Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-98.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46053" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-98.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-98-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-98-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-98-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-98-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>He&#8217;s scaled Everest, explored the Alaskan wilderness with Barak Obaama, crossed the Artic Circle in an inflatable boat and climbed Mount Ama Dablam in the Himalayas to name a few &#8211; so you think you can give Bear Grylls a run for his money? Then you&#8217;re going to want to book a day out at <a href="https://www.beargryllsadventure.com">Bear Grylls Adventure</a> at Birmingham&#8217;s NEC. Opened in 2018 after £20million cash injection from Merlin Entertainment (of Warwick Castle and LEGOLAND fame) the centre offers six activities for adrenaline junkies aged eight years and over &#8211; archery, shark diving, interactive skydiving, climbing walls, shooting, high ropes, plus a Royal Marines-inspired assault course included with all tickets. Activities can be booked individually (from £20), but if you really want to get pulses racing, you can save up to 25% with a Summer of Adventure pass (valid until Oct, from £85). </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-105.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46069" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-105.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-105-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-105-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-105-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-105-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-104.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46067" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-104.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-104-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-104-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-104-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-104-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Bear Grylls Adventure is located next door to the NEC in its own building with a separate entrance (conveniently opposite Resorts World with an extensive list of bars and restaurants). There&#8217;s a real buzz as you approach the building &#8211; think ominous adventure music that you get at a theme park, an abandoned jeep, glass cages of giant hissing cockroaches and tarantulas (look away if you&#8217;re of a sensitive disposition) and the huge 65ft high rope course towering over you. Inside, there&#8217;s a food court where you can refuel on hot dogs and pizzas, a reasonably priced gift shop, as well the free assault course (for both kids and adults) that you can attack whilst you wait between activities. We visited on a Thursday in the summer holidays and the assault course was completely overrun with 12 year olds, although staff said it’s worth a go when it quietens down. Most groups were families with kids of all ages and despite being quite busy there was plenty of room to space out and it felt Covid-safe (masks weren’t compulsory either but all staff wore them).&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>THE ADVENTURE&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-100-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46056" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-100-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-100-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-100-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-100-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-100-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>On our visit we tried archery and the high ropes. First up, archery, which is £20 (or £25 if you turn up on the day). Bear Grylls Adventure is working with Archery GB on encouraging more people of all ages to take up the sport &#8211; and it seemed pretty popular on my visit. We received a full briefing on health and safety (top tip: make sure you listen carefully, I woke up the next day covered in bruises after not wearing my arm guard correctly, doh!) then it&#8217;s on to firing the arrows. Groups are small and spaced out across two arenas with an instructor to each group. If you&#8217;re no Katniss Everdeen, don&#8217;t worry, the instructors go at your pace and incorporate games into the 45 minute session so even if you&#8217;re not nailing the bullseye you&#8217;re still having fun.  </p>



<p>Then we moved on to the high ropes adventure &#8211; 60 minutes roaming 36 obstacles from 65ft above ground (£32 in advance, £40 on the day). Our session was the last at 4pm and we ended up with the whole course to ourselves. Again, there was a safety briefing followed by a harness check before heading outside to the split level course complete with planks, ropes, steps and rolling logs. Even the first obstacle made my legs turn to jelly &#8211; something about the sheer drop of the first level not being broken up by any view was quite terrifying &#8211; so if you&#8217;re scared of heights maybe give this one a miss. If you do make it to the top, there are some pretty spectacular views of Birmingham, not to mention a huge sense of achievement (I now go by Tarzan, thank you very much). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NEED TO KNOW&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-99-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46057" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-99-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-99-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-99-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-99-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2021/08/Untitled-design-99-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Give yourself plenty of time to get there as you need to arrive 30 minutes before your first activity – these guys are prompt and won’t wait! Visitors should also double check what to wear for each activity but the general gist is comfortable active wear, trainers and a waterproof if taking part in the high ropes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>THE VERDICT&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Good for:&nbsp;</strong>Families with kids aged eight and over, friends, couples and adrenaline junkies. This is a really fun day out that you&#8217;ll be talking about for a good while after. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:&nbsp;</strong>If you’re seriously afraid of heights give the high ropes a miss, but there are plenty of other things you can do instead (just maybe not the rock climbing wall!)</p>



<p><strong>The damage:&nbsp;</strong>It’s not the cheapest day out, but worth it for the memories (and the gravity defying photo if you test drive the iFly). Prices start at £20 for archery, climbing or shooting with iFly at £52 and shark diving coming in at £120. There’s also passes for multiple activities which starts at £85.</p>



<p>Bear Grylls Adventure, National Exhibition Centre, B40 1NT<br><a href="https://www.beargryllsadventure.com">www.beargryllsadventure.com</a> 0121 725 2616</p>



<p>To learn more about starting archery with Archery GB visit <a href="https://startarchery.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="www.startarchery.co.uk (opens in a new tab)">www.startarchery.co.uk</a></p>


Review: Bear Grylls Adventure

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