Discover a new side of the capital by SUP with Anu Aladin’s debut book, Paddle London

While many paddlers know London through headline racing events such as the APP World Tour (previously held in Canary Wharf) or the historic Battle of the Thames, large parts of the city have long felt out of reach – shaped by complex waterways regulations and the challenges of the tidal Thames.

That is beginning to change, thanks in part to Anu Aladin, 56, originally from Helsinki and now based in Richmond, London. A well-known figure in the UK SUP community and creator of My SUP Stories – her digital diary of paddling adventures with London at its core – she has built a reputation not only as a paddler, but as someone revealing a very different side of the capital.

In her newly published book ‘Paddle London: The Best Places to Go with a Paddleboard, Kayak or Canoe (Bloomsbury)’, Anu opens up a new perspective on the city – mapping routes, access points, and hidden waterways that transform London into an unexpected SUP playground.

We caught up with Anu to explore the inspiration behind the book — and how paddlers can begin to experience London in a completely new way.

What first got you into stand-up paddleboarding, and what inspired you to pursue the instructor and guide path?

I first saw stand-up paddleboarding on a trip to Hawaii in 2010. A middle-aged paddler walked across the beach with what looked like a giant surfboard and a stick, then glided off into the sunset. I didn’t even know what the sport was called, but I was mesmerised.
The following year I took a lesson in Cornwall with Sean White at what was then WeSUP in Falmouth. I spent a lot of the session in the sea because my legs were shaking so much, but the moment I stood up was unforgettable. It felt like freedom.

At the time I was working in a stressful corporate environment and SUP became a reset button. Back in Helsinki there were no hire places, so I bought a board knowing nothing, choosing it purely by colour. A beautiful green BOGA hard board, completely unsuitable for me, but I loved it. I paddled whenever I could.

Moving to southwest London opened another chapter. I found Active360 at Kew Bridge and suddenly this slightly muddy but iconic urban river became my playground. I couldn’t believe this was possible in London. We did SUP marathons, fireworks paddles, even paddles with dogs. It wasn’t the London life I expected.

I never set out to become an instructor or guide. I just wanted to learn more and one thing led to another. In 2014 I took an ASI instructor course at Thames Sailing Club with Will Anido, started helping with groups through Paul Hyman and it grew organically from there.

Later I helped build Paddleboarding London in Camden, then St Katharine Docks and Hackney. Paddling across all those different parts of London made me realise paddleboarding can be as much about exploring cities as escaping them. That experience, plus years of leisure paddling in and around the capital, became the foundation for writing Paddle London.

You’ve really opened up a new dimension of London for many paddlers – what first drew you to explore the city’s waterways as a SUP playground?

I absolutely love urban paddling. It’s the contrasts that drew me in. Old and new, nature and city, bustle and tranquillity. You can launch in a busy spot and minutes later feel in another world. I love that sense of discovery, especially in a city like London that’s always changing.

It began through my work with Active360 and Paddleboarding London. I wanted to create location handbooks for staff. It started as practical information, routes, hazards and logistics, but gradually grew to include points of interest, bits of history and the stories behind the places we paddled through. I thought it was fascinating.

On sessions, people were often amazed by what they found on London’s waterways. You can leave the Camden Market crowds, slip through the calm by Primrose Hill, reach Regent’s Park in half an hour and spot wildlife, even animals at London Zoo. That mix of urban adventure and unexpected nature felt magical to me.

I was always scouting new routes too, studying maps, doing recces and talking to other paddlers. I don’t have a car, so exploring by SUP became my way of discovering London’s neighbourhoods. I picked a random blue line on a map, hopped on a train, paddled somewhere new, stopping at a market, café or pub along the way. Little London adventures like that.

And the more I explored, the more fascinated I became by how the waterways all connect back to the River Thames. Once I started seeing London through its waterways, it opened up a completely new perspective.

Was there a particular moment or route that made you think, “This needs to be a book”?

There wasn’t one big lightbulb moment or a single route where I thought, this has to be a book. It was more a gradual realisation that, through years of exploring, I’d accidentally built up a lot of knowledge about paddling in and around London and that it might be useful to others.

I kept noticing how paddlers, even within the SUP community, were often surprised to hear I paddle in London at all. There’s still a perception that paddleboarding belongs by the coast or in the countryside. I’d discovered this whole urban SUP world hiding in plain sight. I wanted to share that.

I also realised London paddling can feel intimidating or complicated: different navigation authorities, permits, tidal and non-tidal waters, where you can and can’t launch. For newcomers, that can feel like a barrier. Coming from Finland, where there’s a strong freedom-to-roam tradition, I found England’s access rules confusing at first, so a guide that demystifies that felt helpful.

Another part was showing how accessible these adventures can be. I don’t have a car, so I explore almost entirely by public transport. Mostly by train, tube and bus, with the occasional Uber. That became part of the concept: routes people can actually get to. Paddle adventures from a city. I’ve included some more rural routes too, plus practical information like parking where relevant.

Ultimately, I wanted to open people’s eyes to London as a paddling destination and make it feel approachable, whether it helps London paddlers discover new routes or inspires visitors to paddle next time and connect with local clubs along the way.

Can you tell us the story behind working with Bloomsbury – how did that opportunity come your way?

After stepping away from working with Paddleboarding London, I started writing about paddling through My SUP Stories.

A few years earlier I’d hosted Jo Moseley on Regent’s Canal while she was researching her first book and we stayed in touch. Some time later, Bloomsbury Publishing approached Jo asking if she knew someone with knowledge of paddling in London, as they were exploring whether there was scope for a book. She put my name forward. I was so excited.

That led to conversations with Bloomsbury and an invitation to develop a proposal. I put one together, they liked the concept and commissioned the book. Sarah Thornely also recommended me, which meant a lot. We’d known each other through the Blue Chip SUPer Club for years.

So really, the opportunity came through relationships built on the water. Very fitting.

Anu at the Paddle London book launch, celebrating with fellow paddlers

A lot of people in the SUP community had no idea these spots even existed or that it was SUP-able outside of events. The Thames isn’t exactly a “jump in and go” kind of waterway – what do paddlers need to know before heading out for the first time?

Hopefully this book will change that. One thing I wanted to do was show these waterways are paddleable while helping paddlers navigate the practicalities. The book is split into three sections: the River Thames (15 routes), canals (18 routes) and other waterways (7 routes), each with guidance specific to those environments.

I’d say the key thing is that the Thames isn’t one single paddling environment. The non-tidal and tidal stretches each have their own character. Above Teddington, the non-tidal river is surprisingly green and rural. It’s about understanding conditions, stream warnings, locks and weirs, with guidance from the Environment Agency.

Below Teddington, there are more factors in play, like fast-flowing tides, commercial traffic and the rules of the river. You’re right, it’s not really “jump in and go” water. It’s the busiest inland waterway in the UK, so understanding how the river operates is essential, with that guidance set out in the Port of London Authority’s Tideway Code.

Then there are the canals, historic working waterways now forming green corridors through the city, plus docks, reservoirs and smaller rivers, all with their own quirks.

I’ve tried to make all of that approachable through route specific “Need to Know” boxes covering hazards, launches and local considerations. And honestly, one of the best ways to discover these waters is with locals, which is why I’ve listed clubs and providers throughout the book.

What permissions or licenses are required to paddle on London’s waterways and how does that differ across different sections of the Thames?

Access really depends on the waterway and its navigation authority. Most routes in the book are covered by the Paddle UK annual membership, though a few central ones are on private waters accessed through local providers. Individual licences can also be obtained where needed.

On the non-tidal River Thames, the Environment Agency is the navigation authority, while the tidal Thames falls under the Port of London Authority. No waterways licence is required on the tidal section, but other restrictions apply through the PLA’s Tideway Code.

Most of the canals in the book are managed by the Canal & River Trust, while some of the routes further afield fall under authorities such as the Basingstoke Canal Authority and the National Trust, where licences can also be bought if you don’t have Paddle UK’s On the Water membership.

I’ve tried to make all of that clear route by route in the book, because permissions can feel confusing until you know who manages what.

Olympic Park Loop

Your journey from a corporate career into paddlesports is a big shift – what pushed you to make that change, and how did SUP reshape your day-to-day life?

I was completely burnt out by the corporate world. The constant cycle of financial quarters and targets, with everything driven by measurement: sales, performance, productivity, always the next metric.

What drew me to SUP was that it felt like the opposite. It got me outdoors, rain or shine, moving through a landscape and fully present in the moment. As a recreational paddler, I love that there are no scores to chase or targets to hit, just the joy and freedom of movement. It became a real counterbalance.

I never planned to work in paddlesports. It happened organically. I still have a part-time day job and I value the mix. Structure from office life, creativity from SUP and writing. They support each other and that balance works well for me.

And now the book is finished, I’m already wondering what the next venture could be. It hasn’t revealed itself yet.

Regents Canal, London

Did creating this guide change your own relationship with London’s waterways?

Absolutely. Creating Paddle London has deepened my connection to London’s blue spaces. I notice more, care more and want to understand more, not just about paddling, but the history and ecology of these waterways. What fascinated me while researching was how connected they all are and how they’re tied into the systems that keep the city functioning, from where our drinking water comes from to the hidden infrastructure under the city. They’re part of everyday life in ways we rarely think about.

The process has made me even more curious. I still keep exploring on my SUP, get involved with different organisations and meet new paddlers through clubs and social media. There always seems to be another stretch to discover. And of course, London keeps changing. There are familiar historic sights I return to again and again, but always something new to notice. That evolving cityscape keeps paddling here endlessly interesting.

At the end of the book, I’ve even included some off-the-water favourites for fellow nerds like me, from the Behind the Scenes tour at Tower Bridge to a visit to Crossness Pumping Station. The Victorians really knew how to add flair to public works.

Feng Shang Princess Regents Canal

What’s the one message you hope readers take away from this guide?

I’d love people to realise adventure is much closer than they might think. You don’t have to leave the city to have a paddling adventure. London opens up in a completely different way from the water.

The River Thames, canals, reservoirs and docks all have such different personalities, from history, nature and wildlife to unexpected quiet in the middle of the city. At paddle pace you notice more. Part of the fun is discovering good coffee stops, waterside pubs and little food finds along the way.

If the book encourages people to explore a few new waterways or even helps a few fall in love with urban paddling, I’d be very happy.

‘Paddle London: The Best Places to Go with a Paddleboard, Kayak or Canoe’ is now available at Bloomsbury 

Follow Anu Aladin and My SUP Stories on Instagram

*Images courtesy of Anu Aladin