When you think bungee jumping, the image called to mind might be of intrepid adrenaline junkies leaping off the world’s highest bridges in remote and exotic locations.
Believe it or not, you can experience the thrill of bungee jumping in England at the same heights without the need to catch a plane. And, although the landscape will rush by fleetingly whilst you’re actually jumping, locations in the UK still offer breathtaking countryside, cityscapes, winding rivers, harbour, seaside, or lake views. There are so many bungee sites to choose from, often with great campervan friendly campsites nearby. So, if you’re thinking about taking the dive, why not make a road trip out of it too?
Why Bungee Jumping?
The great thing about this high-octane sport is that it’s really, very simple and requires minimal preparation on the your part. All you need are appropriate shoes, a minimal level of fitness, to be in good health (if you’re pregnant or suffer any back or spinal problems, this isn’t the activity for you), and to pay attention to a safety briefing. Oh, and just a touch of courage to get yourself off that platform. But it definitely bypasses the whole nerve-wracking parachute and getting into a plane thing; being tethered to the bungee platform makes the jump much less terrifying!
Plus, with rigorous safety standards, bungee jumping in England is the ideal foray into high-adrenaline sports that anyone can access. Your bungee instructors may have a laugh with you to make you feel at ease, but they have had to undergo rigorous training and sit exams to be in their roles. They’ll expertly connect you to your main and backup harnesses that have two separate connections, and ensure you’re safe to go.
If you’re thinking about a weekend road trip and want to squeeze in something new and exciting, bungee jumping is probably the quickest way to ensure that it’s one you’ll never forget. In fact, it will probably only take an hour out of your day! Getting kitted up is a five-minute process, going up the crane is another few minutes and your jump is over in the blink of an eye. You’ll spend longer on the paperwork, watching others jump, and then laughing at the hilarious action shots (yep - all bungee jumping companies in England make sure to capture it on film) when you’re back on your feet.
Cost
The cost of bungee jumping is about £60 per person, and you can take evidence and memorabilia home with you for around £20 - £30 depending on the packages on offer. You can jump solo or in tandem - unlike most bungee locations overseas! Group bookings are usually welcome, but some sites require a minimum of two people per booking.
Where to Go Bungee Jumping
If you’re thinking ‘where do I go bungee jumping in the UK near me?’ don’t worry, we’ve got all the details about the best, highest, and safest sites for you to work into a weekend road trip!
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UK Bungee Club
The UK Bungee Club has 17 bungee sites scattered across the UK. These range all the way from Newquay in Cornwall up to bungee jumping in Manchester’s Salford Quays and the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, and many stunning spots in major cities in between. If you’re planning a city break somewhere new, or need to stay close to your urban home, you can choose from multiple locations in Sheffield, and Bristol, London, Cambridge, Brighton, Birmingham, and Belfast.
They have a few options for bungee jumping in London. You could go for the gorgeous Bray Lake in Windsor or get out of town and head to Wyboston Lakes in Bedford, near Cambridge.
However, the most iconic and surreal option would be the Greenwich Arena site, and doing your bungee with London’s majestic skyline behind you.
Although you might be thinking ‘I’ll just pick the bungee jumping UK option near me,’ consider that each location offers different experiences; from bridge bungee jumps, crane bungee jumps, 160ft, 300ft and even indoor options. You can find out what’s on offer, and when, on their locations page. And, if your experience has to be postponed due to weather, they’ll help you reschedule for free.
Some of you might jump for fun, whilst others may struggle to get their heads around this idea, but still want to do it for a charity cause that’s close to their hearts. UK Bungee Club has a straight-forward booking process which makes it easy to raise money for charity. They’ve helped raise £1 million in the last few years!
Most importantly, they’re well tried, tested, and trusted, with stellar reviews and having received a Platinum Trusted Service award from Feefo last year.
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Geronigo
Geronigo is a great adventure activity booking platform that also offers bungee jumping at 15 of the same sites operated by the UK Bungee Club. They may offer different dates, however, and the app provides a handy way to book in regular doses of adrenaline, if this kind of activity is something you really want to get into.
Why Combine Bungee Jumping with Camping
If you’re chasing a thrill in the form of a bungee jump, it just makes sense to follow the adventure as far as you can by jumping in a motorhome and heading to a campsite in a wild setting, where you can come back to afterwards to tell the stories from your experience around a bonfire. Getting out of the daily routine is by going camping is in itself, a way to feel alive… Just like extreme sports. The two really go hand in hand!
Best Road Trips and Campsites Near Bungee Centres
- Bungee jumping in Manchester or Sheffield could be part of a campervan tour of the stunning national parks in the north of England. You’re spoiled for places to pitch up with gorgeous scenery, amazing driving routes and other outdoorsy activities nearby. We recommend Highcliffe Farm Campsite up in Buxton, Derbyshire, near the Peak District. It’s situated on the quiet pastures of a working farm, with alluring Peaks as a backdrop. The Midshires Way footpath runs just past the site, making the call of the hills irresistible! Other exciting hikes include the High Peak Trail, Mam Tor and Dovedale, which are under 30-minutes away by car. If, after your bungee jump, you’re out of adventure energy, relax at the spa town of Buxton or strolling around the nearby Bakewell and Chatsworth estates.
The facilities at Highcliffe are simple, but more than adequate; all guests have portaloo and washing up area access. Pets and barbecues are welcome, and woodfired pizzas are available on the site on Saturday evenings if you don’t fancy cooking or choosing from one of the many pubs and places to eat nearby.
Non-electric grass campervan pitches are £20 per night for two people.
Highcliffe Farm, Cowdale, Buxton, Derbyshire, England SK17 9SE
Hope Valley, the Peak District
- Our recent Lake District Road Trip Itinerary blog may give you some inspiration for other exciting driving routes up north, as well as places to stay and amazing things to do and see in this incredible national park.
- The Secret Garden Touring Park is an absolutely dreamy campervan-friendly site in Cambridgeshire, near to the Wyboston Lakes bungee site. It’s 11 acres provide a low-occupancy site where you can enjoy a serene, natural camping experience in the Fens - wild, reclaimed marshlands with high ecological importance. The pitches all have fire pits, and you can buy logs and firelighters from the site shop, which also sells award winning ales from our friends at Mile Tree Brewery and their homemade Bramblebee Gloucester Old Spot sausages, local cider, jams and preserves. You can book sessions in their bushcraft area for an even wilder experience, too.
Their weekend rate is slightly higher and is a 2-night minimum stay. For electric pitches it’s £30 per night, and non-electric pitches are £28. Between Sunday and Thursday, electric pitches are £27 per night and non-electric pitches are £25.
- If you’re thinking of bungee jumping in London, you could spend the morning, afternoon or day in the city and then tie the experience up with a rural escape to the Kent Downs, just an hour and a half away, where peaceful villages, protected woodlands and the forested Oak View Caravan Park lie waiting. There are many scenic walks surrounding the site, and longer walks like the North Downs National Trail and the Pilgrim’s Way nearby. Other attractions include the white cliffs to the South, the lovely Essex coast to the north, 500 acres of parkland and formal gardens at Leeds Castle just a 10 minutes drive away, and Rochester Castle 20 minutes away on the east bank of the Medway. The facilities include roomy, hot showers in a ‘spotless’ toilet block, well-maintained and spacious pitches, barbecue equipment, chemical disposal and friendly staff.
Electric hard standing touring pitches are £25 per night for two people.
Scragged Oak Road, Delting, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3HA
- If you need to look further south for ‘bungee jumping in the UK near me,’ Brakes Coppice Park is a lovely woodland site not far from Brighton. It’s nestled in the secluded and richly historical East Sussex valley, between the gorgeous and popular tourist towns of Battle and Hastings. The private woodland setting has tall trees and wildlife all around, like foxes, badgers, woodpeckers, and owls to name a few, plus all sorts of plant life, including orchids and carpets of bluebells. There are well-rated facilities (including a newly extended and renovated amenities block) and a little coffee shop with refreshments. You can visit nearby nature reserves and the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sussex’s increasingly successful vineyards, its castles, or walk on the chalky white cliffs of the south coast.
Electric hard standing and grass touring pitches are £25 per night for two people.
Firewood Lane, Crowhurst, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 9AB
- Bungee in London or another urban centre might not fit with your idea of feeling free and alive when diving into the abyss on your weekend getaway. If you still want this experience away from urbanity, head Southwest to Bristol or Cornwall. The bungee centres here are a bit closer to rolling hillsides and wide-open spaces like the Mendips, Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks, and of course, the rugged southwest coastline.
We recommend Tucker’s Grave Inn near Bristol for a wild camping experience at the foot of the Mendip Hills, next to one of the oldest cider pubs in Somerset. They host regular live music in the barn and the beer garden has spectacular Somerset views, as well as a firepit to get cosy around as you sip something straight from the barrel. The camp is in a large, sheltered field, near the village of Faulkland. There aren’t many facilities to speak of, but that’s part of the appeal. All the basics are covered; water access on site, and 24 hour toilets as well as portaloos around the pitches. It’s a perfect rustic break to unwind from your high-octane day trip to the city.
Pitches are grassy and non-electric, costing £16 per night for two people.
Knoll Lane, Faulkland, Bath, Somerset, England BA3 5XF.
7. If you want to head down to bungee in Newquay, check out our blog about the 9 best campsites in Cornwall! Or, for a more natural extreme sport experience on your camping trip (which still includes jumping!) you could head down to this coastline to try coasteering. With this sport, the topography of the coast becomes your playground, and you can get as adventurous as you like, going cave-exploring, rock hopping, climbing or cliff jumping for the real adrenaline junkies out there. We have a blog all about the UK’s best coasteering spots and campsites nearby, which you can check out here.
You’re spoiled with a choice for trips to take and line up with a bungee jump. Whichever location and nearby campsite you choose, you’re sure to never forget this road trip! Make it even more memorable with a unique campervan for hire direct from the owner.
One, two, three, bungee!
