At Fairlop Waters
Fairlop Boats & Bikes
31 May 2026
Boats, Chuckle Bikes and the Little Train: a practical guide to a family day out in Ilford, east London.
Looking for a proper day out with the kids near London? Fairlop Waters Country Park sits in Barkingside, in east London, a few minutes from Fairlop Station on the Central line, and within easy reach of the west-Essex towns on its doorstep. There's a big lake, room to run about, and three things the family can actually do on the day: hire a boat, ride a four-wheeled Chuckle Bike, or hop on the Little Train. Here's what's here, what it's like, and how to make a day of it.
We run the lake ourselves, so this isn't a list copied off another website. It's the honest version: the good bits, the practical bits, and the one thing worth knowing before you arrive.
On the water: boat hire
The lake is the heart of it. You don't need any experience, and you don't need to book. We're first-come, first-served, so you just turn up on the day, pick a boat, and we'll get you out on the water.
There's a boat for most moods:
Pedalo boats seat up to five, so the whole family can pile in together. They're easy to pilot: you pedal to go, turn the wheel to steer, and that's about it. A good first boat for younger crews.
Rowing boats for anyone who fancies doing the work themselves and taking it at their own pace.
Electric boats for when you'd rather sit back and let the motor do the moving. These go out for 30 minutes, long enough for a proper potter round the lake without the legwork.
Before anyone heads out, a member of our team gives a quick safety briefing: how the boat works, where to go, and what to do if you need us. It only takes a few minutes, and then you're off. We stay on hand on the jetty the whole time you're out, so there's always someone watching the water.
Boat hire starts from £5.50 a child and £9.50 an adult for 30 minutes on the lake, and a family of two adults and two children is £24.50, which is cheaper than booking everyone in separately. Fancy longer? An hour is £7.50 a child, £11.50 an adult, or £30 for the family. The electric boats are £8.50 a child and £16.50 an adult for their 30 minutes.
Hire a boat at Fairlop Waters. Walk up on the day, or call 07700 105100 to ask us anything first.
On wheels: Chuckle Bikes
If two wheels were never your thing, the Chuckle Bikes are the answer. Four wheels, two seats side by side, and no experience needed, so a grown-up and a child can pedal along together, and nobody has to balance. Because they sit on four wheels, they don't tip and you don't need to know how to ride a bike to get going.
That makes them a friendly option for all sorts of families: little ones who can't yet ride alone, grandparents who haven't cycled in years, anyone who'd rather not wobble. You sit, you pedal together, you chat as you go. They're a gentle, easy way to cover more of the park than you'd manage on foot, and a nice change of pace from the lake.
There are two sizes. A one-bench Chuckle Bike is £17.50 for 30 minutes or £22.50 for the hour; a roomier two-bench is £23.50 for 30 minutes or £32.50 for the hour.
Hire a Chuckle Bike and see the bike trails to plan your loop.
Slow and steady: the Little Train
The Little Train is a hit with younger children, a gentle ride at just the right pace for little ones, and an easy win on a day when small legs are tired. It trundles along by the lake, so there's plenty to look at, and it's often the bit the youngest ones remember most. If you've got a toddler who loves anything on wheels, this is the one.
Rides are £3 a passenger, and it runs the same days as the boats: every weekend, all school holidays and bank holidays.
Ride the Little Train when you visit. It pairs nicely with a boat trip or a bike ride to round out the day.
Making a day of it
You don't have to pick just one. Plenty of families do all three: a boat in the morning, a picnic by the lake, then the train and a bike loop in the afternoon. Mix and match to suit the ages and energy levels you've brought with you: the little ones on the train, the bigger kids pedalling a Chuckle Bike, everyone together in a pedalo.
Around the activities there's the park itself: open green space for a kickabout, paths to wander, and plenty of room for the kids to run off steam between turns. Bring a picnic and you've got a whole day out without spending much beyond the hires. Find a spot by the water, watch the boats go by, and let the afternoon unfold at its own pace. It's the kind of unhurried, outdoors day that's getting harder to find this close to the city.
If you've got midweek flexibility, the quieter days are lovely: more room on the water, shorter waits for a boat, and the lake at its most peaceful. School-holiday weekdays are a good bet if you'd rather skip the weekend crowds.
Getting there
You'll find us at Fairlop Waters Country Park, Forest Road, Ilford IG6 3HN, in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge. It's an easy trip from across east London, and from the western edge of Essex too, with Chigwell, Loughton and Romford all a short drive away. Closer than you'd think on the Tube, as well.
By train: Fairlop Station is on the Central line, a short walk from the park. That makes it a genuinely car-free day out if you'd rather leave the car at home, straight up the Central line and you're nearly there.
By car: there's a car park on site, right by the lake and the boathouse.
Good to know before you come
Opening: we're open every weekend, all school holidays and bank holidays, from 11am until an hour before sunset.
Booking and payment: there's no need to book the boats or bikes. It's first-come, first-served, so just turn up. You can pay by card or cash on the day.
What to bring: comfortable shoes, a picnic if you fancy one, sun cream on a bright day, and a layer in case the breeze picks up off the water. Everything for the boats and bikes is here when you arrive, life jackets included.
Dogs: dogs can't come out on the boats, and that includes guide dogs. It's a safety thing on the water. If you have a guide dog, our team will happily look after them at the office while you're out on the lake, and a staff member will help you on and off the boat. Your guide dog is welcome around the boathouse and the jetty on a lead. We're not able to take other pets, though.
Groups: planning a bigger group? Call 07700 105100 and we'll help you sort it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book?
No. The boats and bikes are first-come, first-served, so just turn up on the day. (For a group of 20 or more, give us a call first on 07700 105100 so we can be ready for you.)
How much does it cost?
Boat hire starts from £5.50 a child and £9.50 an adult for 30 minutes, with a family of four from £24.50. Chuckle Bikes are from £17.50 for 30 minutes. The Little Train is £3 a passenger. See boat prices and bike prices for the full list.
Is it suitable for young children?
Yes, it's a family place through and through. The Little Train is especially popular with younger children, the pedalo seats the whole family so no one's left out, and the Chuckle Bikes let a grown-up and a child share the pedalling. Everyone going on the water gets a short safety briefing and a life jacket, and our team is on the jetty throughout. As with any day by the water, keep little ones close, but it's set up for families, and most of our visitors are exactly that.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs can't come out on the boats, and that includes guide dogs, for safety on the water. If you have a guide dog, let our team know when you arrive: we'll look after them at the office while you're out on the lake, and a staff member will help you on and off the boat. Your guide dog is welcome around the boathouse and the jetty on a lead. We're not able to take other pets, though.
Plan your visit
A day at Fairlop Waters is an easy, good-value one out of the house: boats, bikes, a little train, and a big lake to enjoy them on. No booking needed: pick a day, head for Barkingside, and turn up.
Planning a group? Call us on 07700 105100.