If you’ve never been in a canoe or kayak before this is your chance! If you’ve had a go before and want to try it again, then this is for you too!
We will be running family canoe sessions and adult (age 16+) kayak sessions on the Thames. We provide boats, paddles, buoyancy aids and qualified coaches to guide you as you explore the Thames all for just £5 per boat.
Your session will last around 1 hour and 15 minutes in total: first we will ask you to complete a short form, fit you in a buoyancy aid and boat and brief you on safety and paddling technique. Then you will be out on the water for about 45 minutes. Please do make sure you arrive on time or you will likely lose your slot. Arrive early if you need to change.
• Kayaks are for one person aged 16 or over. Meet times 10:45 or 14:30.
• A family canoe is typically for 2 adults and 1 or 2 children. At least one person must be over 18. The second person should be over 16. Children will be under 16 and old enough to follow instructions. If you are not sure if a canoe is suitable for your group or have any other questions, feel free to contact us on kitofficer@edgepaddling.com. Meet times 12:00 and 13:15
Whether you’ve paddleboarded before, or are an absolute begginner, Thames Tidefest is a great pleace to get on the water and SUP !
We are offerring two Stand Up Paddleboard experiences this year.
Paddle & Pick Litter Clean Up: The River Thames is on the mend after decades of toxic overflow, neglect and mismanagement. Birdlife and marine life are returning to the river, with regular sightings of seals and even dolphins. However, the sustainability of the Thames is under threat from growing plastic pollution entering the river and threatening birdlife and contaminating marine life.
Join us for a river clean up as part of our first Kew Bridge open day of 2024!
We will start with a lesson for anyone who needs one before heading out around the local islands where we will be stopping along the way to pick litter from the foreshore, trees and the water. For more details and to book CLICK HERE
PADDLE TO THE PUB: We will be paddling out with the last of the Ebb (Low) tide up towards Barnes stopping at the Ship Pub in Mortlake next to the Old Stag Brewery. We will stop for a refreshment break whilst waiting for the tide to turn. We will then glide back with the start of the Flood (High) tide.
This stand up paddleboard session is suitable for beginners and adults of all abilities and ages. The River Thames is a tidal river and so the conditions may not be suitable for participants under the age of 16.Please contact us directly if you would like to book a child onto your session. You will need to be able to swim and be confident in the water. Certain level of flexibility and ability to get up to standing from kneeling is required for learning to paddleboard.
This session will start and finish at our base inside Kew Bridge. For further information and to book CLICK HERE
We are delighted to announce that Tidefest 2024 will take place on Sunday September 8th at Strand on the Green, Chiswick. We are hoping all the usual activities will be on offer but will confirm the programme over the next couple of months.
For the second year running quality roach rather than bream provided the winning catches in the annual 40 peg contest fished on the tidal Thames at Kew, Chiswick and Barnes.
The winner was Tony Rice with a float caught mixed bag of 14lbs from Barnes netting him a cool £400. The Chiswick zone was won by last years champion Mark Brush with 12lbs of roach including a magnificent specimen of 2.04. The big bream shoals failed to show at Kew resulting in much lower than usual weights although a couple of surprise sea trout were landed.
Zones
Kew A – Martin Smith 6.08
Kew B – Tom Bolton 5.00
Chiswick – C – Mark Brush 12.00
Barnes – D – Tony Rice 14.00
Other activities included kayaking, paddle boarding, river dipping and Seine netting which turned up big numbers of small bass as well flounders and coarse fish.
The match was organised by the Angling Trust and Tidefest is sponsored by Thames Water
One of the brilliant things about Thames Tidefest is the atmosphere that is generated around Kew Bridge and Strand On The Green during the event. It’s absolutely joyful ! Plus you don’t have to spend a penny to enjoy the event as there are loads of free attractions and stalls.
River Dipping
Find out for yourself some of the amazing creatures that live in the river with our fantastic river dipping sessions run by Thames 21This is always a hugely popular activity is suitable for both adults and families with children. These will be walk up sessions from 11am till 4.00pm. No need to book and boots are supplied. Just come on down and get dipping !
What’s In The River ?
If you don’t fancy grabbing a net yourself then…..The Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) will be giving demonstrations of seine netting and displays of their catches from the slipway adjacent to Kew Bridge and Strand on the Green from around 11.30am onwards. A small stand with fish tanks and educational material will be in the Thames 21 marquee from 11am to 5pm Come along and find out what is living in the Thames Tideway.
Watch the boats go by !
There’s always something happening on the water and Tidefest is a great time to head to the shore and see some of the amazing craft that use the Thames as a highway
Fishing Competition
Angling Competition Weigh-in from 3.30pmCome and see the amazing range of fish that live in the tidal Thames. 40 top anglers will be competing in this year’s Thames Tidefest Angling Championship. You can watch them catch all sorts of amazing fish. Fishing takes place : Four hours from 9am – 1pm (depending on tide height)
The weigh in is from 1pm and the prize giving at Strand on the Green at 2.30pm
Thames Artefacts
The River Thames contains a living history of human life in the area over the many previous thousand years including the last Ice Age. It acts as self- excavating trench exposing where our ancesters have lived, what they ate and wore, as well as tracing the changes through the prehistoric periods to modern day. Evidence of this can often be seen on the modern foreshore, which is twice a day exposed to view. Come and see some of the range of the finds uncovered with Thames archaeologist, Dr Fiona Haughey. Artefacts dating from the last ice age, through prehistory, the brief Roman period as well as times up to the present period (artefacts of the future!) will be on display. Come and hold a piece of history in your hand!!!
Paddlesports have always been an integral part of the Thames Tidefest experience.Active 360 will be running their amazing Paddleboarding experiences once again !Paddle board experts Active 360 be offering some amazing trips for all the family – details below.
Costs and Timings:
10.00 – 11.30 – Paddle and Pick (14yrs+) – A 90 minute paddle and litter pick around the local islands Brentford and Lots Ait. We provide all equipment including litter pickers.
12.00 – 14.30 – Thames Natural History tour (14yrs+) – A guided SUP trip learning about the history and ecology of the Thames and its fascinating wildlife. We provide coaching and guiding and all equipment required.
12.00 – 14.30 – Group SUP session (16yrs+) – An open group lesson with the tide both ways heading down to Barnes and back. Suitable for all levels.
12.30 – 13.45 – Family Taster SUP trip (11yrs+) – A shorter group trip with the tide both ways heading up past Olivers Island. Suitable for groups and individuals of all abilities.
15.45 – 17.45 – Group SUP session (16yrs+) – An open group lesson with the tide both ways heading up to London apprentice Old Isleworth and back on the flood tide and returning on the ebb passing the last remaining water meadows on the Tidal Thames.
There is something both exhilarating and incredibly peaceful about paddling quietly in a solo kayak or with family and friends in an open canoe on the beautiful river Thames as Chiswick.
As part of Thames Tidefest 2022 on September 4th 2022 we have teamed up with Edge Paddling who are based at Kew Bridge to offer you the chance to try a taster session at an incredibly low price starting at just £5 (plus booking fee).
If you’ve never been in a canoe or Kayak before this is your chance ! If you’ve had a go before and long to try it again, then this is for you too !
Sessions will go on throughout the day from 11.00am till 3.00pm
There are four solo kayaks available for each session and two family canoes per session. (A family canoe can hold a maximum of two adults and two small children or one larger teenager and MUST contain at least one adult)
Kayaks – 1 person per kayak, all participants must be 16years +
If you fancy a go just book tickets below and be sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit wet and sensible shoes. All equipment, including buoyancy aids will be supplied.
Qualified coaches will lead the groups and coaches reserve the right to assess the suitability of groups on the day.
Family Canoe costs £10 per session (plus booking fee)
Thames Tidefest will be held on September 4th 2022 and brings a host of free and low cost fun for all the family to enjoy on and around the Thames at Chiswick in London.
There’s lots to do for the family that’s absolutely free, including River dipping, Circus skills and stalls, plus lots to see such as the sailing race, fishing match and the RNLI lifeboat. Full details HERE
The Chelsea Kayak Club is London’s friendly sea kayaking club. They are based at Brentford Boating Arch at Kew Bridge so they are a perfect partner for Thames Tidefest !
On September 4th 2022 they will be running 1hr 30 minute Sea Kayaking taster session for just £10 per person on the beautiful River Thames. If you fancy a go then this is the perfect opportunity and also a great way to find out if you might be interested in joining the club and getting involved with all their activities. BOOK NOW as their are limited places (see below)
Each session includes some tuition followed by a paddle in a single sea kayaks.
OVER 18’s ONLY
We suggest wearing sports clothing and shoes that can get wet. 8 places available per session. Session timings:
*. 10.15 – 12noon
· 12noon – 1.30pm
· 1.45-3.15pm
· 3.30-5pm
Participants should be over 18 years of age, be able to swim 50 metres and come changed ready to paddle.
