Wing Foiling in London?
Queen Mary Reservoir is the ideal wing foiling location for anyone living in and around London.
Close to the M3 and M25 so its easy to access by car, alternatively go by bike or train (Ashford & Upper Halliford Stations).
Standing on top of the reservoir bank, look out at the vast expanse of water and realise this space is larger than most coastal spots you ride unless you’re ‘doing a downwinder’.
“Squint and you’ll think you’re on the beach” – me selling the idea to a friend.
For a Land Locked or worse still a Land Locked London rider, Queen Mary Reservoir is going to maximise your time on the water, cut down on the beach commute, save you fuel and save your hobby by bringing the beach closer to your door. ‘Winging From Home’ will soon become the norm.
If you’re a beginner or want to progress quickly then this spot is ideal, the spit up the middle of the reservoir allows you to walk back upwind with ease on the predominant SW wind direction.
Flat water is ideal for learning because you can concentrate on whatever it is you’re doing without worrying about being blind sided by a bit of chop or a wave.
The only downside for more advanced riders is the lack of ground swell and therefore waves in reservoirs – as you’d expect! The upside is that you can dial in gybing and pumping in a controlled environment.
If you tend to over think and worry about freshwater buoyancy vs salt, don’t worry.. sea water is only 3% more dense than fresh water, you won’t notice it/ need a different board. The big benefit of fresh water is that it washes your kit as you ride, keeping your beloved wings ‘still crispy’ for longer.
On your first visit after receiving the safety briefing with insurance, membership/pass all sorted:
Safety cover is in place whenever the water is open.
Use the changing rooms, club house with cafe, wi-fi and take in the views of the reservoir.
To access these fantastic services, an annual membership or a day pass is required (See the QM website for more information on joining and latest membership rates). Currently the monthly membership fee is not too far off the cost of a return trip driving to the South Coast from Greater London.
In order to ride at Queen Mary Reservoir you will need:
Important Note: See section on opening hours below!
You can store your gear in large or medium size storage racks, individually caged and padlocked (you supply the padlock) – monthly rental required. Medium racks fit wing foiling gear just fine.
There’s a growing, friendly wing foil community at QM, despite being inland it works very well – and very often. Check out their facebook page by clicking the icon on the right of this page.
Wing foiling is the perfect pairing with inland spots and their inherently gustier conditions, make sure to give it a try.
Suitable for the following levels:
Learn to wing foiling in London. Lessons are available on site with https://www.simonwinkley.com
The spot benefits from its own wind guru station so you can check conditions before you leave home.
Wind Guru Station: https://beta.windguru.cz/station/230
Winter Opening Hours
In Winter QM opens on Mondays and/or Tuesday if, on the Sunday afternoon before, www.windguru.czpredicts an average (this is the ‘Wind speed’ not the ‘Wind Gusts’) of 15 knots or more for each respective day and subject to staff availability. Open announcements will be made on the Sunday before on the QM website, on the QM facebook page, and on Twitter @QMWind.
Times for Windy Mondays and Tuesdays are:
Open 10am, Off water 1500, Gates Closed 1530
Poor light conditions/inclement weather – note that off-water times may be revised in the event of poor light conditions or inclement weather. Windy Mondays and Tuesdays may not be offered if conditions are looking unfavourable.
Summer Opening Hours
Windy Evenings’ will be possible on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. They will be triggered when, at midday on the day before, www.windguru.cz predicts 15 knots or more for 1900.
1 Reviews
Friendly club with excellent facilities. Very popular with wing foilers and wind surfers. Large area of water, sometimes gusty but not really an issue once on the foil. Works in most wind directions.
Open Now~09:00 AM - 09:30 PM
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