Where can I find Regents Canoe Club?
Regents Canoe Club is based at Regents canal, 16-34 Graham Street, London N1 8JX. We share the facilities of Islington Boat Club.
This is roughly ten minutes walk from Angel tube station (Islington) or Old Street tube station (both on the Northern Line).
From Angel head south east on City Road, towards the City.
From Old Street head north west along City Road, towards Islington.
Graham street is about 1/2 mile from both stations. The club is 500m along Graham street on the right.
Regents Canoe Club is only open on Monday evenings between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and on Thursday evenings between 7.00pm and 9.00pm.
How can I join the club?
Can I leave my bicycle at the club?
Bicycles can be left at the club during club opening hours, but must be locked.
Can I park at the club?
During club opening hours cars can be parked outside on Graham Street after 6.30pm. Although some of the local resident’s parking bays are open to all motorists from 6.30pm, we have been asked not to use them if other spaces are available. In order to maintain the good relationships we have with residents – please try to avoid parking in resident’s places
Do you have facilities for people with disabilities?
Access to Regents Canoe Club is across flat ground with no steps or ramps.
The club has one accessible toilet, but no accessible shower. If the toilet has not been unlocked the club Duty Officer will have the key.
If you have a disability and would like to visit the club, but need more information, please contact us at [email protected].
Can children use the facilities at the club?
To visit or join Regents Canoe Club you must be over 18 years old. Children and teenagers wishing to kayak can contact Islington Boat Club who are based at the same address as Regents. The nearby Pirate Castle also caters for children, as does Westminster Boating Base in west London.
Do I need to be able to swim?
Yes. You must be able to swim 50m in light clothing.
How old do I have to be to join the club?
You must be over 18 years old to paddle at Regents Canoe Club
Can I bring a group of friends to paddle at the club?
Groups of non-members can attend courses or open evenings advertised on the website, but please bear in mind that these courses and evenings are intended to introduce non-members to the club and are run by volunteers. They are not designed as an entertainment activity for groups.
Does the club provide private lessons?
No. The club does not have the facilities to provide private tuition.
What sort of boats do you have?
Regents Canoe Club has a wide selection of canoes and kayaks. These include many river running kayaks, with a smaller selection of play boats, slalom boats and open boats (traditional canoes, also known as ‘Canadians’). We do not have any sea kayaks.
Can I store a boat at the club?
The club has very limited boat storage facilities, with no room to store extra boats.
How often does the club arrange river trips?
The majority of our members currently paddle white water rivers, which generally require rain or dam release to provide enough flow. During the winter season (October to March) the club usually organises at least one trip every month. Members often paddle at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, and we usually arrange several trips to the centre each year.
During the summer, club members usually organise several trips to the Tryweryn, a dam release river in North Wales. The club also organises a week long trip to the Alps or a similar European destination each Spring.
Members frequently organise their own trips and advertise them to other members via a regular email newsletter called ‘Notes from Canalside’. Different trips cater for both the experienced and less experienced paddler.
The website calendar shows upcoming club trips.
Does the club play canoe polo?
The club is not currently active in canoe polo.
Is the club active in canoe slalom?
The club is not currently active in canoe slalom.
What training does the club offer to members?
The club provides occasional training opportunities, which are run by volunteer members. Check the website calendar to see what we currently have on offer. At club pool sessions we usually have two volunteer instructors present, who will do their best to assist other members improve their paddling.
The club can also arrange professional training where there is sufficient interest from members. Costs will usually be passed onto those members taking part.
For more information see the Training page
How experienced do I need to be to join club trips?
You do not need any previous experience to join the club and paddle on the canal.
However, the majority of club trips are to white water rivers, where some previous experience or instruction is essential. The club runs one or two Introduction to White Water Kayaking courses each year, and this is an ideal route into white water paddling. Other members use the club’s facilities and the pool sessions to improve their skills, before graduating onto white water.
The club usually runs several autumn trips to gentler white water rivers to prepare less experienced paddlers for the white water trips which we run over winter.
When can non-members visit the club?
Non-members can only visit the club on New Members evenings.
