Lee Valley White Water Centre Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Beth Cowan
Heading to Lee Valley White Water centre is the perfect heatwave activity! We went in 30 degree heat and it felt like a holiday resort!!
The centre isn’t super close to many stations so if you aren’t driving be sure to factor walking time into your journey. You do get free parking if you are doing an activity or if you spend over £5 at the cafe. The whole area is gorgeous and there’s lots of paths and greenery to explore and sit. You could definitely spend a whole day here!
We opted for Hot Dog kayaking, which is the two person kayak. They also have larger White Water Rafts, Single Kayaks, inflatable obstacle courses and much more! The price points all vary, but Hot Dog Kayaking is £130 per boat, if you are doing £130 split between 2- I think it’s a pretty reasonable price for the 2hr session. You spend about 55 minutes actually on the rapids, and the other hour gearing up, going over safety training and learning how to use the kayaks.
The changing areas were clean and there are lockers free to use. The changing area is open, no cubicles for privacy in the regular gendered rooms. Not sure if there are private areas somewhere else, but something to be aware of if you are uncomfortable getting changed in front of others, perhaps use the toilet?
You will need to bring a swimsuit and towel with you and don’t forget suncream, even though you’ll have a wetsuit on your face is still out in the sun! They provide everything else, life jacket, helmet, shoes etc. You have half an hour to get into your wetsuit and shoes before the session begins- that might seem like a long time but don’t underestimate how long it takes to get a wetsuit on… that should be a sport in itself!!
We were absolutely hopeless in the water, definitely not our strong suit! But the instructors were so kind and supportive, always with a positive attitude and a calm demeanour. You will always have instructors watching over you, so if you capsize or panic- you are completely safe. Just make sure you listen to safety briefings and follow their advice- Everyone was super lovely and helpful!
I would definitely recommend this for people with active lifestyles/good fitness and those who love an adrenaline rush! The rapids are no joke! I think I anticipated a Log flume the situation… but this was BRUTAL in the best way! It felt like an action movie!!
Be aware of the safety restrictions and weight limit. 18 stone is the max for our activity, and if you carry a lot weight around your hips area, the kayak will be quite snug around you. It doesn’t have a big effect on performance but just to note for comfortability.
After that workout, it was time to relax…We loved the cafe/terrace area- it was very well decorated, reminding us of a holiday abroad, and served fab food with some lovely looking homemade treats! We got a cheese toastie and a sausage roll with Fresh Lemonade and Orange Juice, perfect for a summer afternoon.
If you want to see the rapids in action- I have also posted a video review over on TikTok- https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdfA3FKL/
Rating: 4/5
For more information on pricing, activities or to book, visit https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/white-water-centre