itself, Julija Kruder successfully defended her title, while Joe Goodacre topped the men’s competition.
A huge thank you to The North Face for inviting us to experience such a special weekend in London. Bringing together climbers, families, outdoor enthusiasts, and curious newcomers alike, the festival felt less like a competition and more like a celebration of the community surrounding the sport – one we’ll gladly return to.
