Frequently Asked Questions

Do The Wave Group still manage Bristol?
No, The Wave in Bristol is now owned and managed by a separate company called Sea Level Wave Company

How do I access my bundles and membership surfs from when The Wave Group owned The Wave Bristol?
The new company are managing the surfer accounts of all customers of The Wave Bristol. Customer questions should be sent to hello@wavebristol.com

Will I be able to have a membership in the future for Bristol and London?
No, the two companies will be completely independent.

Where is the site
The Wave London is a 54-acre development within a 100-acre site in The Lee Valley Leisure Complex, located in the Borough of Enfield in North London https://maps.app.goo.gl/1QYCutb6nbGEcGbZ6.

Who owns the site

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority own the freehold of the site.

What is the site currently being used for

The site is currently home to Lee Valley Golf Course, and also includes Ponders End Lake and Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Edmonton.

The wider complex is also home to Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Odeon Luxe Lee Valley and a wedding and events venue and these venues would continue to operate as normal.

What are you looking to deliver here

We are looking to create the first inland surfing destination in London – it will be an oasis of sport, health & wellbeing and relaxation.

We will create a new surfing lake and want to open up this amazing green space to many more people – and also bring the positive power of water and waves to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

As well as surfing, there will be other options for those who want to be active, including places for those who want peace and tranquillity, food and drink options, and facilities for children and families.

There’s a lot of potential for different areas of activity alongside surfing and relaxation, such as natural play-spaces, camping and sports activities.

The Wave London will deliver new jobs and opportunities for local people.

Will the facilities be available for the local community to use?

Absolutely, our vision is to create an oasis of sport, leisure, health & wellbeing that will be a major asset to local residents and visitors for years to come. Many areas of the site will be free for visitors to enter and use.

In our new masterplan we have created a new parkland which will be available for the public to use almost when the site is open.

This parkland will contain adventure play, event and picnicking space and a canal corridor to explore the natural environment.

For certain events we may close the site to visitors but we promise that this will be by exception so that this space is available for visitors and local residents to enjoy.

Will there be different wave settings for beginners, intermediates, and advanced surfers?

We will have a range of wave settings so that people of all ages and abilities can surf and enjoy the water. There will be a mix of surf sessions, lessons and coaching available, as well as new versions of our favourites like play in the bay and little rippers that we currently run in Bristol.

What wave technology will you be using

We will be using Endless Surf ES48 technology for our London project.

Why have you chosen Endless Surf?

We are really excited by the progression of the surf park industry and have been watching with interest the different technologies that have been implemented into parks around the world.

The site in London has some unique challenges which we’re delighted can be overcome by Endless Surf’s design.

Endless Surf’s technology offers great flexibility for wave settings suitable for everyone from a child stepping on a board for the first time, all the way to professional surfers training for the Olympics.

When can we see the designs for the site?

We have now submitted planning for our site and all of the documentation is available to view online here To find out more about the consultation and to keep up to date with the latest developments, please sign up to our mailing list for The Wave London .

Will residents be able to influence the types of activities that will be available at The Wave London

We received over 900 pieces of feedback from our latest consultation and have taken this into consideration when planning the design, along with what we have learnt from operating The Wave Bristol for the past 5 years to develop our plan for the London site.

We heard that multiple types of activities alongside surfing were really important and so we have incorporated playgrounds, skateboarding, pump tracks and more into our design.

We are still developing ideas on how we may utilise the northern end of the site, in particular for a golfing experience. We want to consider how we might keep a great golfing experience for those who play regularly but also encourage new users with potential different formats.

When will it be built / open?

We have now submitted our planning application and hope to have a decision before the end of the year.

If all goes well with our application, we would hope to be able to start construction in 2026 and be open in 2027.

We will keep our website updated with timescales as they become clearer.

How can I feedback on the plans or show my support?

As the planning is now live on the council’s website, you can submit any feedback or support on the public portal here.

Isn’t this a Green Belt site?

Yes, this is a designated Green Belt site, though it has been used for leisure since the 1970s. It is also identified within Enfield Council’s Local Plan as a ‘Major Development Site within the Green Belt.’ This means that there is an opportunity to improve the sports and leisure offer here with a variety of activities, in line with the Lee Valley Regional Park Development Framework.

Will this have an impact on local wildlife and biodiversity?

In Bristol, we have improved the biodiversity of the former low-grade farmland the surfing lake was built on, with new trees, hedgerows and wild flower seeding. We have also installed bee hives and ‘bug hotels’. We are excited to do even more of this on the London site.

The Wave London will respond to the climate and ecological emergency by creating a biodiverse rich environment – one which celebrates the mature trees, waterbodies and rolling landscape across the site with ideas that will restore, rewild and regenerate.

Our vision is to create a place where people exist in harmony with local ecosystems, establishing a benchmark for social health, wellbeing and climate resilience.

We see this project as ‘Greener than the Green Belt’ where the majority of the existing landscape will be preserved, enhanced and restored, supporting new leisure facilities and sustainable infrastructure planting the seeds of a ‘Blue-Green Future’. Our designs currently far exceed the 10% biodiversity net gain required from planning, showcasing our commitment to improving the landscape.

How will you ensure the development is sustainable?

We seek to minimise any negative impact on the world around us – and wherever possible create a positive impact.

The Wave Bristol is 100% powered by renewable energy via Good Energy and we still own the onsite solar farm that produces 125% of the annual energy consumption required for Bristol.

Whilst we won’t initially have a solar farm in Enfield, we will connect to the renewable grid and will look at ways to provide on-site power generation.

We will look to manage our carbon footprint across the site, through design and construction.

Will there be parking?

The site already has a significant car park, though this is shared with the cinema, Lee Valley Athletics Centre and a wedding venue, and we understand it can be very busy at peak times.

We don’t want to add to the need for lots of car parking, but we are also realistic about the way people are likely to travel to the site and we really want to avoid our visitors parking on local roads.

We are working with Enfield Council and TfL to explore a number of solutions to ensure there’s enough parking on the site whilst balancing a desire for The Wave to be a destination that users can travel to sustainably.

Will public transport links be improved?

We know that public to the site is limited at the moment to the W8, however this is a frequent service right to our front door. We will work with the other venues on the site as well as TFL to see if any improvements to public transport can be made now or in the future.

We are also considering how links to existing public transport can be improved to make travelling to the site by public transport both easier and safer.

Will this have an impact on the local road network?

We don’t believe the site will have a significant impact on the local road network. We have undertaken detailed transport studies and will be discussing transport plans as part of the planning application to ensure any impact is adequately mitigated.

What is the planning process?

Now we have submitted planning to the London Borough of Enfield, the application will follow their standard process.

As part of this, the application will be referred to the GLA and TFL for their input.

The timelines for planning can vary and we will be working with all stakeholders to ensure we’ve provided all the information required for a smooth process.

We’ve heard about this project before, will it happen this time?

We are very keen to bring The Wave to London and will be working very hard to make this project happen.

The time we’ve taken before submitting a planning application was to ensure that we had the confidence to push ahead, and all the information needed to make the project a success.

How many and what type of jobs do you anticipate the new complex will create?

In Bristol we had up to 200 employees in our peak season across surf operations, customer service, food & beverage, retail, campsite and other activities.

In London we believe that we will need more than this and will be working hard to ensure that we provide employment opportunities for the local community with a diverse set of roles.

What will happen to the current golfing and camping facilities at the site?

We are looking at the feasibility of retaining a golfing experience in the northern end of the site, potentially maintaining part of the existing course but no final decisions have been made on the future of Lee Valley Golf Course.

The camping facilities will be refreshed, with different types of facilities offers and more communal gathering space.

In the meantime, nothing will change for the camping & caravan site and the golf course whilst we work through the planning process.

Why was this particular site chosen when it’s not easy to access on public transport?

We looked extensively across London for the right site to meet the needs of what we want to create – and we believe this is the best site for The Wave London.

The plans would open up this underused green space to many more people.

The Lee Valley Leisure Complex can be accessed via public transport in a number of different ways.

Are you planning to improve / open up further cycle routes as part of the development?

We want to encourage active travel as much as possible and are looking at different forms of cycling including cyclist infrastructure, e-bikes, accommodating dockless bikes on site, and how we best encourage our customers to use these forms of travel.

Is Lee Valley Regional Park Authority funding any part of the project?

The Wave London will be a tenant of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA).

LVRPA has supported some of the initial survey work carried out on the site to ensure that the ground is suitable for development but will not be contributing financially to the project.

When would work start?

Timing on construction is dependent upon the receipt of planning permission but we hope to start construction in 2026.

When would The Wave open?

This would depend on multiple factors but our ambition is to be open in 2027.

How will the wave quality compare to other surf parks?

Endless Surf has produced world class quality waves which are suitable for all abilities, from beginners through to professionals.

Feedback from Endless Surf’s first installation in Munich has been fantastic, and we are planning to build a larger lake with longer ride times and more capacity.

Will there be educational programs or school partnerships?

We can’t wait to work with schools to provide experiences for their children and will have spaces available to host small and large groups.

Is there an entry fee for visitors who just want to watch?

The Parkland area of the site will be free for any visitors to enter and enjoy during opening hours, except on special event days. Everyone will be able to visit our clubhouse and watch the surfers in action, but to access the lakeside there will be an admission fee.

How accessible will the site be for people with disabilities?

The site in Bristol was designed to be fully accessible and we are working on the same principles in London – being a place for all abilities has been a founding principle since the very beginning.

We are keen to encourage more people with disabilities to try surfing and so ensuring that their needs are met is always on our mind during design.

Will there be opportunities for corporate bookings or private events?

Yes, we are ensuring that we have event spaces within our clubhouse and across the site so that we can host private events.

Will The Wave London cause any Light pollution that will affect local residents or wildlife?

We will be looking to install lighting around the site, including floodlighting for the lake. We will ensure that this is directional lighting, reducing any overspill from the areas that are intended to be lit and photos of our newly installed floodlights in Bristol can show how well this works

Elsewhere around the site we will use low level lighting to ensure safe walking routes and will only light areas that are necessary.

We will have no lighting in our canal corridor and on the northern end of the site, ensuring that there are truly dark areas retained around the site for the benefits of wildlife and residents.

How noisy will the site be and should local residents be concerned about the impact on them?

We’re designing the site to minimise impact to residents, including noise attenuation bunds to help absorb any noise before it reaches Pickett’s Lock Lane.

Whilst there will be activities that generate some noise whilst we’re open, we’re hoping this will mostly be the sound of people having fun!

We will have some outdoor music but we will always be considerate of our neighbours and ensure we maintain noise levels at an acceptable level at the site boundary.

What are the health benefits of surfing

As well as being great for physical and cardiovascular fitness, balance, coordination and muscle strength, surfing is also really great for our mental health. It is a blue health activity

Blue health is a growing area of research that shows that being in or even near water is good for our health - especially our mental wellbeing. Exercising in or near water 'turbo charges' the mental health benefits of exercise.

When did The Wave Bristol Open?

The facility was opened in late 2019 and, in spite of the global coronavirus pandemic, has proven to be extremely popular for people across the country.

How many people visit The Wave Bristol each year?

The Wave Bristol currently have approx. 200,000 visitors a year, made up of surfers and non-surfers. (This excludes non surfing accommodation users.)

What social impact has The Wave delivered in Bristol?

Our ambition is to create positive social change through surfing, to promote health and wellbeing for people, as well as the planet. We are also focused on identifying and removing any barriers that exist to blue spaces, be that physical, psychological, cultural or economic

We have published an annual impact report every year from our time in Bristol which details our social impact program and you can find it here.

Do you have any plans to deliver more Wave sites across the UK?

We have ambitions to continue to expand our estate and are actively looking for future sites.

Our focus at the moment is getting The Wave London open.