The UK has two surf lagoons open in 2026, both Wavegarden Coves: The Wave near Bristol, open since 2019, and Lost Shore on the edge of Edinburgh, open since November 2024. A third, Surf London in Enfield, has planning permission and targets 2028. The Wave runs sessions year-round, and Lost Shore's water is not heated.
The Wave, Bristol
The Wave sits at Easter Compton near junction 17 of the M5, about 15 minutes from Bristol. Its Cove makes up to 1,000 waves an hour, from about half a metre in the whitewater bay to almost 2 metres on the reef, and sessions climb from Beginner and Improver through Intermediate, Advanced and Advanced Plus to three expert sessions.
- Price: beginner sessions from £44; Improver to Advanced Plus sessions from £55; 90-minute lessons from £50, with wetsuit and board included. Prices change by date and time.
- Stay: The Camp's safari tents are on site year-round, and The Field campsite runs in summer; more in our guide to camping at The Wave.
- Good to know: the free car park is a 1 km walk from the lake, so arrive an hour early.
Lost Shore, Edinburgh
Lost Shore was built in the former Craigpark quarry at Ratho, on the western edge of Edinburgh. Its 52-module Cove, which Wavegarden calls the largest in Europe, can hold more than 90 surfers, and settings run from Cruiser through Turns, Manoeuvres and Barrels to High Performance and an Air Wave.
- Price: 60-minute sessions from £60 for Cruiser, Cruiser Plus and Turns, £70 for Manoeuvres and Barrels and £80 for the Air Wave; 90-minute lessons from £65. Wetsuits are compulsory and cost £8 extra in sessions.
- Stay: lodges and pods on site, with a restaurant, café and sauna.
- Good to know: lessons for under-12s pause from December to February, and sessions are cancelled if the water drops below 3C.
The Wave or Lost Shore?
Both are big, well-run Coves, so the choice is mostly geography. From London, The Wave is about 2 hours 30 minutes by car and Lost Shore more than 7 hours, while from Glasgow or Newcastle, Lost Shore is the one within reach. On price, The Wave's beginner sessions start lower (£44 against a £65 lesson at Lost Shore), and at intermediate level the two are close (£55 against £60). Lost Shore adds the Air Wave and a larger menu of named expert settings; The Wave has the longer track record and, for now, the camping.
How far from each city
- From London: The Wave about 2 hours 30 minutes; Lost Shore about 7 hours 45 minutes.
- From Birmingham: The Wave about 1 hour 50 minutes; Lost Shore about 5 hours 25 minutes.
- From Manchester: The Wave about 3 hours 15 minutes; Lost Shore about 4 hours 10 minutes.
- From Cardiff: The Wave about 1 hour.
- From Edinburgh and Glasgow: Lost Shore about 30 and 50 minutes.
- From Newcastle: Lost Shore about 2 hours 40 minutes.
Coming next: Surf London
Surf London is a planned £60 million Endless Surf lagoon at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex in Edmonton, north London. In February 2026 its developer said full planning permission had been granted and that it was finalising the lease and funding, with opening targeted for 2028. The details are in our Surf London opening guide.
Good to Know
Lost Shore's water is not heated, so a winter session there means a thick wetsuit, boots and gloves, all included in its £8 hire. For how UK prices compare with the rest of the continent, see our Europe guide and the wave pool price index.
