The 'longest and fastest' zipwire in England is due to open to the public today just down the road at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford.

The Hangloose Skywire will be the first of the attractions to open at the new Hangloose Adventure centre, based at the Greenhithe shopping centre and due to become one of the biggest adventure centres in Europe.

The skywire's original opening date of April 2021 has twice been pushed back, but the attraction now appears to be good to go, with Monday, June 28 marked down as the opening date and slots now available to book, costing £50.

An impressive 725 metres long, the zipwire launches from a 15.5 metre dispatch tower which also sits atop a 40-metre chalk cliff at Bluewater, creating a 180 foot vertical drop.

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Set up on the "majestic" Bluewater cliffs, the zipwire has a minimum age of eight (with no upper age limit) and requires you to weigh between 35kg and 120kg.

Thrillseekers are kitted out in harnesses and safety equipment, briefed, taken up to the launch tower by minibus nefore climbing the steps to the top.

Hangloose Adventure will be set amongst 50 acres of parkland at the shopping centre, which has been awarded Green Flag status for the fifth year running.

The centre will also aim to make Bluewater the home to an outdoor skydive machine, bungee jump and Europe’s largest outdoor climbing wall, with attractions due to be added over the next two years.

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Also planned for the attraction in Dartford is the UK's only outdoor Skydive machine, Europe's largest swing, Europe's largest outdoor climbing wall and 'much more', once complete.

Back in March, Robert Goodman, Senior Centre Director at Bluewater, said: “Seeing the dispatch tower close to completion gives a real sense of scale for the structure which will carry thrill-seekers from the cliff edge, more than 725 metres across our parkland.

“With the tower almost ready, and the four zip lines being installed this month, the excitement is building as we create a new attraction for the south east of England – we will be announcing details of the next experience to open, soon.

“We will have England’s longest and fastest zip wire and it has already created interest from across the UK with pre-registration emails received from Scotland, Wales, Manchester and Durham, down to Cornwall in the South West."

He continued: “Adding in our retail stores, restaurants, bars, leisure, cinema and free parking, Hangloose Adventure – Bluewater is even more of a must-visit, day-out destination.

“And not just for people living in this part of the country, it will drive tourist spend in the region from around the UK and, with our nearby high-speed international rail link, into France too.”