While stand up paddling dates back thousands of years, the modern sport of StandUp Paddleboarding (SUP) is still relatively recent, with its popularity outside of Hawaii only catching on from the early noughties. Now the SUP is proposed as a new discipline for 2028 by the International Olympic Committee, so we could see its popularity rise even further. It’s quick to learn the basics and provides a low intensity workout for all ages so there’s never been a better time to give it a go. Whether you need to start as a beginner or are looking for new venues to SUP, here are the places to try it out in Essex.

Where to go paddleboarding in Essex

Where To Go Paddleboarding in Essex

What is Stand Up Paddleboarding?

Stand Up Paddleboarding is a water sport where you stand on a flat board similar to a surfboard. You use a long paddle to move through the water and change direction. It is very accessible for beginners as you can start by paddling on your knees until you find your balance and confidence. Children and beginners are often given wider boards which are more stable so this helps too. While most venues require people to be able to swim you don't have to be a really strong swimmer as all beginners will be expected to wear life jackets and you are attached to the board with a leg strap. 

Mersea Island Water Sports

Located on Mersea Island, this sheltered water sports centre is an ideal place to learn SUP or to rent a paddleboard to explore the surrounding creeks and islands for the more experienced boarder. They offer school holiday sessions right from reception age upwards, group sessions from age 9 and even SUP Pilates for the adults. The newly refurbished centre has changing facilities, a place to leave belongings and hot showers available.

Located on Mersea Island, nearby car parks include Coast Road or Boatyard and start at £4 for two hours, on-street parking is also available.

School holidays sessions start at £15pp, group sessions start at £30pp.

Check out Mersea Island Water Sports here.

SUPsect, near Chelmsford

Stand-up Paddleboard South Essex Club and Tuition (SUPsect) offers two hour beginner lessons at Paper Mill Lock near Chelmsford. Private family lessons are suitable from age 8 with other sessions aimed at those over 13. For those already experienced and with their own equipment, SUPsect arranges a SUP club free of charge every Wednesday evening through the summer months (under 16s allowed by prior arrangement) from various launches around Essex. Facilities are minimal but Paper Mill Lock tea rooms are located next door for refreshments.

Beginner courses run from Paper Mill Lock, Little Baddow. Parking costs £5 for the day.

Two hour lessons start at £60pp.

Check out SUPsect here

Essex Stand Up Paddle Boarding School, Southend-On-Sea

This school offers family introduction lessons set in the shallow and flatter waters of Shoeburyness, making them ideal for children from age 8 up to the older generation. They also offer a ten man board team building experience that families can take part in, as well as board hire for those with experience (must be over 16 unless accompanied by an adult). There are lockers on site and a public toilet.

Lessons take part on Shoeburyness East Beach, parking is £1 an hour. Open through the summer months.

Family lessons start at £25pp, the ten man board is £60 and two hour board hire is £20.

Check out Essex SUP here 

Curve Water Sports, Near Clacton-on-Sea

Located on Mill Dam Lake, St Osyth, Curve Water Sports offer an hour of board hire with a lesson on dry land first for just £16pp. Minimum age is 8 but they offer other activities too such as an inflatable splash park from the age of 2 and SUP yoga so there’s something for everyone. They’ll even help you host a birthday party with help from the on-site cafe.  

Activities are held in St Osyth, near Clacton-on-Sea. Free onsite car parking.

Board hire with lesson starts from £16pp.

Check out Curve Water Sports here. 

Essex Outdoors Harlow

Set on the River Stort, this specialist climbing and paddle-sport centre offers miles of waterways to explore on a stand-up paddleboard alongside over ten other activities. This centre offers SUP from age 8 as part of their school holiday activity days, SUP taster sessions on Tuesday evenings and Short Break Activity Days for children on the Short Breaks neurodevelopment pathway. The centre has accessible toilets, showers, lockers and changing rooms plus a cafe.

Free parking available at nearby The Moorhen pub or it's a ten minute walk from Harlow Town train station.

Two hour Tuesday sessions from £13 (age 8-17), £16 per adult. School holiday full activity days (age 8-16) are £40 with discounts available for multi-day bookings.

Check out Essex Outdoors here.

Lee Valley White Water Centre, Broxbourne

Famously used in the 2012 Olympics, this centre just outside of Essex offers a wealth of water sports for all abilities. Their hour-long Explore Paddleboarding lessons are suitable for everyone age 8 and over, and they also offer a SUP birthday party package for ten or more children. The paddleboarding takes places on a calm lake area separate to the white water routes. There are two venues for food and drinks from which you can watch the activities take place and free lockers on site.

Parking is free for 8 hours when booked onto an activity, but make sure you register on the screens when you arrive. Alternatively it is a ten minute walk from Waltham Cross train station.

One hour lessons are £16 per person.

Check out Lee Valley White Water Centre here.

ESSA Water Activities Centre, Waltham Abbey

This centre located in Waltham Abbey offers SUP for children 8 and over throughout the summer holidays and on select dates after. With ‘Pay and Play' one-hour sessions every Saturday from 10am-4pm and a two-hour 'Saturday morning SUP' session from 10am-12pm. During the week, they offer a 'Multi-Activity Camp' for ages 8-16, which consists of three different paddling activities each day, currently including SUPs on Mondays and Thursdays and megaSUP on select other days. 

On-site car parking is free.

Pay and play sessions are £11pp. Saturday morning SUP is £17pp. Multi-Activity Camp is £34pp.

Check out ESSA here. 

Other potential SUP venues in Essex we are confirming details for:

Walton & Frinton Yacht Club, Mill Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8PF

To paddle from here you need to be a full member. They run courses, but these are for adults only.

Frangipani SUP, Maldon

Established in 2013, Frangipani SUP is a fully recognised British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) School. Their ‘Ready to Ride’ sessions allow participants to earn their level 1, Ready to Ride BSUPA certificate. They are available in both Maldon and Boreham, but only currently to adults . The Maldon site has toilets and the Boreham has a changing cabin, a port-a-loo and usually has drinks and cakes available for purchase after the session.

Mersea Boating Lake, Rewsalls Lane, CO5 8SX

1 hour sessions are available for those 14 plus and hire for experienced people. They also have children's squad which offers regular sessions for 8 to 18 year olds. You can book here.

Essex Outdoors - Mersea

Situated on the island of Mersea, this is Essex Outdoors’ largest centre. SUP is generally only available to school groups, but there are also activity days in the holidays which include paddleboarding on certain days (check before booking). Activity days are suitable for 8 to 16 year olds and cost £40 a day.

Wet N Dry SUP, Wet 'n' Dry Boardsports, Lower Barn Farm, Rayleigh, SS6 9ET

Courses available to book, but minimum age not clear.

Saltwater SUP & Hadleigh Country Park, Chalkwell Beach, Southend-On-Sea

Courses and single sessions available for adults.

Redbridge Lakes, 1 Salix Lane, Woodford Green, IG8 8LY

Ripple Effect Microadventure run SUP courses and sessions at Redbridge Lakes. 

CURRENTLY CLOSED Wot-SUP Paddle school

Located on a private lake in Fambridge, Wot-SUP Paddle School offers lessons from the age of 8. Lessons on the 7 acres of water are held with a maximum of 8 learners to two instructors with all equipment provided.