6 Places You Have to Paddleboard & Kayak in the UK

We must say, some of these might surprise you. This isn't your standard "head to the Lake District and paddle across a lake" list. We wanted to go a little deeper and dig up some proper hidden gems, spots you probably haven't thought about when picking your next place to explore from the water. If you love sitting low in a kayak, or you'd rather stand and glide on a paddleboard, these are 6 of our favourite places in the UK to see the coastline, rivers, and canals from where they belong: out on the water.

You can do every one of these at your own pace with your own kit, but we've also included recommendations for hiring a board or boat if you don't have one. A few of our recommended centers also offer guided tours and beginner lesson. Either way, here's where we'd send you, solo or with a group, for a proper day out on the water.

1. Paddleboarding and Kayaking in Central London

Didn't think we'd put this one on the list, did you? There's a surprising amount of watersports adventure sitting right in the heart of the capital, you just need to know where to look.

• Regent's Canal (City Road Basin): Paddle past narrowboats moored up along the water and canalside cafes close enough to smell the coffee as you paddle past.
• Richmond Park & Thames Valley: Offers a completely different feel, with deer grazing right down to the water's edge along the Thames Valley.
• River Thames Towpath: Miles of quieter stretches further out, where the city noise just seems to fall away.

Local Tip: If you're bringing your own kit to paddle on London's canals, ensure you have a valid licence from the Canal & River Trust.

Recommended Hire & Guided Tours:

If you need to hire a board or boat, or fancy a guided tour around any of these spots, here's who we recommend.

Islington Boat Club - Regent's Canal kayak & SUP rentals
Back of Beyond Adventures - Guided river paddleboarding
Paddle Richmond - Thames paddleboard trips & lessons.

2. Paddleboarding in Dorset on The Jurassic Coast

A few hours' drive from London and you're met with the stunning county of Dorset, full of wild, quietly relaxing spots to explore its shoreline and rivers. An ideal place for Paddleboarding in South West England. 

• Swanage: Chalk cliffs drop straight into the sea and hidden coves sit tucked beneath Durlston's headland, the kind of scenery that'll genuinely take your breath away.
• Poole Harbour & Sandbanks: Head towards the gateway to the Jurassic Coast and you'll find Poole, home to one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Tucked inside it, the sheltered bay near Sandbanks is perfect if you want to take a board out somewhere properly protected from the open ocean, flat water and golden sand right on your doorstep.

Recommended Hire & Guided Tours:

Here's where we recommend renting or booking a tour if you're in the area.

Watersports Academy, Poole
Land & Wave, Swanage

3. Kayaking in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Think dramatic cliffs and hidden coves carved into sea caves, that's Pembrokeshire, ideal for Kayaking in Wales. It's the kind of coastline that makes you slow right down, breathe in the sea air and take in the coastal towns and rock formations lining the shore.

• Wildlife Spotting: Paddle along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path from the water and there's a genuine chance of a grey seal popping its head up beside your kayak to see what you're doing. Pembrokeshire is one of those places we keep coming back to, time and time again. It never disappoints, with so much diversity and so many hidden gems still left to explore.
• Tenby & Surrounds: Offers diverse launching spots, sheltered beaches and island routes.

Recommended Hire & Guided Tours:

TYF Adventure: Guided kayak tours, equipmenet hire & coasteering.

4. Kayaking the River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire delivers a peaceful river paddling experience along the River Great Ouse, one of the most scenic waterways in South East England.

Scenery: The river winds past Bedford's Victorian Embankment, passes under historic stone bridges, and glides through open countryside with leaning willow trees.

Wildlife: Keep your eyes open and you'll likely spot kingfishers flashing electric blue along the banks and herons standing dead still in the shallows, waiting for their next catch. It's one of those places that once you've paddled it, you'll wonder why you'd never been before.

Convenience: Being just an hour from London, it's a properly convenient escape into tranquil South East England.

Recommended Hire & Guided Tours: 

Canoe Trail: Canoe & Kayak rentals, guided day trips, and multi-day camping trips. 

5. Kayaking and Paddleboarding in North Devon

Coming down to the south west, you'll find the beautiful stretch of North Devon. Why do we recommend kayaking and paddleboarding here?

• Woolacombe and Mortehoe:This coastline is properly dramatic, all rugged cliffs, sea caves and clear water that's just as good for coasteering as it is for kayaking.
• Woolacombe Bay: Consistently rated one of the best beaches in Europe, three miles of golden sand backed by dunes, with Baggy Point rising up at one end for a proper sense of scale from the water. If you haven't checked out this spot yet, put it on your bucket list.

Recommended Hire & Guided Tours:

H2Outdoor (Woolacombe) - Kayaking, paddleboarding, coasteering and surfing experiences. A genuinely brilliant spot for all things watersports. While you're there, it's well worth checking out the surfing scene too.

6. Kayaking the Dart Estuary in South Devon

And last, but far from least, head over to the other coastline of Devon, the only county lucky enough to have two, and you'll land in the charming town of Dartmouth, set on the tidal estuary of the River Dart.

• The Route: Dartmouth is all colourful houses tumbling down to the water, medieval streets and a working harbour sitting on the tidal estuary of the River Dart, with wooded hillsides rising steep on either side.
• Dartmouth Castle: Paddle out towards the mouth of the estuary and Dartmouth Castle comes into view, still standing guard over the water exactly where it's stood for centuries.
• Night Paddling: The Dart Estuary is famous for nocturnal kayak tours, where you can navigate under the stars and witness bioluminescent phosphorescence glowing in the water. It's perfect for a romantic evening or a properly unique group adventure. Boat hire is also available.

Recommended Hire & Guided Tours:

Sea Kayak Devon (Dartmouth) - Sea kayak hire, estuary tours, and guided night paddles.

Best Kayaking and Paddleboarding Locations in the UK

The UK is far from short on wonderful places to explore its land and water, from lakes and rivers to the open sea. We've picked out a few unusual, lesser-known spots here, but you'll find other firm favourites too, like the Lake District, the Norfolk Broads and Scotland's Loch Lomond. Looking for more inspiration on where to explore next? Check out our free UK activity directory to discover the best watersports spots near you, and book your next adventure when you're ready.