Take your company or team for an unforgettable paddleboarding or kayaking experience on the River Thames. Ideal for team building, corporate days out or a department social!

Prices start rom £55.00 per head for a 1.5-hour experience, including basic instruction and a tour of the river. Longer sessions, with pub or drinks stops available, as well as eco-trips where you help keep the river free from plastic waste also available... Or we can arrange some fun paddleboard games and races - you choose! Launch from Richmond Bridge or Teddington Lock.

Who is this for?

Our lessons are open to paddlers of all abilities, from complete beginners, to those who have paddled many times before - we guarantee that everyone will learn something new!

Is it safe on the river?

Yes - we run these sessions at "half-tide" when there is almost no river flow at Richmond, making it very safe on the water, or from Teddington Lock where we are not affected by tidal currents.

Where will we paddle?

Your team will be paddling on one of the most beautiful stretches of the Thames, either upstream from Richmond towards Eel Pie Island and Teddington, or upstream from Teddington round Trowlock Island towards Kingston.

What will we learn?

The paddleboarding and kayaking sessions start with a safety briefing and some land-based training before we head out on the water for the lesson and guided tour of the river. We will introduce your team to the equipment, teach them about safety and navigation on the river, as well as paddle techniques, including how to steer, stop and self-rescue. If people are new to the sport we’ll have them paddling confidently in no time. And for the old hands, we can help with their technique, refresh their river safety knowledge, explore new areas, or just enjoy paddling on the river!

Can we go for longer?

Yes, you can extend the session for 30 minutes or an hour.

And can we stop for a drink?

Yes we can stop for an ice cream, or a drink at a beautiful riverside pub.

Any other options?

Yes, we now have a few sit-on top kayaks available - single or double, so if you prefer to take things sitting down, you can select this as an option. Note this is only currently available from our Richmond base.

Anything else?

Yes! We can arrange yoga sessions, riverside bike rides, rowing trips, group painting lessons or historic walking tours - or even a local hotel for a a complete company awayday. Just give us a call on 020 3488 1785 to discuss your requirements!

You do not need to be a proficient swimmer, but should be comfortable with falling into water while wearing a buoyancy aid.

A certain level of flexibility and ability to get up to standing from kneeling is required for learning to paddleboard.

Before taking part, please make Paddle Richmond staff aware of any significant medical condition/disability that may affect your ability to participate, or to understand instructions. If you have any doubts regarding fitness to participate, please contact Paddle Richmond to discuss your concerns in advance, or seek medical advice from a doctor.

We advise that you do not participate in paddleboarding if you are pregnant. If you do so, it is at your own risk.

You will need to shower / wash thoroughly after the session if you have fallen in or been splashed, and need to ensure that any open cuts are covered. Note that we do not have shower facilities at Richmond.

We do take people with physical and mental disabilities out on the water, however please contact us before booking as you may need a private session to ensure that we are able to provide the right level of support, and that you receive the coach's full attention.

Please ask everyone to arrive wearing the clothes they intend to paddle in as we have very limited space to get changed.

We have a safe lockable storage space for bags and valuables.

No specialist clothing is required, but no jeans or cotton please, as cotton gets very cold when wet. In warm weather, swimwear or ordinary quick drying gym gear will be fine (shorts/leggings/T-shirt/fleece). 

We usually paddle barefoot, but people could wear water shoes, flip flops, or old sandals/trainers if they'd prefer to wear shoes.

If it’s sunny please bring a hat and sun cream, and a bottle of water.

In colder weather (November - March), wearing a wetsuit is advisable. We have wetsuits available if requested in advance, or bring your own. Also, please bring extra layers, a towel and a change of clothes just in case you take a dip during the lesson.

You may also want to bring a small dry bag for spare waterproof/warm clothing, money, any medications you may need and your phone in a waterproof pouch. We have these for sale if you don't have one. If you are worried about losing sunglasses please use a sunglasses strap, or buy one from us for £5.

You will be using our paddleboard and paddle. Buoyancy aids are provided and are compulsory on all our sessions.

The session will start with a safety briefing and some land-based training on the riverbank or our pontoon near Richmond Bridge, or at Teddington Lock. This typically takes 15-20 minutes depending on group size.

We will then head out onto the river, either upstream or downstream depending on the tide.

*The distance actually covered will depend on wind and tide conditions on the day.