Quick answer
Rock Up Hull is an indoor climbing centre with a multi-storey soft play, on the upper leisure terrace of St Stephen’s Shopping Centre. Standard climbing is for age 4 and up, and a Starter Climb costs £17.95. Morning Toddler Climb sessions for under 5s cost £11.95. Soft play is £5.95 for ages 8 and under, and under 1s play free. In term time it is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For standard climbing, children 12 and under need one adult in the arena per 4 children.
Is it right for my child?
- Climbing walls: Rock Up says Hull has 26 plus climbing walls, the Vertical Drop Slide and the Stairway to Heaven. The walls run from easy beginner zones to more technical routes.
- Interactive Climbing: the Explorer Climb ticket includes it, but the Starter Climb does not.
- Safety kit: climbers use automatic belay devices. The Hull page gives a weight range of 35lbs to 287lbs, and the terms say climbers must be under 130kg.
- Toddlers: Toddler Climb is for under 5s and includes climbing plus soft play. On 13 November 2026 the shop described age-appropriate walls for them. The terms say toddler sessions are open to walking children.
- Soft play: it is built over two storeys, with ball pools, slides and a baby play area. St Stephen’s says it also has swings and a baby section for under 2s.
- Calmer option: Calm Climbing sessions turn the music off (see below).
- Heights: the vertical challenges are designed to test a fear of heights. Rock Up says some challenges have a minimum height requirement.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Book online. Rock Up strongly advises it, because arena capacity is limited for safety reasons.
- Arrive at your session start time. The first 30 minutes of a 90-minute climb is arrival and the safety briefing, then 55 minutes in the arena.
- Wear closed-toe shoes. Open-toed shoes, high heels and climbing shoes cannot be used on the walls.
- Tie back long hair, and remove or tape up jewellery and piercings. Tuck in drawstrings and scarves.
- Check whether you need an adult ticket. For standard climbing with children 12 and under, one adult must be in the arena for every 1 to 4 children.
- Rock Up says not to climb if you are pregnant or have a health condition that affects safe climbing.
Prices and tickets
These prices were on Rock Up’s Hull products page or in its ticket shop on 13 November 2026.
- Starter Climb (ages 4 plus): £17.95. It includes the climbing walls, the Vertical Drop Slide, the briefing and all equipment.
- Explorer Climb: £21.45, adding Interactive Climbing.
- Adult Climb: £14.95, climbing alongside the children. The shop listed it for ages 18 and up.
- Ringside Adult: £2. You supervise inside the arena but cannot climb.
- Saver Sessions: £12 on Wednesdays in term time. The shop showed £12 climbs on 18 November and 2 December 2026.
- Toddler Climb (under 5s): £11.95, mornings only, climbing and soft play included.
- Soft Play (ages 8 and under): £5.95. Under 1s play free. Term-time weekday tickets are stay and play all day.
Who needs an adult ticket: adults watching from the café do not count towards the 1 to 4 ratio. You need no Adult Climb or Ringside ticket for soft play, Toddler Climb, SEN or party bookings. The same applies to Academy classes, members and children aged 12 or older. This ticket rule does not mean a child may attend alone. The general terms say “Anyone over the age of 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult”. That wording is unclear, so ask Rock Up first.
Toddler adults: Rock Up’s pages say accompanying adults are free for toddler sessions. But the Toddler Climb ticket text in the shop mentioned a £2 Accompanying Adult ticket, which did not appear in the list. Check when you book.
Cancelling: the terms say standard advance bookings can be cancelled or amended with at least 5 days’ notice. With less notice, the full cost is charged. Parties and group bookings have their own rules.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Babies: soft play is free for 0 to 11 months, and there is a baby play area.
- Supervision: the terms say parents must supervise children in the soft play at all times.
- Toilets and baby changing: St Stephen’s has signposted baby changing on the ground and first floors. Rock Up’s own pages do not mention toilets or changing inside the centre.
- Pushchairs: the pages we checked do not mention pushchair parking or step-free access to the leisure terrace. Ring Rock Up on 01482 968000 to ask.
Food and drink
The Hull page lists a café, and the ticket shop mentions adults watching from the café. Rock Up says its centres’ cafés serve hot drinks, snacks and hot meals, with seating facing the climbing arena. No food or drink is allowed in the climbing arena. We could not read the Hull menu, and the pages we checked do not mention picnics.
Getting there and parking
- Address: Rock Up Hull, St Stephens Shopping Centre, Hull HU2 8LN. It is on the upper leisure terrace.
- Car park: the St Stephen’s car park is open 24 hours, has over 800 spaces and is cashless. Up to 3 hours costs £3, and 3 to 4 hours costs £3.50.
- Evenings: entry after 5pm costs £1 up to midnight. Parking from 5pm to midnight is free when visiting Rock Up, under St Stephen’s leisure concession.
- Blue Badge: St Stephen’s gives two counts. Its accessibility section says 20 accessible bays, and its parking FAQ says 23 disabled spaces.
When to visit
- Term time: Monday and Wednesday 11.30am to 7.30pm, Friday 10.30am to 7.30pm. Saturday 9.30am to 7.30pm and Sunday 9.30am to 6.30pm.
- Closed: Tuesdays and Thursdays in term time.
- School holidays: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 8pm, Sunday 9.30am to 7pm.
- Christmas: on 13 November 2026 the shop showed climbing sessions on 22, 23, 24 and 31 December. It showed none on 25 and 26 December.
- Shorter days: the last session start shown was 2.30pm on 24 December and 3.30pm on 31 December.
- Soft play length: term-time weekday soft play is stay and play all day. At weekends and in school holidays, sessions typically last 2 hours.
Additional needs and disability support
Calm Climbing (SEND) runs on the first Monday of the month. The music is off and there are fewer climbers in the arena. Family and siblings are welcome to climb. On 13 November 2026 the shop gave a minimum age of 4.
On 13 November 2026 the shop listed Monday 7 December 2026 at 6.30pm, with child admission at £10.95. It also listed 4 January and 1 February 2027.
Changing Places: St Stephen’s has two Changing Places rooms with hoists, plus four RADAR-key accessible toilets. The Changing Places rooms open in line with centre hours, 9am to 6pm on most days. Ask whether they are open for a 6.30pm session.
St Stephen’s says it has no quiet room. Rock Up’s pages do not mention a sensory guide, free carer tickets or wheelchair access to the arena.
Frequently asked questions
What age can children climb at Rock Up Hull?
Standard climbing is for age 4 and up. Under 4s may only climb in the Toddler Climb sessions, which are for under 5s.
Do I have to climb with my child?
No. For standard climbing with children 12 and under, one adult per 4 children must be in the arena. A £2 Ringside Adult ticket lets you supervise without climbing.
Is there a drop-off option?
Yes. Climbing Academy classes for ages 6 plus last 90 minutes, with no parent supervision required. A single class costs £19.95 and a 10-week course costs £129.
Does Rock Up Hull do birthday parties?
Yes. The Ultimate Climbing Party costs £29.95 a person and the Summit Party £23.95, both less on term-time weekdays. A Saver Party costs £19.95 a person.
What should my child wear?
Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Rock Up provides the harness, which is all the equipment you need.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Rock Up Hull page, Hull products page, Hull toddler page, classes and inclusivity page, activities page, terms and ticket shop, and the St Stephen’s website. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
