iFLY London

The Experience

iFLY London opened in March 2023 as the company's first location in the capital and their fourth in the United Kingdom, joining tunnels in Basingstoke, Milton Keynes and Manchester. The brand was founded in Orlando, Florida in 1998 when it invented the recirculating vertical wind tunnel — a design that sends air in a continuous loop rather than blasting it straight up and out. That technology has since been refined across nine generations, and the tunnel at The O2 represents the latest iteration: a 4.3-metre-wide chamber capable of generating winds of up to 150 mph.

The location inside The O2 dome on the Greenwich Peninsula puts iFLY within one of London's busiest entertainment districts. The facility sits just inside the main entrance on the right-hand side, surrounded by restaurants, bars, a cinema and the 20,000-seat arena. It is an easy add-on to a day out at The O2, or a destination experience in its own right.

What to Expect

Your session begins with check-in and a safety briefing in the training room, where an instructor explains body positioning, hand signals and the basics of flight. You then suit up in a flight suit, helmet, goggles and earplugs before entering the tunnel. Each individual flight lasts around 60 seconds, with the instructor right beside you in the airstream, physically guiding your body into the correct position.

The sensation is surprisingly close to real skydiving. The rush of air, the feeling of weightlessness and the concentration needed to hold a stable body position all mirror the experience of freefall from an aeroplane — without the altitude, the cold or the need for a parachute. Between flights, the instructor offers feedback and tips. Most first-timers are noticeably more confident by their second or third flight, managing to hold a stable arch and even attempt turns.

Nearby at The O2

The O2 dome offers plenty to do before or after your flight. Cineworld, Hollywood Bowl and Bounce are all within the same complex, as are more than 30 restaurants and bars stretching along The Avenue inside the dome. For something more adventurous, Up at The O2 lets you climb over the roof of the arena on a walkway with panoramic views of the London skyline.

North Greenwich station on the Jubilee line is a five-minute walk from The O2 entrance, connecting you to central London in under 20 minutes. The IFS Cloud Cable Car across the Thames to the Royal Docks is another option — a scenic crossing that makes a memorable start or end to the visit.