7 of the best places to go stand-up paddleboarding in London

Living in London, you might think that your active life is limited to gyms, jogging, and various sports like football, basketball, and tennis.

Imagine our surprise when we found that there is a sizeable paddleboarding community hiding in the city! We recently went out with Active360, a group based in North London. Traversing the canals, it felt like an idyllic escape from the city merely metres away.

We would love to show you some of these hidden gems. Here are our top picks for a place to SUP in or around London

1. Paddington Basin

Recommended School: Active360

What we love: Easy to get to, flat calm water, miles of canals to explore, including Grand Union Canal and Regent Canal, as well as plenty of bars nearby for an after session drink! The Active360 team are amazingly supportive, friendly, and the sessions fantastically affordable.

Travel: The nearest tube station is Edgeware Road in north-west central London

2. Kew Bridge

Recommended School: Active360

What we love: Depending on the tides, tours from Kew Bridge typically head towards Hammersmith or Richmond, with both offering their own respective delights. A wide range of local business offer discounts to paddleboarders around here, making it an even more appealing option!

Travel: 3 miles from central London. Just hop on the train to Kew Bridge station, and walk on over

3. River Lane, Richmond

Recommended School: Back of Beyond Adventures

What we love: Take a break from the hectic city life and join Back of Beyond exploring the beautiful backwaters around London in stunning Richmond. See the sunset over the water, take the scenic route to a riverside pub or our personal favourite, bring your dog on a SUP-with-your-PUP session.

Travel: You can hop on the train or underground to Richmond Station then bus 65 or a walk to River Lane next to Petersham Meadows

4. The Pontoon, Richmond

Recommended School: Paddle Richmond

What we love: Paddle Richmond now offers various group or private sessions and coaching for beginners as well as more experienced paddlers. You can also book a bespoke SUP party, an eco trip or a corporate event or team building trips along the river in beautiful Richmond.

Travel: A 10 min walk from Richmond train and underground station

5.  Walton-on-Thames

Recommended School:  Blue Chip SUP School

What we love: If you are looking to venture a little bit further south along the river, we recommend visiting Blue Chip SUP. It is based on the beautiful Walton-on-Thames, a leafy and tranquil riverside town just outside central London. Blue Chip SUP offers a wide range of sessions, including group sessions for beginners and improvers, private sup coaching and class passes. 

Travel: It’s only a 30 min train journey from Waterloo station to Walton-on-Thames station, and a 5 min taxi ride to the centre.

6. Brentford Lock

Recommended School: Active360

What we love: Like with Paddington Basin, this spot is based on the canals. It's brilliantly located only a few moments away from the lock where the River Brent joins the Grand Union Canal. It is ideal for families and parties with children as it's a more mellow, quiet location, and offers a serene tour.

Travel: 3 miles from central London with the closest station being Brentford. After that it's a quick 5 min walk to Active360.

7. Thames Ditton

Recommended School: Dittons Paddle Boarding

What we love: This paddleboarding club was founded by adventure seeking London paddlers in 2017 and now have 4 different paddle base locations. The original being Thames Ditton, 30 min train ride from central London, stunningly leafy and a nice break from the city.

Travel: Closest station  is Thames Ditton train station and you can jump on a train from Waterloo which will take around 30 min. 

The stand-up paddleboarding community is quickly growing in London and more and more people starting to get into this activity as an alternative form of workout and fitness as well as exploration and relaxation. Now you can find and book your next adventure experience directly on the eola marketplace. 

If you're still not convinced have a look at our blog about the health benefits of SUP or find more adventures on our list of 10 awesome activities to try this year.

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Happy Paddling!