Lee Valley White Water Centre
Built to host the London 2012 canoe slalom events, Lee Valley White Water Centre became the first and only new venue to open to the public pre-Games in April 2011, giving people a unique opportunity to sample the venue before the Olympics. That year it attracted 155,000 visitors, generating an income of GBP 2 million.
The centre, in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, was built to host the London 2012 canoe slalom events and was designed with legacy in mind – it features a 300m Olympic standard competition course and a 160m Legacy Loop, plus a lake the size of two football pitches – perfect for professional athletes and beginners alike.
Just six weeks after the Games, it became the first London 2012 venue to reopen to the public – offering a range of activities, including white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, hydrospeeding and inflatable obstacle courses.
Since then, it has attracted more than 3.4 million visitors, hosted several elite level events, including two ICF Canoe Slalom World Cups in 2014 and 2019, and the 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, which it will host this again in 2023. It has expanded its visitor offer to include a menu of events and activities for families, schools, clubs and community groups.
Still revered as one of the best canoe slalom courses in the world, the venue is also home to British Canoeing’s High Performance Centre and is the training facility for the British Canoe Slalom squad and all UK Sport funded Podium athletes.