Dorney Lake
Dorney Lake
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Dorney Lake is a fabulously unique and multi-faceted events venue, set within 400 acres of stunning Berkshire Countryside between Royal Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead and the business centre of Slough. We are proud to host everything from small, intimate meetings to large corporate groups for conferences, company multi-activity away days, birthdays, celebrations, Sports Events, and of course provide a venue for grassroots and international rowing & canoeing... All just an hour away from London.
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4.5
116 reviews
Excellent
58
Very good
42
Average
10
Poor
4
Terrible
2
MarkMahoney
Aldershot, UK1,984 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Scenic location with miles of walking around the lakes. Historic and great for birdlife. Must be delightful in summer. Tip: great for sunsets! Stand to view by the finishing line and clubhouse.
Written 11 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tpabslg
Maidenhead, UK56 contributions
Dec 2023 • Business
Had xmas party here, it was fabulous, food best experience, music was brilliant. Staff really made and effort. Only fault was parking at night was to far away for people walking on their own. Scary. Otherwise no faults at all.
Written 29 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sue190747
Luton, UK464 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
Had a lovely walk around Dorney Lake this afternoon in the sunshine. No doubt this is a wonderful location and it was great to see where the Olympic rowing events were held. However ... the parking is a complete rip-off. Not only that, but the parking meter needs to be seen to be believed.
When we arrived there was quite a queue to get tickets and no joking it was taking on average 5-8 minutes each to dispense a simple parking ticket. Gone are the days when you just stroll up to the meter, pick the length of of time you wish to stay, pop your money in the slot and pick up the ticket - maybe 1 minute at most. With this one, you have to key your number plate in, press valid, press a few other buttons, put your card in, put your pin in, press some more buttons and then wait for ages for the ticket to be dispensed. You can't use cash and it's a flat rate of £2.50, even if you are only visiting for an hour.
I know why these type of ticket machines are springing up - if they have your number plate on the ticket you can't give it to someone else on your way out, so they make even more money out of you. We are not talking OAPs here, trying to use a ticket machine they can't understand, just ordinary young families. The instructions are sparse and confusing. I have seen ticket machines like this in Milton Keynes, but they are no way as confusing as the one in the Dorney lake car park. Also, only one ticket machine for a large car park - obviously it was so expensive to buy they couldn't afford additional ones, even though it is making their visitors frustrated. When I was in the queue there was a man behind me phoning up Eton College and berating some poor operator telling them that their parking machine was a complete load of rubbish!
I am sure Eton would say they need to pay for the upkeep of the site etc etc etc but all they are doing with this rubbish parking is to alienate their visitors who may then decide that they won't be ripped off the in the future and either park further away and walk in, or visit one of the other lovely spots in this area for their afternoon walk.
I would visit again, but no way would I park on site. I would rather park for free a short walk away and walk in. Sort this out Eton!
When we arrived there was quite a queue to get tickets and no joking it was taking on average 5-8 minutes each to dispense a simple parking ticket. Gone are the days when you just stroll up to the meter, pick the length of of time you wish to stay, pop your money in the slot and pick up the ticket - maybe 1 minute at most. With this one, you have to key your number plate in, press valid, press a few other buttons, put your card in, put your pin in, press some more buttons and then wait for ages for the ticket to be dispensed. You can't use cash and it's a flat rate of £2.50, even if you are only visiting for an hour.
I know why these type of ticket machines are springing up - if they have your number plate on the ticket you can't give it to someone else on your way out, so they make even more money out of you. We are not talking OAPs here, trying to use a ticket machine they can't understand, just ordinary young families. The instructions are sparse and confusing. I have seen ticket machines like this in Milton Keynes, but they are no way as confusing as the one in the Dorney lake car park. Also, only one ticket machine for a large car park - obviously it was so expensive to buy they couldn't afford additional ones, even though it is making their visitors frustrated. When I was in the queue there was a man behind me phoning up Eton College and berating some poor operator telling them that their parking machine was a complete load of rubbish!
I am sure Eton would say they need to pay for the upkeep of the site etc etc etc but all they are doing with this rubbish parking is to alienate their visitors who may then decide that they won't be ripped off the in the future and either park further away and walk in, or visit one of the other lovely spots in this area for their afternoon walk.
I would visit again, but no way would I park on site. I would rather park for free a short walk away and walk in. Sort this out Eton!
Written 16 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran B
Slough, UK38 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
This is a lovely lake to run round and the dog can enjoy it too. HOWEVER and this is a big 'however' the car park payment arrangements seem to be set up for maximum inconvenience and would seem designed to put as many people as possible off using the grounds. Starting October 2017 you now have to visit a website or text a number and be called back. It is expensive (£2.70) if you just want to run around the lake once. This was one of our Olympic venues and there was a lot of talk about legacy from the Olympics. Whoever administers Dorney Lake seems to have benefitted from everything the Olympics brought to the site and then are trying to pull up the drawbridge. You get the impression they would prefer you do not visit. Having said all that it is a lovely place to get some exercise and I think as many people as possible should go and every single visitor should write to Dorney to complain about the car parking system. Let's make their lives as inconvenient as they are trying to make ours - maybe that will get some change!! Come on Dorney - just put in pay and display that we can feed money into and make it £1 an hour!
Written 18 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JaneofReading
South of England29 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
Yes, this is a lovely place to visit on a nice day, to walk, cycle, skate. If you are there for a picnic too I suppose £2.50 is reasonable for a day's stay. (I'm not sure if there are laws on picnics as there are no facilities). That's OK. keeps it as natural as possible. My argument is that the site doesn't seem to be used so much by full day users and I feel sorry for the families who used to go there, perhaps for an hour after school, for exercise in the fresh air, away from traffic. But of course it would not last long because greed kicked in. If anyone argues we're told that Dorney Lake and its masses of land is not public, we commoners are allowed in on sufference as long as we don't cause any inconvenience.
Written 29 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neale H
Windsor, UK28 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
If you can take a bicycle and cycle along the cycle paths either side of the lake. Two kilometres one side and the same the other. Car parks either end of the lake. Be aware the lake is hired out for private triathlons and other events at weekends so entry can be restricted.
Other tips are . No onsite public toilets ,no snack facilities or places to eat. Lovely views of the castle .
If you want to eat something go to the nearby Dorney Court garden centre where there is a good café. Its about 15 minute walk away.
Other tips are . No onsite public toilets ,no snack facilities or places to eat. Lovely views of the castle .
If you want to eat something go to the nearby Dorney Court garden centre where there is a good café. Its about 15 minute walk away.
Written 10 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sueburke2014
Warrington, UK9 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
We attended Dorney lake as our Granddaughter's rowing club was in competition with other rowing clubs/schools. Being disabled I was able to park quite near the lake and sit near the start/finish line. It was Marvellous to see all the young people taking part in sport and being friendly with everyone. There was ordinary Comprehensive Schools mixing with Independent schools amicably and respecting each other. Catering was provided as was toilet facilities.
My Granddaughter and her parents met Sir Steve Redgrave who was presenting the prizes. A wonderful day all round
My Granddaughter and her parents met Sir Steve Redgrave who was presenting the prizes. A wonderful day all round
Written 27 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary D
165 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Very enjoyable day watching the Human Race sponsored triathlon event in which our son was doing the sprint triathlon. . Lovely location where you can see all the 3 events - swim, cycle and run easily. Highly recommend. You can take the family and dogs and picnics are popular as there is a lot of grass areas to put chairs out.
Written 23 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SRD807
Windsor, UK93 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
The Lake was a joy to all who lived locally.We enjoyed the beauty, the wildlife and the glorious exercise.
Naturally local people have much inconvenience whilst Olympic and World rowing events take place>all i know did not grumble as the lake at other times provided such happiness.
Now strict parking charges are in place (credit card only)-i do not know whether Eton College or local authorities are to blame.All i know is that it deprives local families of much pleasure as they cannot afford to use this facility,which we thought was shared for all.Who are the greedy -please tell me!
Naturally local people have much inconvenience whilst Olympic and World rowing events take place>all i know did not grumble as the lake at other times provided such happiness.
Now strict parking charges are in place (credit card only)-i do not know whether Eton College or local authorities are to blame.All i know is that it deprives local families of much pleasure as they cannot afford to use this facility,which we thought was shared for all.Who are the greedy -please tell me!
Written 4 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Homecountiex
Beaconsfield, UK352 contributions
Mar 2020
The idea was to go there and walk along the lake. Well, at - degrees C with the easterly wind blowing across the water, our three layers were quickly found to be inadequate, so we beat a hasty retreat to the car. A quarter of an hour for £2.50 car park - only all day available! it's little wonder how few there were there - and they were mainly dog walkers. Could be good for a picnic or letting the kids run wild, but the College does not appear interested in promoting it and anxious for it not to get soiled. Better off to visit Dorney Court - when open - and the Garden Centre with free parking and a nice cafeteria.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, a bit random just wanted to ask if any ones knows where the boathouse is used in the take that the flood music video, is it at dorney lake? Many thanks
Written 9 October 2019
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