WATER
ISLEWORTH AIT – KAYAKING ALONG THE THAMES
PADDLEBOARDING THE GRAND UNION
PADDLEBOARDING FROM KEW TO RICHMOND AND BACK
STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING ROUTES FROM TWICKENHAM
WATER
Nothing eases a stressed mind more than splashing around on a dusky summer’s evening or gently paddling around on narrowboats and cruisers. Being on the river is a different experience: we become part of nature again, able to observe and absorb the habits of wildlife as we punt or chug along Regent’s Canal or the Lea Valley. Many of London’s parks and secluded spaces are connected in some way to water. This is a green city but also a water-abundant one. Birds watch, heads cocked, gliding along the calm water following the boats. Keep your eyes peeled for nesting coots, and the distinctive clicking of the red-beaked moorhens.
London is interlinked with canals and rivers, promising perfect conditions for novice watersports enthusiasts. Paddleboarding and kayaking are the most exposed you can be on the water, without actually being in it. The chilled river water laps over your toes as you push, steadily bobbing, waiting for the wake of a passing boat to subside. It’s a novel way to explore the city, and one, with just a little forward planning, you can easily enjoy.
ISLEWORTH AIT – KAYAKING ALONG THE THAMES
There are more than 80 islands in the River Thames, and Isleworth Ait is one of them. Located at the mouth of the River Crane, off Old Isleworth, it is accessible only by boat and with prior permission from the London Wildlife Trust. Although an undisturbed sanctuary for birds, insects and animals, there’s no harm in kayaking around it and peering in at the overgrown crack willow, hawthorn bushes and bright marsh marigolds which come alive with the buzz of bees and dragonflies in midsummer. The rare German hairy snail and the two-lipped snail call the island home, prey to the kingfishers and herons that also live there. Bear in mind that access is very limited and preserving the wildlife is paramount. If you want to land, there are occasional public open days throughout the year which you can find on the London Wildlife Trust site.
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London Borough of Hounslow, London TW7 6XH
Activity: Kayaking – kayaks available from www.kayakinglondon.com
Distance: 2 miles
Getting there: 
Richmond (District); 
Richmond
CANOEING THE LIMEHOUSE LOOP
With about 100km of waterways across London, there are plenty of places to get involved in the rhythmic paddle of kayaks gliding past old houseboats and coots’ nests. One of the best is Limehouse Basin, a starting-point for a four-hour trip, in a two-seater canoe, around the surrounding canals. The canal loops in a square back to Limehouse Basin, where there are plenty of pubs and cafés to put your newly strengthened biceps into play. Rent your kayaks from Moo Canoes in Limehouse, which will kit you out with a life vest before you start your trip along Limehouse Cut towards Bromley-by-Bow. Drift through east London, past new housing developments, the canalside section of Victoria Park, and admire the view of the magnificent Olympic Stadium. If you want your food to reflect your time spent in the water, drag your boat out at the Forman’s Smokery, a salmon smokehouse with big glass window vistas of the canal.
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Limehouse Basin, 30 Pinnacle Way, London E14 7JZ
Activity: Canoeing – canoes available from Moo Canoes www.moocanoes.com
Duration: 4 hours
Getting there: Limehouse DLR
PADDLEBOARDING THE GRAND UNION
Paddleboarding at Paddington Basin shows a totally different side to west London. The canal is far less choppy than the Thames, the water shallower and there are plenty of tourists to wave at as you flail and try not to fall in. London’s canals all link up the Grand Union, running seamlessly into Regent’s Canal. If you want to stay on the Grand Union a good two-hour route would be to paddle down to Little Venice, a wealthy area of London crammed with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century houses and blooming flower beds. Keep your eyes peeled for Rembrandt Gardens: to mark the 700th anniversary of the city of Amsterdam in 1975, this stretch of green – previously known as Warwick Avenue Garden – took receipt of 5,000 tulips and 500 hyacinths and planted them in ornamental flower beds. Paddleboarding sessions run all week but are subject to cancellation in bad weather.
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Merchant Square, Paddington, London W2 1JZ
Activity: Paddleboarding – rent boards from Active360 www.active360.org
Duration: 1–2 hours
Getting there: Paddington (Bakerloo/Circle/District); Paddington
REGENT’S CANAL TO HACKNEY
This is a fascinating part of London to drift down, packed with narrowboat dwellers, cats sunning themselves on boats and tourists ambling along the side of Regent’s Canal. If you don’t have your own kayak or inflatable boat, then there are several outfits that rent kayaks and canoes out to adventurous spirits. Starting at Paddington Basin and paddling east towards Camden Lock will give you a completely fresh perspective on London as you watch narrowboats sink and rise as they wait their turn to pass through the locks. The water is cleaner than ever before. A concerted effort is being made by the council to do frequent litter picks, and you’ll spot coots, moorhens and heron living happily by the water as you paddle towards Victoria Park. If you don’t have your own kayak, book a trip with London Kayak Tours and choose the lush green route running alongside London Zoo and Regent’s Park. This route only goes as far as Camden and has an entry point at Prince Albert Road. Sessions last for 90 minutes.
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Activity: Kayaking/canoeing – tours available from www.londonkayaktours.co.uk/sales
Duration: 1.5 hours
Getting there: St John’s Wood (Bakerloo)
PADDLEBOARDING FROM KEW TO RICHMOND AND BACK
Paddleboarding down the Thames from the green-fringed banks of Kew towards Richmond is a beautiful route. Paddlers head towards Lot’s Ait, a pretty island in the centre of the Thames, and then along the river’s left bank to glimpse the stately Kew Palace. Further along, ring-necked parakeets screech from the tree tops, puffing up their green plumage as they hop from branch to branch. On a quiet day you may see sparrowhawks circling the river, preparing a swallow dive into the trees to catch smaller fowl. You’ll likely pass sculling boats, their blades glancing off the water in rhythmic obedience, flying over the crest of the Thames’ chop. They leave you far behind though, and you can plough on, enjoying the cool water lapping over your toes as you paddle towards Richmond. At the end of the route, paddleboarding outfits provide a return service, so you don’t have to schlep all the way back upstream.
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Distance: 3.2 miles
Activity: Paddleboarding – paddleboards are available from Active 360 www.active360.org, just under Kew Bridge
Duration: 2 hours
Getting there/back: Kew Bridge
LEE VALLEY WHITE WATER CENTRE
White water rafting can be whites-of-your-eyes level scary, but the fun sessions held at Lee Valley White Water Centre will ease you into navigating the rapids. Different levels of experience are catered for, from family sessions to getting wetsuited-and-booted with friends before barrelling down the Olympic-standard competition course. If you want to try things out without the big group, then you can rent a ‘hot dog’ – a kind off inflatable two-seater canoe which will roll you down the rapids closer to the action. The 300m Olympic Standard Competition Course has a drop of 5.5m from the start of the course to the end and promises to get your stomach churning throughout.
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Station Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire EN9 1AB
Activity: White water kayaking – www.gowhitewater.co.uk
Duration: Varies
Opening times: 8am–6pm/8pm
Getting there: Waltham Cross
STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING ROUTES FROM TWICKENHAM
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) on the Thames isn’t all waves and wash – thanks to the curves and eyots in the river, there are calmer sections which are perfect for beginners to explore the Thames, while more proficient SUPers can take a board all the way down towards Hammersmith. The SUP routes from Twickenham though are glorious – and the least ‘urban’ routes available to paddle in London. Passing beautiful Marble Hill Park, famous Eel Pie Island (once home to rock music festivals and an alternative living commune), and the nature reserve of Ham Lands, it’s easy to feel like you’re deep in the countryside. Best of all, there are frequent train stations, so when you finish your dusk post-work paddle, you’ll never be too far away from transport to zip you straight back into town and home.
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Activity: Stand Up Paddleboarding
Duration: Varies
Getting there: Twickenham
HAMPSTEAD HEATH PONDS
Hampstead Heath Ponds is the general term for a series of former reservoirs found in Hampstead and Highgate, fed by the clear, fresh waters from the River Fleet, the largest of London’s subterranean rivers. They are places to de-stress before plunging back into city life, feeling invigorated. Here, people float among fellow swimmers: there’s no racing or triathlon training. There are no barriers, no lanes, and no artificial constructs – just water, birds, mud, leaves and people who want to sink into nature. Kingfishers come to drink by the side of the pond and herons stand guard, keeping their beady eyes peeled for fish. New swimmers may be surprised by just how quickly they take to the cold water – even at the height of summer the pools’ temperature rarely increases past 22 degrees. Kenwood Ladies Pond is more shaded than the men’s or mixed ponds; while wonderful for privacy, this also means the water cools down quickly as soon as the sun begins to set. Swimmers must wear swimming costumes, and hand insulation gloves are recommended during cooler months.
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Opening times: Depends on season; prices apply – check website
Getting there: Highgate Tube (Northern), Hampstead (Northern); Hampstead
THE RIVER WEY
Just a few miles outside of Guildford is the Wey Navigation. Mud and sand ooze between toes on the river bed, which makes it perfect for a soft, gentle immersion into the cold water. A refreshing change from the chlorine-filled pool, rivers feel alive to swim in as cautious fish make themselves known, glancing past knees and elbows.
The River Wey has been swum in for ever – there are subtle entry points laid out along the water. One of the easiest places to clamber in is where the river gently slopes about a mile upstream of the old railway bridge. Look out for a few wooden stumps worn down by hands using them to haul themselves out of the water. Having a non-swimming companion to carry clothes and valuables is perfect for this stretch of the river, as instead of a quick dip, swimmers can extend their activity south towards Guildford, where half a mile downstream there’s a wider sandy beach perfect for clambering out.
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Getting there: Train to Guildford (Mainline from London); River Wey Footpath
BROCKWELL LIDO
London has a surprising number of outside pools. Plunging into cold water solves many problems, whether you overdid it the night before or you’re feeling achy after exercise. Cold water causes an adrenaline spike, cancelling out head fuzziness and leaving you fit and fighting for the day ahead. Get to Brockwell Lido at day break when slivers of golden sun are glancing off the surface of the water and you’ll feel like the early-morning start was well worth it. Brockwell Lido is 50m long and wide enough to comfortably accommodate what feels like half of London in August. The water’s unheated and there’s no children’s pool, but that doesn’t stop kids wearing squeaky rubber armbands launching themselves into the water.
Wetsuited people can take up some of the pool doing triathlon training, but there’s usually enough room for everybody. Thaw off at the brilliant Lido Café, set in a Grade II-listed art deco building; it does a mean latte and hearty breakfast. For members of Fusion (who operate the Lido), there’s a spa complex attached to the pool with sauna, steam room and a hot jacuzzi to rest chilly bones after a dip.
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Dulwich Rd, London SE24 0PA
Opening times: Weekends, 7:30am–9:30pm;
Monday to Friday, 6:30am–10pm; £3.20 adults
Getting there: ; Brixton; Herne Hill (train)
www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/brockwell-lido
FRENSHAM GREAT POND
On a hot day, tramping across the vast expanse of beautiful Frensham Common in Surrey, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were experiencing a mirage. The Great Pond is a dream come true for families, wild swimmers and sweaty hikers, especially those in the middle of the 13-mile Devil’s Punchbowl route. Originally created to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester’s court, it’s now popular with swimmers: part of the lake has been roped off to create a designated space for swimmers and the sandy shelf into the water is perfect for kids and families alike. The pond’s water is fed by the River Wey and, although swimmers are advised not to swim further than the roped-off area (1.5m deep and 50m wide), it’s too shallow for wild swimmers. On a quiet day, you may see people ducking out under the rope to thrash out some solid swims, although the council advises against this. There’s a handy car park and small café on site to help you stay refreshed during a day at the beach. The area is a designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest, the Pond acting as a natural habitat for rare birds and to the silver-studded blue butterfly and a variety of dragonflies which dive in and out of the water and reed beds as you swim. Frensham Little Pond is run by the National Trust.
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Situated between Farnham and Hindhead on the A287
Opening times: All day
Getting there: Haslemere, then no. 19 Stagecoach stops opposite the ponds
SERPENTINE LIDO
The Serpentine, a manmade pond in the middle of Hyde Park, feels like a far cry from the beach, but come summer, this is a pretty splendid place to cool off right in the centre of town. Famous for the Christmas Day dips when swimmers have to crack the ice with their fists to get into the water, the Serpentine only really opens its doors to members of the public from May onwards at weekends and then daily over the summer. The water fluctuates from a cool-to-properly cold spectrum, but it’s such a brilliant location that plunging in after a day spent in a stuffy August office is magical. Open-water swimming is available in a 30 x 100m area and there’s also a shallower pool for kids to splash around in. Wetsuits are permitted in the Serpentine, so you’ll find your usual clutch of triathlon trainers smashing out the lengths, alongside more cautious swimmers relaxing with friends
and family.
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Opening times: May (weekends/Bank Holidays); 10am–6pm daily (June to August); £4.80 adults; £1.80 child; family ticket £12.00 (concessions apply)
Getting there: Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly), Queensway (Central)
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park/things-to-see-and-do/sports-and-leisure/serpentine-lido
