Only to comment on the skatepark part of the XC - ...

Only to comment on the skatepark part of the XC - my best experience of a UK skatepark to date. A brilliantly designed indoor venue that's oddly lacking in skateboarders and plagued with scooters, which we all have to live with, like it or not. It would be great to see a bigger skate following in a place like Hemel XC - however it's a 23 mile trek out of London which may be too far (public transport = plenty of time and money unless you have a car, then the sessions will set you back at least a tenner a time). Still well worth the journey if you can get a three hour session in as there's loads to explore: an all-out street section (wooden) with blocks, rails and walls... a super wide mini ramp that's low and comfortable to practice on (also wooden). If you're up for it there's also a nice deep concrete bowl with a shallow end/snake run in, which spines into an authentic California backyard-style pool. Both are premium quality and smoothly surfaced, with decent coping and very fast action. The whole place feels big and buzzing with ideas - and when there's skaters around the spirit is transformed (sorry scooters, I'm a longtime skater and there's few of us ;)