Become a member

Whether you are just starting your climbing career, or are extremely experienced, and whether you climb trad, sport, boulder, want to go mountaineering, or even chalk climbing, you will find like-minded people and a supportive atmosphere in NLMC.

We are a climbing-focussed club. Members will go walking and scrambling from time-to-time, but on most trips away we climb – there isn’t usually a walking contingent. There are other London clubs that do offer more of a range of activities.

Benefits of joining

Regular outdoor climbing meets

The club holds regular weekend meets across the UK. Check out the calendar for this year on the Meets page. 

In addition, almost every weekend there is an informal group of members going to climb somewhere. These trips are arranged informally at the climbing wall on Monday, or over the club WhatsApp community.

Club hut in North Wales

As a member, you’ll have free access to our club hut in Capel Curig, North Wales. There’s no need to book in advance, and you don’t pay any fees to stay. 

Active WhatsApp Community

The club has a members only WhatsApp Community, where members regularly arrange ad-hoc trips, and discuss all matters climbing, including advice on gear, climbing locations and training.

BMC liability insurance

As NLMC is a club registered with the BMC, as a club member, you are covered by the BMC wide liability insurance and the other BMC club member benefits.

Get to know the club

At the Castle Climbing Centre

The club meets every Monday at the Castle Climbing Centre to climb and socialise – staff at reception know many NLMC members and will be happy to point us out. Before you come, it’s best to post on the Castle Mondays forum thread, so someone from the club knows to look for you. You can also email our New Members’ Secretary. They’re at the wall most Mondays and will be happy to introduce you to other club members. 

After climbing sessions on Mondays, club members can be found at The Brownswood pub, just a few minutes walk from the Castle Climbing Centre.

On the club chat forum

We have a friendly chat forum where we organise trips, chat about climbing and discuss club matters, although a fair amount of conversations have shifted to the members only Whatsapp community. Prospective members are welcome to sign up and see what’s happening in the club.

Join the club

We welcome new members of all levels and ability, in all fields related to climbing and mountaineering. To join the club, you need to:

  • Be able to safely lead-belay. We expect that potential members are skilled in safe lead belaying and have some experience of indoor leading. This will be reviewed when joining us for a Monday meet at the Castle. If you are interested in the club but feel you need tuition or a refresher to attain this prerequisite we are lucky to have in our membership climbing instructor Holly Peristiani who you can contact for further information:

  • Live or work within the M25 (or get committee approval if outside)

  • Have support from 2 existing club members

We recommend coming along to a few of the Castle climbing sessions. This way, you’ll meet active members of the club to support your application, and we’ll have a chance to check your belaying. There will be plenty of people at the Castle willing to support you once they have met you. 

To join the club, once you’ve met us and found 2 members to support your application, fill in the new member form

Membership rates

The current membership types and rates are:

  • Individual - £53.50

  • Family membership (2 adults and unlimited number of Under-18 year olds) - £95.50

  • Concession (Student / Unemployed / Hardship/ Over-65 year olds) - £35

Process of joining the club

Joining the NLMC is straightforward:

  1. Meet club members at the Castle (forum thread here) and get your belaying checked.

  2. Find 2 club members to sponsor your application (one of them needs to be a committee member).

  3. Fill in the membership application form.

  4. Pay your membership fee (we’ll draw this via Direct Debit within a couple days of receiving your application).

  5. Get your Welcome email. You’re now officially a member (this may take a couple weeks, as your data needs to be submitted and acknowledged by the BMC).

Still have questions about joining or the club?

Just email our New members secretary at newmembers@nlmc.co.uk and they’ll be happy to tell you about the club and answer any questions!