Last Updated on August 1, 2025
High-Flying Family Fun: Why Gorilla Circus Is a Must-Try This Summer in London
Entertaining children during the school holidays is an art form – part strategy, part survival, and mostly improvisation. But this time, I wasn’t just looking to keep the kids busy – I wanted a proper day out with my daughter and her two energetic boys, something we’d all remember. I was determined to find an activity that ticked all the boxes: active, adventurous, and – crucially – outside the house. So, when we were offered the chance to try Gorilla Circus Trapeze School, promising high-flying thrills and circus-style fun, it felt like a golden ticket. What better way to channel their boundless energy than by launching them, quite literally, into the air? What could possibly go wrong…?
Gorilla Circus is an independent UK-based circus production company founded in 2009 by a former flying trapeze artist with a mission to reimagine what circus could be. Born from a desire to create daring new spectacles that tell powerful, real-world stories, they now produce interactive, contemporary shows for all ages, staged on eye-catching, custom-built structures complete with zip lines, hydraulics, moving props, and special effects. Their small but passionate team blends aerialists, wire-walkers, parkour performers, dancers, poets and music producers to deliver visually arresting, emotionally resonant performances across the UK and beyond.
Their open-air flying trapeze school, Gorilla Circus Trapeze, pops up each summer in Regent’s Park and Kensington Gardens like a joyful secret waiting to be discovered. Open to anyone aged eight and up – no previous experience (or circus credentials) required, it offers the kind of exhilarating escapism most of us didn’t know we needed. Sessions are run by seasoned trapeze artists who manage to be both impossibly agile and endlessly encouraging, guiding you through a gentle warm-up, low-bar confidence drills, and then – deep breath – the full-size trapeze.
We chose their Regent’s Park site, tucked just off the Outer Circle. It’s an easy journey – we took the tube to Baker Street and strolled through the park, scenic and straightforward. For those who prefer to drive, there are plenty of metered spaces nearby. Lessons are two hours long, and during that time, most students – wobbly-kneed first-timers very much included- get the chance to attempt a mid-air “catch” with one of the instructors. With safety nets, humour, and heaps of encouragement, it’s less about perfect form and more about the pure, giddy thrill of letting go.
I’m not just saying this: I genuinely wanted to have a go myself. But a long-standing shoulder injury meant I had to sit this one out. Thankfully, my daughter was raring to try it, and the boys were buzzing with excitement… until we arrived and spotted one of the professional artists gliding effortlessly through the air at what looked like a frankly terrifying height. That’s when the nerves kicked in.
Luckily, the staff were lovely – calm, encouraging, and clearly well-practised at coaxing nervous first timers off the platform. After a gentle warm-up, everyone was kitted out with harnesses and introduced to the set-up. There were five others in the group that day, including a couple who’d been before and were clearly hooked – back to hone their skills and chase that airborne thrill once more.
Training began on the low bar, where the focus was on technique and confidence – just enough to give everyone a feel for what was to come. Then, without much ceremony, it was time for the high bar. The nerves were real. Even knowing you’re clipped in, safely roped and watched like a hawk, that first step off the platform still takes some nerve.
But what followed was pure magic. Beau, aged 11, played it remarkably calm – even though I knew he was quietly nervous. He took to the trapeze with the ease and composure of someone who’d been soaring through the air for years. And even Teddy, just eight and usually the most cautious of the bunch, stepped up without a flicker of hesitation. The look on his face as he swung through the air for the first time – a perfect mix of wide-eyed disbelief and total joy- was unforgettable.
My daughter was equally brilliant, building confidence with each swing until, by the end of the session, she was caught mid-air by an instructor on a separate swinging bar.
This is such a fantastic activity for all ages – a high-flying adventure that brings out courage, laughter and a fair bit of adrenaline. A word of warning, though: you may just spark dreams of running away to join the circus.
Summer 2025 Schedule & How to Book
Gorilla Circus Trapeze School runs throughout the warmer months in two of London’s most iconic parks:
Regent’s Park: until September 28, 2025
Kensington Gardens: until September 14, 2025
See the exact locations on their website.
Sessions can be booked as a one-off, drop-in, or part of a progressive course if you or your kids get hooked. Whether you’re a curious beginner or an aspiring high-flyer, this is a summer adventure not to miss.
For more information and to book, visit: flyingtrapezeschool.gorillacircus.com
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