O2 Arena confirms opening of iFly Indoor Skydiving in December

South Londoners can rejoice this week, as the new indoor skydiving tower beside the O2 Arena has been given a confirmed opening date, writes Joe Coughlan.

From December 15, people can experience iFly Indoor Skydiving at the north-east end of the peninsula’s arena.

The attraction uses vertical wind tunnel technology to replicate the experience of freefalling, without the need for a parachute.

The latest London facility is the fourth iFly to open in the UK, following locations in Milton Keynes, Manchester and Basingstoke. Worldwide, the company has over 45 locations.

Sessions at iFly range from 45 to 60 minutes, including gearing up, a pre-flight briefing and training for first-time flyers.

Return flyers can skip the training session and head straight to the flight chamber.

The 21 metres tall, two-storey building was developed by BE Design.

Inside the building is a vertical wind tunnel, VR activity area and a 360-degree viewing platform for users to watch the flight chamber while waiting for their flight time.

The application for the building was submitted to Greenwich Council in August last year, with planning permission being granted the following January.

A pre-application request was sent to the council in January 2019.

Speaking about the opening, Simon Ward, chief executive at iFLY International, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing the iFLY experience to the capital and even more excited to be hosted at the world’s most iconic leisure and entertainment destination, The O2.

We believe everyone, of any age or ability, should have the opportunity to experience the pure unadulterated joy of human flight and opening the experience to Londoners is the next step in our mission to deliver the dream of flight to everyone.”

Janine Constantin-Russell, managing director at the retail centre and entertainment district at The O2, said: “The O2 is proud to welcome iFLY to London, adding to our unrivalled day-to-night leisure offering that already houses a buzzing entertainment district.

“It’s so exciting to have an additional family-friendly activity for our visitors to enjoy just in time for the Christmas holidays – we can’t wait until lift-off.”

Picture: Artist’s illustration of the new iFly building at the O2 Arena. Picture: BE Design