Triple 3 Clothing’s Top 10 Skate Parks in the United Kingdom
Skateboarding has transcended its humble beginnings to become a globally recognised sport and cultural phenomenon. Although popularity in the UK has ebbed and flowed over the decades, the recent rise of the scooter phenomena has allowed skate parks to flourish once again, with more popping up than ever before.
There are good quality, well-maintained skate parks across the country offering everything from smooth concrete bowls to challenging street setups. Whether you're a seasoned skater or a curious beginner (or a scooter kid), here's a comprehensive guide to our top 10 skate parks in the UK that you won't want to miss.
- Southbank Skate Space, London
The Southbank Skatepark, situated beneath the iconic Southbank Centre, is one of the most legendary skate spots in the UK. Renowned for its impact on the English Skateboarding scene over the last 40 years, this spot offers a unique mix of street obstacles including ledges, rails, and curbs. It’s also a famous Graffiti site and the whole vibe is a proper Triple 3 Clothing merge of street culture and skateboarding. It’s a must-visit for any skate enthusiast in London, although it’s smaller than it once was, it’s still a sick-looking venue, with no fixed opening times and a buzzing community vibe.
- Dean Lane, Bristol
Tucked behind Bedminster High Street, Dean Lane skatepark or “Deaner”, is a historic part of the city's Skateboarding culture. It’s a proper community affair, with graffiti-covered walls and a street buzz. It may not be the newest in Bristol, but its reputation and ambience make it an iconic park and an essential on your list of skateparks to visit. It’s got two tall flat banks on one side and on the other a mini ramp with an open side and a bowled edge.
- Radlands Plaza in Northampton
Radlands Plaza Skatepark was built in 1992 as the first ever indoor skate park in the UK, it sadly closed down 12 years ago when skateboarding was taking a dip in popularity, despite having had ¼ of a million people through its doors in its 12 years of existence.
It thankfully opened back up in 2012 due to Government funding initiated by the Lib Dems, this time round as an outdoor concrete park with a tonne of ramps, ledges and rails to keep everyone happy. Lucy Adams name-dropped it as one of the best five skateparks in the UK in an interview in the Guardian.
A true gem for skaters, the House of Vans in London is more than just a skate park; it's a skateboarding haven. Located in the Old Vic Tunnels, this indoor facility features a variety of ramps, bowls, and street elements. The House of Vans also hosts events, exhibitions, and live music, creating a dynamic environment that caters to all aspects of skate culture. With its state-of-the-art design and creative programming, it's a hotspot for skaters of all levels.
Opening its doors in 2014, the 33,000 square feet venue is located in the old tunnels underneath Waterloo station in central London. With a live music venue, cinema, cafes and bars and one of London’s only indoor skate venues, it’s quite the underground experience. One skate tunnel is bowl-based with a long concrete bowl and two vert extensions to give it that authentic Vans feel. Tunnel 5 is a street section skate area with a mini ramp and a quarter pipe, as well as a unique bank with an undulating top. As if all this isn’t enough to make you get out of the rain in London, it’s also free.
Sadly on the 10th of December House Of Van London shut its doors. Super sad times and a great loss to the skateboarding community.
Situated under the Mancunian Way flyover, this indoor park is pretty much an all-year-round spot due to the cover from the road. There is a café and lessons available from local legends, making it a super popular park all year round with some great features and a decent sense of community. Skateboarding was banned in the city in 2001 and John Haines and some friends got together and fundraised to get the project off the ground, using some un-used land. It has since become a beacon for regeneration and youth schemes in the UK, showing that with the right intent, anything is possible.
- Southsea Skatepark, Southsea
Southsea Skatepark is steeped in British Skateboarding history, being one of the first skate parks built in the seventies. There are a tonne of ramps and bowls set up around the central iconic bandstand. It features a nice little shop, selling everything you need including Skateboard T-shirts as well as a Café. There are regular events held at the iconic park and it is very much a part of the local and national skateboard community.
Ok, so it’s not the easiest to visit, but a mention has to go out to this new and shiny monster. It’s only recently opened its doors after a £1.8 million build that includes a massive bowl and a big street course. It took years of planning and funding and has already attracted skaters and teams from across the world. If you just happen to be popping over to Jersey, it’s a must-see.
Built back in 1997, Rampwork is one of the biggest indoor skateparks in Europe, at a staggering 70,000 sq ft. The park is divided into three sections to suit all styles and levels of experience. The park features a massive ramp with a quarter pipe on one side and a roll-in on the other. There is a shop, selling decks and skate clothing as well as a café at the park, which is a registered children’s charity, working with over 1000 young people and enriching their lives with skateboarding, BMX’ing and other sports.
Triple 3 Clothing's Favourite Ten Skateparks
The UK boasts a diverse array of skate parks, each offering a unique experience for skaters. From the historic Southbank Skate Space in London to the seafront of Weymouth Park, these venues highlight the rich and varied landscape of British skate culture. Whether you're looking for a place to push your skills or simply want to enjoy the skateboarding community, these top 10 skate parks should keep you busy if you decide to go on a tour of UK skate parks.
So grab your board, pop on a fresh new Triple 3 Clothing T-Shirt and hit up one (or all) of these fantastic locations, and enjoy the ride through the UK’s best skate parks!