The Leam Boat Centre

Royal Leamington Spa is famous for the restorative powers of its waters.

The Leam Boat Centre offers you the chance to feel that power through a variety of paddlesports and other boating experiences. We’re based in Mill Gardens, where there’s been a watersports venue since 1901. We’ve been working here for over 20 years, getting people into boats and onto the beautiful River Leam.

We specialise in Paddleboarding, Kayaking and Canoeing - known as the paddlesports because they involve paddling - which are excellent for exploring our stretch of river. Opposite our launch site are the Jephson Gardens, while upstream, the Welches Meadow and Leam Valley Nature Reserves are beautiful areas to paddle through.

We have plenty of introduction and training sessions for these sports and we also run trips to places from Warwick to Anglesey to take part in white water kayaking and coastal paddlesports. We also offer our equipment for hire, as well as Boat Hire - including pedalo hire - and we have a specialist watersports shop.

All of our staff, whether on the water or behind the cash register are experienced and passionate paddlers. They want you to have the best time possible, whatever your vessel of choice. We are also proud to be a British Canoeing registered centre, so you can trust us to deliver a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience.

Have a look at our catalogue and start planning your visit!

The Leam Boat Centre is your gateway to Kayaking in Royal Leamington Spa and around the country. We’re based right at the water’s edge in Mill Gardens and can launch directly onto the River Leam and start paddling. Not far away is Warwick Castle, followed by Saxon Mill, or we can head for the nature reserves of the Leam Valley.

As well as the sessions, lessons and tours that we put on in Leamington Spa, we lead kayaking excursions to fantastic destinations in the UK, from the River Dart - for white water kayaking - to Skomer on the Norfolk coast - for sea kayaking. We also offer training programmes and outdoor leadership courses for those who want to take paddlesports seriously.

And that’s just part of our operation. If we’re not in kayaks, you might find us in canoes, rowing boats or pedalos, on stand-up paddleboards, or in our watersports shop. We’ll welcome you with a smile and do what we can to make your aquatic journey an enjoyable one!

Availability of our activities change with the seasons, so take a look at the calendars or send us a message. We’ll be more than happy to help you.

Royal Leamington Spa might be in the centre of England, but the Leam Boat Centre is here to make sure that you don’t miss out on fun on the water. We offer Boat Trips of all kinds to our customers, whether they’re celebrating a birthday or special occasion, throwing a stag, hen or staff party, or simply looking for something different to do with family and friends.

We have boats of different shapes and sizes. There are traditional, Wind in the Willows style rowing boats, pedalos with imaginative designs and even some long dragon boats which require whole teams of people to propel. Many of these are available for hire on the river for an hour or two or a full day.

At our riverside base, we also have plenty of kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards. These are available for hire too, but we also invite you to join our lessons (if you’re a beginner) and tours get the most out of the activity. There are stunning spots to discover within a short distance of our centre in the Mill Gardens, opposite Jephson Gardens.

Pay us a visit and we’ll pair you up with the perfect boat for a trip down the River Leam.

Don’t let the name fool you, the Leam Boat Centre is about more than just boats, we also love Paddleboarding. This sport, also known as SUP (for stand-up paddleboarding), is related to our more traditional watersports of canoeing and kayaking, but the difference is that it lets you explore rivers, lakes and the sea on foot.

We are lucky to have the River Leam on our doorstep - literally! This wonderful waterway runs through Royal Leamington Spa between tree-lined banks and riverside gardens. Our paddleboarding experiences - including lessons, training courses and hire - take advantage of our position in the Mill Gardens. From here we can see Jephson Gardens and reach beauty spots like the Welches Meadow and Warwick Castle with ease.

We are the perfect venue for anyone who wants to try paddleboarding, who’s a bit nervous about trying it, or who’s already a pro. Our passionate instructors will help you get the most out of the sport, whatever your level of experience or ability. Look out for our special excursions! We lead trips to rivers and coastal locations in different parts of the UK.

Choose your SUP experience today!

The Leam Boat Centre brings Canoeing to a town near you - Royal Leamington Spa! When we think of canoes, our mind usually conjures up images of the great forests of Canada or the Islands of the Pacific, but you don’t need to travel halfway around the world to have a go for yourself.

People love to hire our canoes from our base in Mill Gardens on the south bank of the River Leam. From here, you can reach nature reserves and historic landmarks in a matter of minutes. That’s not to say that we’re not interested in travelling. In fact, we use our canoes for long-distance journeys in exotic parts of the world, for example the South of France where we led a Duke of Edinburgh’s award expedition.

Back at base, we’re always busy in and around the water. It’s not just canoes that we offer for hire, you’re also welcome to take a trip in one of our kayaks, canoes, rowing boats or pedalos if you’re after a boat trip, or try one of our paddleboards for something a bit different. We also have a watersports shop where we stock equipment for all kinds of aquatic activities.

Think canoeing, think Leam Boat Centre!