Longridge

What Longridge does

Longridge is a UK-registered charity (Longridge On The Thames, charity number 1121239, company limited by guarantee) that operates an outdoor activity centre on the banks of the River Thames near Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Founded as a charity in 2007 when it acquired the site from the Scout Association, the centre traces roughly 100 years of community presence and has delivered outdoor education for over 50 years. It serves approximately 85,000 young people annually, with peak-season daily throughput of 400-700 visitors, supported by a small core salaried team (11-50 employees) supplemented by volunteers.

The centre offers a unified portfolio of instructor-led activities lasting 90 minutes each, priced at £150 per session (£145 for youth/school groups), covering water sports (kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, bell boating, stand-up paddleboarding, rafting), land-based challenges (climbing, archery, axe throwing, crate stacking, Jacob's Ladder, low ropes, trebuchet), and laser tag. These activities are bundled into service packages including Ofsted-registered Holiday Activity Days (£55/child/day across three age brackets), Birthday Parties (£150-£160 plus optional catering), Corporate Team Building Days, and Scout/Youth Group Residentials. On-site accommodation (camping at £9.50/person/night, bunkhouse/tented village at £22.50/person/night) and catering (breakfast/lunch £7.50, dinner £9) enable fully residential stays for up to 140-150 young people, with campsite capacity up to 500.

Revenue is generated entirely on a direct-to-consumer, pay-as-you-go basis through the centre's website booking system (cinolla.com), phone, and email, with no subscription, licensing, or recurring contract model. Distribution is single-site and domestic, focused on South East England and Buckinghamshire. Strategic positioning rests on sector accreditations (British Canoeing, RYA, British Rowing training hub, LOtC, Ofsted), the irreplaceable riverside location on 12 acres with a private island, and a multi-generational community brand. Recent activity has been dominated by a flood-resilience capital programme — a £220k COF grant in 2024 plus matched charitable funding — responding to recurring major flooding in 2014, January 2024, and 2026, while the charity continues to carry a £300k outstanding mortgage on its freehold.

Name

Longridge

Legal name

Longridge On The Thames (LOTT)

Website

https://longridge.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Longridge On The Thames (LOTT) is a UK registered charity operating an outdoor adventure activity centre on the River Thames near Marlow, delivering kayaking, climbing, residential stays and Ofsted-registered holiday childcare to schools, youth groups, families, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Activity Centre / Outdoor Adventure Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

Keywords

• Outdoor activity centre
• Water sports instruction
• Outdoor education programs
• Youth adventure programmes
• Team building activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Activity Sessions: 90-minute activity sessions charged at flat rate per group. Revenue generated from individual activities like kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, climbing, laser tag, etc.
2. Holiday Childcare: Full-day holiday activity programs for children aged 4-16 across three age brackets (Reception-Year 2 Wild Days, Year 3-7 Holiday Activity Days, Year 8-11 Holiday Activity Days+). Sold at £55 per child per day.
3. Birthday Party Packages: Activity sessions plus optional catering for children's birthday parties. Activity at £150-£160 per 90 minutes, catering at £8.50 per person.
4. Accommodation: Overnight stays in tented villages, bunkhouse, or camping pitches. Camping at £9.50/person/night, accommodation at £22.50/person/night.
5. Catering: Meals provided to residential groups - breakfast and lunch at £7.50 per person per meal, dinner at £9 per person per meal.
6. Training Room Rental: Training rooms rented to external groups and organizations including Azure Dance and Theatre School, sports clubs, and course providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Longridge operates an outdoor activity centre on 12 acres of Thames water meadows near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, delivering instructor-led water and land-based adventure activities (kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, bell boating, rafting, paddleboarding, archery, climbing, crate stacking, axe throwing, laser tag, and team-challenge courses) as 90-minute sessions. These activities are packaged into school trips, Scout and youth-group residentials, Ofsted-registered Holiday Activity Days, birthday parties, and corporate team-building days, supplemented by on-site camping and bunkhouse accommodation, catered meals, and training-room rentals. The centre serves approximately 85,000 young people annually and operates as a registered charity.

Product overview

Longridge is an outdoor activity centre offering a unified portfolio of water and land-based adventure activities at its riverside location near Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The centre provides structured activities (Kayaking, Canoeing, Dragon Boating, Bell Boating, Rafting, Stand-up Paddle Boarding, Archery, Climbing, Crate Stacking, Axe Throwing, Laser Tag, Jacob's Ladder, Trebuchet, and Low Ropes) that can be booked individually or packaged into larger experiences. These activities are combined into service offerings including Holiday Activity Days (Ofsted-registered childcare), Birthday Parties, Corporate Team Building Days, and School/Youth Group Residentials and Day Trips. The centre also features camping and accommodation facilities, catering services, and is supported by the Crocadillo mythical mascot brand. All activities are instructor-led, last 90 minutes, and are designed to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills in young people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adventure Activity Sessions (water and land) 90-minute instructor-led adventure activity sessions covering kayaking, canoeing, dragon boating, bell boating, rafting, stand-up paddleboarding, archery, climbing, crate stacking, axe throwing, laser tag, Jacob's Ladder, trebuchet, and low ropes. Priced at £150 per session for up to 12 participants (£160 to upgrade Laser Tag to 16 participants). All equipment provided; activities suitable for ages 8+.
• Holiday Activity Days (Ofsted-registered childcare) Full-day (8.30am-5pm) supervised school-holiday childcare with packed lunch, priced at £55 per child per day. Three age-bracketed programmes: Wild Days (Reception-Year 2), Holiday Activity Days (Year 3-7), and Holiday Activity Days+ (Year 8-11). Ofsted-registered and accepts childcare vouchers.
• Birthday Party Packages Outdoor adventure birthday parties featuring one or more 90-minute activities at £150-£160, with optional catering (pizza, burgers or nuggets with chips and ice cream) at £8.50 per person and self-catering option at £2 per person. Party space only available at £10. Suitable for children aged 8+.
• Corporate Activity Days Bespoke team-building events for corporate groups combining outdoor activities (kayaking, dragon boating, climbing, etc.) with optional meeting facilities at the riverside Marlow centre. Personalised planning assistance from the bookings team.
• School Trip Programmes Educational residential and day trips for schools combining water sports and land activities with accommodation for up to 140 young people. Supports GCSE PE qualifications and offers accredited courses through British Canoeing and RYA. Includes team-building days for Year 7 transition and alternative provision for disengaged students.
• Scout and Youth Group Packages

Quantifiable outcome

• 85,000 young people benefit annually from Longridge programs

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British CanoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongridge is recognised by British Canoeing for provision of paddlesports including canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and larger boats such as dragon and bell boats.
• British RowingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish Rowing has its own training hub at Longridge, enabling rowing qualifications and training programs.
• Royal Yacht Association (RYA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongridge is approved by RYA to provide vocational training courses that can lead to accredited qualifications.
• Azure Dance and Theatre SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUses main training rooms at Longridge for dance and theatre classes on a regular basis.
• Corporate Volunteer GroupsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal companies send teams for CSR/volunteering days to help maintain the site, complemented by team building activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rock UK Adventure Centres: Faith-rooted charity running outdoor adventure centres across the UK with water sports, climbing and team-building for schools, youth groups and families. Comparable non-profit model, multi-activity portfolio and youth-group customer base to Longridge.
• Kingswood: Operates multiple UK outdoor education and adventure activity centres serving schools, youth groups and corporate clients with residential stays and accredited courses. Closest direct competitor to Longridge in terms of curriculum-linked adventure programming and school bookings.
• PGL Travel: UK's largest provider of outdoor adventure activity centres and residential school trips. Directly comparable product mix (water sports, climbing, archery, team-building), target market (UK schools and youth groups), and school-trip GTM motion, though at a multi-site national scale far larger than Longridge.
• Grafham Water Centre: Residential outdoor activity centre on a reservoir providing sailing, kayaking, canoeing and land-based adventure activities for schools and youth groups. Comparable water-sports-led activity offering, residential model and school-trip customer segment.
• Stubbers Adventure Centre: Outdoor adventure centre in Essex offering water sports, climbing, archery and laser tag for schools, youth groups, birthday parties and corporate teams. Closely aligned product mix (especially the birthday-party and family segments) and catchment geography around London/Home Counties.
• Scout Adventures (The Scout Association): Operates national scout activity centres including activity and residential programmes for scouts, guides and schools. Highly comparable to Longridge's scout/guide customer segment and water/land activity offering, particularly given Longridge's historical Scout Association ownership.
• Cumulus Outdoors (Cumulus Activities): Outdoor activity provider delivering watersports, climbing and team-building programmes at multiple UK centres including residential school trips. Comparable service mix, GTM and youth-group focus.

Broad incumbents

• Calvert Trust: Charity operating outdoor activity centres (Lake District, Exmoor, Kielder) for people with disabilities and school/youth groups. Comparable non-profit outdoor-activity model and accredited course delivery, broader specialisation in inclusive adventure.

Regional players

• Bewl Water Adventure Centre: Outdoor adventure centre in Kent/Sussex delivering water sports, climbing and team-building for schools, youth groups and families. Comparable activity portfolio and residential capability but operating from a different South East catchment.

Emerging players

• Lee Valley White Water Centre: London-region paddlesport and white-water rafting venue offering school, youth and corporate activity packages. Comparable paddlesport-led activity offering and Thames Valley/London catchment, though with a narrower activity portfolio than Longridge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/longridgemarlow
• Facebookfacebook.com/LongridgeCharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/longridge-activity-centre

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Longridge