The Climbing Works heads towards 20 years as a bouldering landmark

Sheffield calls itself the Outdoor City, and few places capture that spirit indoors quite like The Climbing Works. Tucked into Centenary Works on Little London Road, the bouldering centre opened its doors in December 2006 and will celebrate 20 years this winter.

Bouldering is climbing without ropes or harnesses over soft matting, and the founders spotted a gap in the market for a dedicated indoor centre. Co-founder Sam Whittaker has explained the thinking simply: "We wanted to create a friendly environment that people of all ages and abilities could use."

That approach clearly worked. The Climbing Works was the world's largest bouldering centre for many years and remains one of the largest. In 2013 it opened the Mini Works, a dedicated family bouldering centre, and Whittaker has said the children's space "has done really well."

Recognition followed in 2014, when The Climbing Works became the first UK bouldering centre to be awarded National Performance Centre status by the British Mountaineering Council. Its own description of the wall as being of national and international significance is well earned.

Today the centre spreads across several units on the Centenary Works business park, including the main Climbing Works, the Mini Works and Unit E. There is something for every stage of a climbing life: children can start at the Mini Works, teenagers and adults can take up the sport through coached classes, experienced climbers enjoy a friendly social scene and elite climbers can test themselves on world-class problems.

The programme reaches well beyond drop-in sessions. There are kids clubs, adult classes, group and party bookings and a schools competition, plus family memberships covering both the main centre and the Mini Works. After a session, climbers can relax at The Works Tap, and there is a shop and hire service on site. Partners include outdoor names Wild Country, Rab and Scarpa.

Practical touches help too, with free parking, accessible facilities and baby changing on site, which makes it an easy choice for a family day out on a rainy weekend.

First-time visitors can plan their trip and register online through The Climbing Works website, and the centre is at Unit B2, Centenary Works, 150 Little London Road, Sheffield S8 0UJ.