Here at IT, we like surfing. Apparently in England they do, too.
The developers of Silvertown Quay recently unveiled plans to create Venture Xtreme, an extreme sports venue and surf center in London. Upon completion, the center will house London's largest permanent outdoor beach and surf pool. The thing is, it's not even a real beach.
Tagging itself as the U.K.'s first "artificial surf experience" (and a "world's first" project of this size), the complex (scheduled to be complete in 2011) will feature 365 days of "perfect waves" ideal for everyone from beginners to professionals.
According to Venture Xtreme,
The perfect white sand beach will be 100m wide (328 feet) and up to 25m (82 feet) from front to back, giving enough space for over 200 swimmers, sunbathers and surfers. In the evenings it will be possible to rent fire pits for larger groups and barbeque areas as well as to just chill out on the beach with a drink from the bar. Beach bars, hammocks, palm trees and boardwalks all add to the atmosphere.
Though not your typical sand-and-sea vacation, Silvertown Quays will feature markets, sports shops,waterside restaurants and cafés (complete with beach bar and floating bistro), making it feel like you're really in a remote beach town.
The extreme sports complex will include an indoor wave rider, climbing wall, scuba dive tank, and ropes course. Not a fan of warm-weather activities? Not to worry. The complex will also have an ice-climbing wall, snow room, and ice bar.
The price tag for this all-weather surfers' paradise? £1.5 billion (that's $1.92 billion!).
Hmm. This sounds a bit like the Bearfire Resort in Texas. IT likes authentic experiences, and we hear the (real) waves in Devon and Cornwall are nice, too.
Photos: courtesy of Venture Xtreme
And don't forget that "quay" is pronounced "key"!
Posted by: placeswegopeoplewesee | February 06, 2008 at 03:27 PM