London is Getting its First Surfing Lake, and it Looks Epic!
Surfboards at the ready: London is set to make waves — literally. Plans for the capital’s very first inland surfing lake have just been approved, and it’s coming to Pickett’s Lock in the Lea Valley.
The £50m Surf London project will transform 100 acres of greenbelt land — part of the Lee Valley Golf Course and Camping and Caravan Park — into a sprawling hub of sport, leisure, and play. At its heart will be a cutting-edge artificial surfing lagoon, promising year-round waves for everyone from beginners to pros.
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But it won’t just be about surfing. The new park will also feature skateboarding areas, playparks, open green space, and health and wellbeing facilities, all designed to be free-to-access for the community. For those keen to hit the waves, Enfield residents will benefit from discounted surf rates.
Crest Experiences, the company behind the project, estimates it will create up to 200 jobs annually, while injecting tens of millions into the local economy. “It will be a place to play, relax, and explore,” said CEO Hazel Geary, describing the site as a community park with world-class surf at its centre.
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The plans weren’t without scrutiny: councillors debated the need for 150 extra parking spaces, given there’s already a 975-space car park nearby. But Geary argued the new spaces would support accessibility needs and prevent parking spillover into residential streets — something residents themselves had requested.
The Lee Valley is no stranger to water sports. It already boasts an Olympic-grade white-water rafting centre, which hosted canoe slalom at London 2012. With this new surfing lake, it’s set to cement its status as one of the UK’s most exciting adventure playgrounds.
Enfield Council’s planning committee gave the scheme unanimous approval, but because the site lies on protected green belt land, the final sign-off now rests with the Greater London Authority.
If all goes to plan, Londoners will soon be trading Tube rides for surf rides — and the city’s first ever inland waves could be rolling in within just a few years.
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