Welcome to the first part of The London Adventurer! We all know how to find cool coffee houses, swanky restaurants and the latest art installations, but do you know the best places to paddle or cycle in and around London?! Don’t worry, that is what we are focussing on in our 3 part series “The London Adventurer”. In Part 1 we explore London’s water-ways by SUP, kayak and canoe.
St Katherine Docks
This really is a hidden gem in the middle of Central London, a stone throw away from Tower Bridge (you can see the Shard in the background). Of all the locations in this post, this is the most beginner friendly with the perfectly calm water being very easy to explore. This is where many of London’s elite keep their boats, so be prepared to see some rather blingy yachts in the Marina.
In the summer, the area is a total sun trap and protected on 3 sides from any breeze. It is the perfect place to catch some rays in super quick time. There are so many bars and restaurants around the Marina to enjoy post-paddle.
Kit: KitUp already has Paddle boards in London to hire, so check out some of our users. If you are looking to get on a tour or have a lesson in the area, we recommend using Paddleboarding London.
Getting there: The closest tube station to St Katherines Dock is Tower Hill – about a 10 minute walk away. The area is also incredibly well connected with buses and you can also get there easily by foot/bicycle using the Thames footpath.
Thames Ditton
This is by far our favourite place to paddle in SW London. There are so many little waterways to explore and the scenery is stunning. 2 brilliant launching points are at Ye Olde Swan pub and Albany Thames Ditton (another pub!). Clearly there are very good reasons to finish your paddle here.
If you only want a short route, you can paddle out and around Thames Ditton Island, admiring the beautiful island houses. For a slightly longer paddle you can head to Hampton Court Palace or for those that really want to feel the burn, paddle to Kingston Upon Thames and back – that will certainly work up your appetite for lunch!
Kit: There are paddle boards to hire in the local area but you can also head over the Dittons Paddle Boarding for group activities, 1 on 1 coaching and taster sessions.
Getting there: There are direct trains from London Waterloo to Thames Ditton every 20 minutes or so and the journey is less than 35 mins. From there it is a 5 minute walk to the river
Regents Canal & Hertford Union Canal
This is the route for you if you want to spend the day paddling through the middle of London without feeling like you are in the middle of London! There is so much variation here – you can paddle through the built up areas of Angel and Hackney or you can enjoy the River Lea and the Hackney Marshes.
This is our route recommendation starting near Angel Tube Station and finishing 3.5 miles later at the Crate Brewery, a micro brewery and pizza restaurant (see below). There is plenty of place to stow kayaks and paddle boards and it is well worth the trip! You can then make the trip back the same way that you came, or take the overground train (if you have inflatable SUP’s/kayaks with you that is!).
Kit: Chris’s Kayaks are perfectly placed at Rosemary Gardens for this adventure. He has a great mix of paddle boards and kayaks that can be hired straight for a half day or full day.
Getting there: The 2 closest tube stations are Angel and Haggerston. It is about a 15 minute walk from Angel or a 10 minute walk from Haggerston. Alternatively, you can paddle directly from Angel if you want to. There are also lots of buses in the area. For those that want to take public transport back (especially after enjoying the samples from Crate brewery), you can take the overground from Hackney Wick directly to Haggerston (15 minutes max).
Windsor to Runnymede
Although this is not in London it is incredibly easy to get to and a must do for anyone that has either not been to Windsor before or are just looking to escape the city for the day.
The paddle starts in the beautiful town centre. If you are there first thing in the morning you might even catch the Household Cavaly out exercising their horses or you can see the famous Changing Of The Guard at Windsor Castle at 11.00am every day. You can then hop onto the river and paddle all the way out to Runnymede.
In this area the River Thames tends to be incredibly calm and peaceful. We have done this route a handful of times and it has always delighted. If you want a shorter route you can get off at Datchet and walk back across the river or you can paddle down to the Bells of Quzeley and get the bus back to Windsor. Another option (easier when driving) is to start here, at the Runnymede cafe and paddle in towards Windsor. All of the options!
Kit: If you are travelling from London, grab yourself an inflatable SUP board that comes with a rucksack (this is a real adventure) and take it with you on the train/car out to the starting point. You can also hire and get lessons from Just SUP UK.
Getting there: There are lots of trains that go directly from London to Windsor. You can travel from Clapham, Waterloo or Paddington. Some will have a change so be careful not to miss that! This shouldn’t take much longer than an hour and is well worth it.
Photo below from GoPaddling.
Paddington Basin
Now then, if you’re kind of day involves oat milk cappuccinos, some luxury shopping, a spot of paddle board yoga and a glass of champagne, Paddington Basin is the place for you!
Kit: You can book paddle board yoga sessions directly through Active 360 but if you want to explore the waterways at your own pace, then pick up a board from a local via KitUp, any time!
Getting there: Paddington is one of the best-connected stations in London so it is incredibly easy to get to. From the station, Merchant Square is less than a 5 minute walk past countless bars and restaurants. Its a very trendy place to be and a lot of fun!
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for London Adventure Series Part 2: Two Wheels Are Better Than None. Check us out at any of the following social links 🤙
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