Zip World

Last updated

Zip World
Company type Private limited
IndustryOutdoor amusement parks
PredecessorTree Top Adventure
Founded2013
HeadquartersDenbigh Street, Llanrwst, Wales, LL26 0LL [1]
Number of locations
4 (2022)
Area served
 United Kingdom
Key people
Sean Taylor (owner)
Owner Dolphin Capital (majority)
Website zipworld.co.uk

Zip World is a Welsh [2] outdoor adventure activity company based in Llanrwst, Wales, United Kingdom. The company operates four sites in Wales, primarily focused on zip lines and outdoor adventure activity courses. Since 2025, it is majority owned by Dolphin Capital.

Contents

History

Zip World was created by Sean Taylor, an ex-Royal Marines commando from the Conwy Valley, based on his military experiences using zip lines and sky-diving. [3] [4] [5] Taylor focused on converting heritage industrial sites into adventure playgrounds, making North Wales into an important adventure activity centre in Europe. [4] Taylor launched 'Treetop Adventures' in 2007 (now Zip World Fforest). [3] [5]

"Zip World" was launched in 2013 with 8 staff, [3] [5] with the opening of Zip World Velocity at Penrhyn quarry in March. In 2014, Zip World Titan and Bounce Below at Llechwedd Slate Caverns opened, followed by Zip World Caverns at the same location in 2015. Zip World Fforest, a redevelopment of Treetop Adventures, opened in 2016. [6]

In August 2017, it became sponsors of Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay, branding it as Stadiwm Zip World, [7] which was retained as the brand name until a new sponsor took over in June 2022. [8]

In 2021, the company had 250 staff, with up to 3,500 visitors per day during the peak holiday periods. The company stated it was set to report a turnover of £10 million for 2021, with a profit of £5.5 million. [3]

The company is said to be valued at almost £100 million by September 2022, [9] and has ambitions to expand further, but remaining based in Wales and being regarded as a Welsh company. The company bought out a business operating in the Lake District and Manchester and is looking to the accommodation and sustainable transport sectors, while considering a rebrand by the end of 2022, potentially "ZW" to address their increasingly non-Zip line business. [10]

In January 2025, it was majority sold to Dolphin Capital, with Taylor retaining a minority stake. The deal was valued at £100 million. [11]

Sites

Zip World operates four sites, three in North Wales and one in South Wales. Three northern sites are in close proximity to each other and comprises sites at Penrhyn quarry, Llechwedd Slate Caverns, and Zip World Fforest near Betws-y-Coed. It also operates the Zip World Tower in Rhondda Cynon Taf in south Wales. [4] [12] [2] Zip World was scheduled to open the Skyflyer airship in Rhyl, north Wales in July, then August 2022, however the launch was postponed to early 2023 due to bad weather and engineering issues. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Penrhyn Quarry

Zip World Penrhyn Quarry houses the world's fastest, and Europe's longest zip line, known as Velocity 2. The four parallel zip lines span almost 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) across and 500 feet (150 m) over the quarry's lake, reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). [4] [17] [18]

Llechwedd

Zip World Llechwedd Adventures, based around the Llechwedd slate mines, offers a Deep Mine Tour of the caverns, an underground trampoline park known as Bounce Below, the world's largest underground zip wire course, and multiple stand-alone zip lines termed "Titan", including Europe's first four-person zip line as well as a shorter 98 feet (30 m) zip line. [4] [19] [20] The site opened the world's first underground golf course in the site's caverns in 2022. [21] [22] [23] [24]

Fforest

Zip World Fforest houses the UK's only alpine coaster, Europe's largest net walkway 60 feet (18 m) above the ground, and Zip Safari 2, a hanging zip-line and obstacle course 60 feet (18 m) above ground. It also houses, a 'Tree Hoppers' beginner assault course, the 100 feet (30 m) Plummet 2 tandem drop high tower, Europe's highest giant swing Skyride 2, and a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) Fforest Coaster through woodlands. [4]

Tower

Zip World Tower, near Aberdare in the Rhigos mountain range in South Wales, is situated at the former Tower Colliery coal mining site, housing Phoenix and Tower Flyer. [25] [26]

Proposed sites

The company was initially granted permission to set up a 450-foot (140 m) attraction between St John's Beacon and the Liverpool Central Library in 2020, but was scrapped following local opposition. [2] [27]

In 2021, Taylor also announced his ambitions to search for new sites, including one in Scotland, in three national parks in England, and one south of Dublin in Ireland. Although Taylor stated his preference for 8–10 sites in the UK, across key UK regions. Devon was stated at the time as being a leading contender for the company's next site and the first site outside Wales. [2]

Potential sites for Zip World in the Lake District and Manchester have been proposed following the company's purchase of a business with operations in those locations in 2022, bringing the company's site count to potentially seven. [10] In July 2022, a local partnership for the Lake District National Park, opened a survey over potential plans by Burlington Stone, proposing partnering with Zip World, for an "adventure tourism experience" at Elterwater quarry, Langdale, in the Lake District. 30,000 people signed an E-petition against the proposal. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

In 2025, it plans to open a site at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and the Elterwater site. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "ZIP WORLD LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pyke, Chris (22 June 2021). "Former Royal Marine Commando behind thrilling Zip World brand". Business Live. Retrieved 10 November 2022. we will always be regarded as a Welsh company
  3. 1 2 3 4 "ZipWorld". Trade & Investment | Wales. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Zip World's North Wales adventures". VisitWales. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Taylor, Sean (10 October 2018). "Zip World Wales, turns heritage on its head". Wales.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Zip World - Our Adventure". zipworld.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Davidson, Tom (9 August 2017). "New name for Parc Eirias revealed". North Wales Live. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Council announces new stadium sponsor". www.conwy.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  9. ↑ Pyke, Chris (22 June 2021). "Former Royal Marine Commando behind thrilling Zip World brand". Business Live. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Rebrand and potential expansion for top Welsh tourist attraction". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Zip World: Adventure company sold in £100m deal". BBC News. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  12. ↑ Gregory, Rhys (31 August 2022). "Zip World to offer family adventures for free this September" . Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "experience adventure at rhyl". zipworld.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Ahmed, Reem; Whilding, Alex (15 May 2022). "Zip World announces Skyflyer experience that will allow you to float at 400ft". WalesOnline. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Zip World's new Skyflyer attraction in Rhyl deflated following launch postponement". Rhyl Journal. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  16. ↑ "Zip World's Skyflyer now to launch in Rhyl in 2023". Rhyl Journal. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Zip World Penrhyn Quarry - High Wire in Bangor, Bethesda - Show Me Wales". www.visitmidwales.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Snowdonia activity break: dream trips for daredevils". the Guardian. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  19. ↑ "Have a family fun day out at Zip World". North Wales Holiday Cottages. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Zip World Titan - Go North Wales". www.gonorthwales.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  21. ↑ Gregory, Rhys (8 August 2022). "Review: Zip World's 500ft underground golf course in Welsh mine" . Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  22. ↑ Gregory, Rhys (28 July 2022). "First look at Zip World's new Underground Golf activity" . Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "Zip World to launch world's first underground golf site in North Wales". Deeside.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "Zip World reveals construction of world-first 'Underground Golf' course in Welsh slate quarry". Nation.Cymru. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  25. ↑ "Zip World Tower". Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  26. ↑ "Zip wire plans for former Tower Colliery site submitted". BBC News. 12 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "Plans for UK's 'first permanent' city zip line submitted". BBC News. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  28. ↑ "Zip World Plans for Elterwater Quarry". Friends of the Lake District. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  29. ↑ "Lake District theme park: Thousands oppose Langdale quarry plans". BBC News. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  30. ↑ Quarry, Elterwater (17 June 2022). "Home". Elterwater Quarry. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  31. ↑ "Lake District 'rollercoaster theme park' plans meet with opposition". the Guardian. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  32. ↑ "Thousands petition against plans to turn Lake District quarry into 'theme park'". ITV News. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
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