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Forget the beach-try the sands at Lee Valley White Water Centre
Summer wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the seaside – but now there is no need to sit in hours of traffic jams to find the nearest beach, because Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross has just opened its own beach area.
There’s a chance for visitors to top up their tans whilst enjoying an ice cream on the centre’s new beach and children can also test the 140 tonnes of golden sands with their bucket and spade. The new beach area, at the Pavilion in the Park at the centre, will be open all year round for visitors to have free fun and there is also a special children’s play area being provided.
The new beach is just part of a host of activities available this summer at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, which is putting on special fun events for children.
The Summer Games begin on Monday 25 July from 11:00 to 16:00 and continue until Sunday 4 September. During the school holidays there is a bouncy castle and garden games at the Pavilion in the Park and, specially for this year’s Rio Games, sport activities have been added. Families and friends can enjoy fun and activities including go canoeing, WaterWipeout - an inflatable obstacle course, and tubing - similar to rubber donuts but specially made for the white water rapids.
There is also Go Sup – stand up paddle boarding for the over eights on the lake and rafting the rapids (age 14 and upwards) down the same 300 metre course where Team GB won gold and silver in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Alternatively they can sample Hydrospeeding, which is similar to bodyboarding but on fast flowing white water and Hot Dog sessions, two person inflatables providing a heart pumping introduction to kayaking on the rapids.
The Centre has also laid on special events to mark the Olympic Games. People are invited to herald in the Games at a free Brazilian themed evening at Lee Valley White Water Centre on Friday 5 Aug marking the Opening Ceremony of the Games with live Brazilian music and dance. Visitors can also watch the Opening Ceremony on the big screen in The Terrace Bar & Café. And on Saturday and Sunday 6 and 7 August, Lee Valley White Water Centre is inviting people to have a go at Olympic themed activities and garden games while catching the sporting action from the Rio Games in The Terrace Bar & Café.
Paskell Blackwell, Lee Valley White Water Centre’s General Manager said:
“As well as all the summer activities we have planned we now also have a great beach to play on, without families having to go to the seaside. And as well as all the exciting water sports, we will have lots to entertain children of all ages. So for those wanting a fun day out, Lee Valley White Water Centre is the perfect place this summer.”
The venue is the ideal spot for a celebration, whether to mark a special event or occasion such as birthdays, or stag and hen dos and parties. The centre is also available for corporate or team building events and for hire for functions such as wedding receptions.
As part of a fun packed day, visitors can also relax with a drink or snack in The Terrace Bar & Café with views over the white water course and listen on Friday nights to live music.
When visiting Lee Valley White Water Centre and the open spaces, including River Lee Country Park, people can make a weekend of it by staying at one of the camping and caravan parks in the Lee Valley, including Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobbs Weir, which offers a range of accommodation including Wigwams®, which are stylish timber cabins.
For more information, go to: www.visitleevalley.org.uk/camping
The Lee Valley White Water Centre is at Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN9 1AB.
To find out more and to book the white water activities: www.gowhitewater.co.uk or call 03000 030 616.