Lee Valley Boat Centre Ltd
BEST FOR
Ages 0-16
WHERE
Broxbourne
What it’s like
Hire a little electric boat you drive yourself along the River Lee, or take a pedalo out for an hour, with free buoyancy aids for under-16s.
You're the captain here. You hire a small electric boat by the hour and steer it yourself along the River Lee, which is a lot more fun for a six-year-old than sitting on a passenger trip. Pedalos take up to four people, so two adults and two kids fit on one, and there are canoes as well if your lot are older and want to do the paddling properly.
Buoyancy aids are supplied and fitted free for under-16s and you keep them for the whole hire, which takes one job off your list. Worth knowing that the electric boats and pedalos only run from Easter to the end of September, so this is a fair-weather outing rather than a year-round one. Prices are subject to change, so treat the £24 an hour as a guide and the £20 deposit as the firm bit, since you get it back at the end of the hire.
The catch is payment. Cash or debit card only, no credit cards, and day boats have to be booked ahead while the smaller boats are first come, first served, so you may well end up queuing on a sunny weekend. Pets are welcome on day boats but not on the electric boats or pedalos, which rules out bringing the dog if you're just after an hour on the water.
An hour is about right for young children: long enough to feel like a proper trip, short enough that nobody's bored by the riverbank. Pair it with the outdoor play area if you've got energy left afterwards.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 to 12; older kids can take a canoe out themselves
- Booking
- Day boats must be booked in advance
- Picnics
- No picnic policy stated on site
- Dogs
- Pets allowed on day boats only, not on small boats
- Worth knowing
- Buoyancy aids supplied and fitted free for the duration of hire
- Debit card or cash only, credit cards aren't accepted
- The £20 deposit comes back when you return the boat
- Electric boats and pedalos are Easter to end of September only
- Small boats are first come, first served, so expect a queue on a sunny weekend
- Dogs are fine on day boats but not on the electric boats or pedalos
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£24 for an hour's boat hire, with a £20 deposit that's returned when you bring the boat back. Prices can change, so treat that as the going rate rather than a fixed one.
Do we need to book?
Day boats have to be booked in advance. The smaller electric boats and pedalos are first come, first served, so on a busy day you'll be waiting your turn.
Can I pay by card?
Cash or debit card only. Leave the credit card at home, it won't work here.
What can we hire?
Electric boats by the hour that you drive yourself, pedalos that seat up to four, canoes, and day boats. There are cycles too if you'd rather stay on land.
When are the boats available?
Electric boats and pedalos run from Easter to the end of September. Outside that window you're looking at the day boats.
Do the kids need life jackets?
Buoyancy aids are supplied and fitted free for under-16s, and you keep them for the duration of the hire. No need to bring your own.
Can we bring the dog?
On day boats, yes. Dogs and other pets aren't allowed on the small boats, so no electric boats or pedalos with a dog in tow.
How long should we allow?
An hour on the water suits most families with younger children. Longer than that and the novelty wears off for a four-year-old.
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