Zip World is the award-winning outdoor adventure business which features the world’s fastest zip line, operating across eight locations in Wales and England.
Adding attractions
In 2018 Zip World secured a significant minority investment from LDC, supported by the company’s existing banking partner, HSBC. The deal valued the business at £45m.
LDC’s investment is supporting the management team’s ongoing growth strategy as it looks to add new attractions to its current sites and rollout its adventure experiences across the UK and beyond.
LDC shares our enthusiasm and vision and we now have the additional capital and expertise needed to fire up our growth plans in Wales and beyond.”
Ambitious leaders
LDC backed Zip World’s ambitious management team, led by Co-founder Sean Taylor, Chief Operating Officer David Stacey and Chairman Giles Thorley. Thorley brings 25 years’ experience as an investor and strategic adviser to the leisure sector to the management team.
The management team kick-started its growth strategy immediately following LDC’s investment, enhancing its four sites with new rides such as Quarry Karts, the UK’s only mountain cart experience, and Titan 2, its new and improved quarry tour and zip lining experience, based in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Snowdonia National Park.
UK expansion
In 2023, Andrew Hudson was appointed as Chief Executive Officer to work with the management team as it continues to expand its portfolio of sites and experiences. Since joining Zip World in 2018, Andrew has played an instrumental role in driving transformational change across the business.
Today, Zip World operates 33 different adventures at eight locations across Wales and England. This includes a range of experiences within the active leisure sector, including the indoor Zip World Conwy and its Zip World Windermere and Manchester sites.
In addition to its adventures, Zip World has launched luxury Forest Lodges and Camping Pods and renovated its Tyn-y-Coed Hotel, further expanding its accommodation offerings in the region.
Positive impact
In 2024, an independent report from North Wales Tourism revealed Zip World has contributed £941m to the Welsh economy over the last decade. Zip World also announced its B Corporation (B Corp) Certification, placing Zip World among a group of only 18 other adventure tourism organisations worldwide and one of just 47 B Corp-certified companies in Wales.
Zip World will expand into London in 2025, the business revealed the takeover of the UK’s largest sculpture at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. The ArcelorMittal Orbit will be it’s ninth location. Zip World aims to invest £2.6m into the ArcelorMittal Orbit, which it said signals the company’s commitment to continually expand its adventure offerings across the UK.
Awards
Fastest growing consumer, wholesale and retail services firm
The Fast Growth 50 Wales 2023
Go Activity of the Year
Go North Wales 2019