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Whether it be a fun taster session, team building activity or to gain a National Governing Body qualification, we can create a bespoke session for you.
We have no capacity to operate waiting lists.
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Release dates schedule
All available slots during a month will be released and advertised here between the 1st and the 10th of each month in this schedule:
- March dates will be released in December
- April dates will be released in January
- May dates will be released in February
- June dates will be released in March
- July dates will be released in April
- August dates will be released in May
- September and October dates will be released in June to aid with Autumn term planning
- November dates will be released in September
3 months lead in on dates is realistic for Wimbledon Park Watersports Centre to be able to know staff availability and based upon previous booking behaviours will give all groups sufficient time to confirm the date and numbers for their sessions.
Everybody will be able to see all dates available for any given month at the same time, we are not able to operate a waiting list, or reserve dates in advance.
About these watersports sessions
- Watersports experience with an instructor
- A gentle and fun way of learning the basics of paddling for all abilities in a range of crafts appropriate to the weather conditions
- Can include Kiwis, Kayaks, Canadian canoes, sit on tops (Stand Up paddleboards, smaller groups only, limited availability)
Week day slots
9.15am-5.15pm
- Maximum 8 participants for 90 minutes cost £120 (Wimbledon Park chooses the activity with the group and gets out the equipment during the session)
- Week day slots will remain available to book until either another group books them, or until 3 weeks before the advertised date.
Evening slots
5.30pm-7.00pm (earlier time slots in March, September and October based on daylight)
- Minimum 16 participants for 90 minutes cost £240 (Wimbledon Park choose the activity and equipment will be out ready for the start of your lesson)
- Evening slots will remain available to book until either another group books them, or until 3 weeks before the advertised date.
Increasing numbers or duration
Once you have booked and paid for the minimum session you have until 1 month before your booked session date to fill in and return a booking variation form; this will allow you to
- Increase the group size from 16 to a maximum of 24 and/or increase the duration to a maximum of a 3 hour slot
- 16 for 2 hours - an additional price of £80.00
- 16 for 2.5 hours - an additional price of £160.00 (this might mean moving the start time forward depending on daylight hours).
- 16 for 3 hours - an additional price of £240.00 (this will mean moving the start time forward to no later than 5pm to allow for an 8pm last finish time, daylight permitting).
- 24 for 90 minutes- an additional payment of £120.00
- 24 for 2 hours- an additional payment of £240
- 24 for 2.5 hours - an additional payment of £360.00 (this might mean moving the start time forward depending on daylight hours).
- 24 for 3 hours an additional payment of £480 (this will mean moving the start time forward to no later than 5pm to allow for an 8pm last finish time, daylight permitting).
Choosing your own activity
Would you like to choose the paddlesports activity for your session? Complete booking variation form.
The default choice for sessions is 'let WP staff decide', and means the equipment will be out ready for the start of your session when you arrive. If, instead, you would like to choose the paddlesports activity on the evening of your session - with advice from the WP staff - the session time will include the getting out of equipment with the group participants (the whole group will need to be using the same type of craft).
No equipment will be out before the start time.
Smaller Groups
If on a given evening date, the original booked session remains a group of 16 only with no adjustments to its group size, we may also offer smaller groups of up to 8 participants on those evenings. However, there is no guarantee that we will be able to offer any of these smaller group sessions. If they do become available, they will only be released to book 4 weeks before.
Saturday slots
10.00am - 12.30pm or 1.15pm - 3.45pm
- Minimum 16 participants for 2.5 hours cost £400
- Group will do 2 activities, including funboat sailing weather permitting.
- Two slots available only
- 10am - 12.30pm or 1.15pm - 3.45pm
- Weekend slots will remain available to book until either another group books them, or until 6 weeks before the advertised date
Increasing numbers
Once you have booked and paid for the minimum session you have until 6 weeks before your booked date to fill in and return a booking variation form; this will allow you to
Increase the group size from 16 to a maximum of 32
- Weekend 2.5 hour slot for 24 participants price an additional payment of £200
- Weekend 2.5 hour slot for 32 participants price an additional payment of £400
Groups are able to book both am and pm slots and expand both up to 32 participants meaning that on a day they could get a maximum of 64 participants on the water.
Prerequisites
- All participants on the water must have reached their 8th birthday
What to bring and further information
- Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your scheduled session time, registration will take place outside of the centre.
- Please check the weather before booking and attending
- At least two changes of clothes (including underwear and shoes) suitable for the weather conditions (no jeans), include a waterproof jacket and hat
- Old trainers needed for the water (something secure, not crocs, flip flops or wellington boots)
- Towel and sun protection
- All participants need to arrive ready changed in suitable clothes for the weather conditions, having already visited the toilet and washed their hands. The toilets in the Watersports Centre building will only be available for participants at the end of their sessions.
- If you are attending for a full day, bring a packed lunch and plenty of drinks and snacks (under 18s are not allowed offsite during the course to buy lunch).
- Separate male and female changing rooms are available for all participants at the end of the session
- We do not provide wetsuits, feel free to wear your own (most activities do not involve being in the water, so it is not mandatory, unless you're doing windsurfing).
- Only the participant (and guardian(s) for those under 18) can enter the Watersports Centre operational area, all spectators are welcome to watch from the public benches.
- The centre reserves the right to alter the activity based on weather or safety concerns on the day.
- It is the participants responsibility if they have been in contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case to self-isolate as recommended by the government, current guidance.
- We have undertaken new protocols to mitigate the risks of Covid-19 at the Centre, but all participants (and guardians or bookers for those under 18) must take responsibility for the decision to take on the risk of attending.
Where to go
Wimbledon Park Watersports Centre
Home Park Road
Wimbledon
SW19 7HX
We recommend using public transport to get here.
Driving
Sat nav post code SW18 5NW takes you to McCluskey's newsagents, on the corner of Revelstoke Road and Elsenham Street, just outside the park.
There is a small pay-and-display car park by Revelstoke Road, but it is often full.
Free car parking is also available at the Wimbledon Park Road entrance (sat nav SW19 6PE). It is a slightly longer walk across the grass to the Watersports Centre.
For more details email watersports.wimbledonpark@merton.gov.uk
During the Wimbledon Tennis Championships there is no vehicle access to Wimbledon Park for dropping off and collecting. These parking restrictions may be enforced before the start and after the end date of the championships. Please check the All England Lawn Tennis website for specific traffic restrictions.