West Reservoir Centre

The West Reservoir Centre sits on the edge of north London, offering proper outdoor sports facilities if you're after something active during a park holiday. It's a working water facility - you can't swim in it - but the place is set up for windsurfing, sailing, and kayaking on the actual reservoir itself. The water's been used for these sports for years, and they've got decent equipment hire and instruction if you're a beginner.

If you're camping at Lee Valley or Lovat Parks, this is worth knowing about, especially on a windy day. Windsurfers come here regularly, and the sailing school runs throughout the year. The walk around the reservoir itself is decent too - flat, straightforward, takes about forty minutes to loop it properly. Families with older kids who fancy trying something new will get more from it than those with toddlers.

Don't expect a beach resort atmosphere. It's functional, a bit industrial looking in places, but genuinely good for what it does. Go early on weekends if you want to hire equipment - peak times get busy. If you're just visiting the area, it's worth a morning or afternoon slot rather than a full day. The nearest amenities are back towards Waltham Abbey, so don't expect a café right there. Check their website before you go for specific opening times and current pricing - it varies by activity.