The world’s biggest, fastest city zipwire is set to get hearts racing on London’s South Bank this summer.

With unique views of London’s skyline, including Big Ben, the Shard and the London Eye, thrill-seekers can launch themselves from a tower 35 metres above Archbishop’s park with Zip World London, reaching up to 50mph.

At 225 metres long, the journey takes just 30 seconds before you’re back on solid ground again. Adult tickets cost £22.50 per person and it runs until October 1.

Sleep with the animals

Curl up among the baboons this summer — and cheetahs, wolves, zebras and lemurs, with the new Camp Baboon at the Wild Place Project in Gloucestershire. 

The family attraction, which has themed trails, an adventure park and animals from around the world, has opened 10 luxury glamping pods a stone’s throw from its Gelada baboons and other animal inhabitants.

Sleeping up to four, the pods have a double bed and bunk beds, as well as their own private shower pods, and guests can take part in after-hours animal encounters as well as exclusive twilight and sunrise tours, plus breakfast with the giraffes and bushcraft activities.

Prices start from £87 per person, with the package including two days of free entry to Wild Place Project and free entry to Bristol Zoo Gardens on the day of departure.

Tales of the river

Make the most of over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers throughout England and Wales with a string of free family adventures from the Canal & River Trust this summer.

The organisation has put together a collection of local maps and activity sheets to download from its website, canalrivertrust.org.uk, while other special summer events include a new waterway festival in east London, taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on August 28.

The East London Waterway Festival will mark the completion of Carpenters Road Lock, which allows boats to travel directly from the Old River Lea to Waterworks River for the first time in 40 years.

Or go ‘gongoozling’ instead, the traditional name for watching boats go by.

As well as your local stretch of water, make a trip to the 30 locks at Tardebigge in Worcestershire or staircase locks at Bingley Five Rise in West Yorkshire for one of the country’s most unusual spots to practise this relaxing pastime.