A new indoor climbing centre featuring the tallest climbing wall in central London has opened to the public at the Seymour Leisure Centre in Westminster.

The £700,000 facility features a 13m climbing wall scaling three floors, an additional 7m high training wall, bouldering area and a series of traversing and exercise walls.

Funding for the project was provided by Westminster council, the London Marathon Charitable Trust and Sport England.

The Grade II-listed Seymour Leisure Centre is owned and operated by the council and it is expected that the new facility will attract more than 30,000 climbers a year.

The site will be managed by Nuffield Health, the operator of the Council's indoor sports and leisure centres, in partnership with High Sports.

The design and layout of the centre has been informed by climbers, including the British Mountaineering Council - the national governing body for the sport - and Sport England to ensure it meets world class standards.

Councillor Ed Argar, Westminster Council's cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "The new climbing centre offers an alternative sports activity for our residents to enjoy and builds on our current sports facilities which are some of the best in the capital."

Qualified instructors will offer courses for visitors new to climbing and abseiling as well as those looking to build on their existing ability.

Individual tuition and tailored courses for local schools and youth organizations will also be available as well as a climbing club to promote safe skill development.

Hannah Bladen, from Sport England, said: "If we want to attract new climbers to the sport and to retain participants, we need to be able to offer high quality facilities for everyone. The new climbing facilities at Seymour Leisure Centre will be welcomed by regular users and those who are new to this exhilarating sport."

Seymour Leisure Centre is one of Westminster's largest sites and offers a range of with a range activities including more than 65 fitness classes, a gym, a kids play area, swimming pool and a range of team and racket sports.