SUP Skills & River Safety Class

• Train/Tube: Richmond Train Station is a 10-minute walk away. There are frequent overground trains from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction, as well as Underground trains on the District Line, and Overground trains from North London.
• Bike: You can cycle along the towpath to Richmond Bridge and chain your bike up to the railings.
• Bus: Richmond Bus Station is a 5-minute walk away.
• Parking: The easiest parking is at Friars Lane Car Park, 5 minutes from Richmond Bridge.

This is not a beginner session. Please note that you must have prior paddleboarding experience and be confident on your paddleboard before joining this session.

Those aged 14 and above can join if they’re supervised by a parent or guardian on the water. Again, they must have prior paddleboarding experience and be ready to take it to the next level.

Absolutely! All sessions are supervised by a certified instructor and are timed to occur at ‘half-tide’ for minimal river flow at Richmond, maximising safety.

You’ll get to paddle on the scenic Thames, either heading upstream towards Eel Pie Island and Teddington or downstream towards Isleworth, Kew Gardens, and Chiswick.

From Richmond, you will usually start by paddling downstream towards Richmond Lock, and then upstream towards Glover’s Island, Ham House, Eel Pie Island and Teddington. On most sessions we reach Eel Pie Island before turning back to Richmond, and on High Tide sessions expect to get to Teddington Lock and back in a two-hour session.

We'll cover essential topics like safety, navigation, and trip preparation. We'll paddle around the High Tide area, focusing on paddling techniques, dealing with currents, and understanding river safety.

Sorry, this experience is for people only. However, you can book our special Doggy Paddle sessions at the bottom of the page!

Come dressed in the attire you plan to paddle in, as our changing space is quite basic.

Your bags and valuables can be safely stored in our lockable storage area.

You don’t need specialised attire, but please avoid jeans and cotton, as they become uncomfortably cold when wet. Quick-drying gym clothes or swimwear work well in warm weather (shorts, leggings, T-shirts, fleeces).

Footwear is optional; most people prefer to paddle barefoot, but water shoes, flip-flops, or older trainers are fine if you prefer.

For sunny conditions, pack a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle.

During colder months (November to March), we recommend wearing a wetsuit. These are available upon request, or you can bring your own. Also, pack extra layers, a towel, and a change of clothes in case you end up in the water.

Consider bringing a small dry bag to hold spare clothes, money, essential medications, and your phone in a waterproof case. If you don’t have a dry bag, we sell them on-site. If you’re concerned about losing sunglasses, sunglasses straps are available for purchase for £5.

Our sessions include the use of our paddleboards, paddles, and mandatory buoyancy aids.

The Thames is currently one of the cleanest rivers running through a major city in the world, and is recognised as a massive environmental success story. It currently boasts about 325 wildlife species in its tidal stretches, including; cormorants, herons, seals, and perch, some of which you’ll be sure to see on your trip. You’ll also be sharing the river with lots of people who also use the water, especially rowers, kayakers, motorboats, and the occasional open-water swimmer!

As a precaution for paddling in any inland water, open cuts should be covered with plasters and tape, and you should wash your hands with soap / antibacterial gel before eating any food. Take a shower if you fall in.

We occasionally cancel group trips if we do not have the minimum number of participants to run the session (this is rare between Spring-Autumn). We also very occasionally cancel if we deem conditions on the day to be unsafe (e.g. very strong winds, nearby thunderstorms, fast river flow, etc.), but we are not put off by wet weather. In fact, it’s lovely on the river in the rain! If your session is cancelled by us, you will have an option to reschedule.