Canoe Lake
Canoe Lake
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
247 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
110
Average
24
Poor
7
Terrible
5
FIL M
London, UK727 contributions
Dec 2022
The lake is truly a beautiful little spot, however due to the ice etc. The swans, ducks and birds were really struggling to swim so most of them were in the grass areas adjacent to the lake. The benches could all do with a good clean due to bird poop.
Written December 19, 2022
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.
bsandrs
Portsmouth, UK22,550 contributions
Oct 2020
I remember visiting Canoe Lake with my parents years ago and it has been a constant for many years. On a sunny October morning we revisited and sat enjoying the scene with families, dog walkers, the occasional jogger etc. circulating the pond. Very busy at this time of the year with the swans and black headed gulls although there were no takers for the pedal swans. Timeless and relaxing, and the cafe was busy supplying hot drinks.
Written October 15, 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.
MYDOGISFINN
Emsworth, UK833 contributions
Sep 2020
This is a lake in a park area just off the seafront with a cafe, toilets and some rather sad looking swan shaped pedalos plus a lot of real swans. It was popular with family groups with young children. If you live locally you might want to come here but it is not much of a visitor attraction.
Written September 16, 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.
Em Johnston
10 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
The photos on this advert are making canoe lake look very appealing.... It is not! The floor is covered in bird poo, the water is green and disgusting and it stinks! The council have made no effort to clean this place up.
Written April 21, 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.
Marge
Birmingham, UK558 contributions
Jul 2020 • Friends
Can ride Swan Pedalos £8 for 20 minutes. They were sanitising each boat between customers. Crabbing nets & buckets £2 each - cheap entertainment for few hours. Huge free play area and plenty of picnic space. Public toilets really clean & stocked with paper etc. Seems well organised after reopening.
Written July 14, 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.
Mavericks
Portsmouth, UK57 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
It is a nice place but it is inundated with swans and seagulls. There is just too many of them because there is bird poop and feathers everywhere. It’s unpleasant. The shop smells of old oil and needs a bit of TLC on the outside. The playground nearby is pretty good for kids to burn off some energy and it’s located right by the beach.
Written December 30, 2021
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.
Zinari
England, UK14 contributions
Dec 2021
Spend some time at the Lake with the ducks and feel the stress wash off your back. It is beautiful both at day time and night time. If you are a writer, Lady Inspiration might simply pay you a visit while there.
Written May 10, 2022
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.
Ann C
Nashville, TN3,395 contributions
Aug 2021
Far too crowded for our taste with the virus still at large.
You can rent duck or swan boats and cruise along the water with the real swans and ducks.
It was nice to see the birds swimming along in the water.
A fun family activity.
Public restrooms close by.
You can rent duck or swan boats and cruise along the water with the real swans and ducks.
It was nice to see the birds swimming along in the water.
A fun family activity.
Public restrooms close by.
Written August 15, 2021
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.
Allan S
Fareham, UK3 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
My wife and I went over to Portsmouth on Monday 8th July 2019 and walked from Old Portsmouth (well worth a visit) to Canoe Lake which is usually lovely to walk around and enjoy the swans and just chat to folks.
What a disappointment the lake was. I have never seen so much algae on it and the smell was pretty bad.
The swans have obviously found a nicer place to swim as instead of the usual 20 or so, there were only three.
The lake has a rubber 'fender' all around it but sadly this has not been maintained, there are large pieces that have come away from the side and just been left, overall the whole place looked pretty tatty and neglected.
Just past the cafe by the lake is the rose garden which usually have the most beautiful blooms with so many varities, it is a lovely place to spend some quiet time and just enjoy the tranquility and the different roses. How disappointed once again we were as the usual pristine roses had just been left, no-one had dead headed them or tended to the beds, it just looked quite sad.
Shame on you Portsmouth City Council.Please get your act together and put these things right. Both Canoe lake and the Rose Gardens are usually wonderful for tourist and locals alike, you have let them down,BADLY
What a disappointment the lake was. I have never seen so much algae on it and the smell was pretty bad.
The swans have obviously found a nicer place to swim as instead of the usual 20 or so, there were only three.
The lake has a rubber 'fender' all around it but sadly this has not been maintained, there are large pieces that have come away from the side and just been left, overall the whole place looked pretty tatty and neglected.
Just past the cafe by the lake is the rose garden which usually have the most beautiful blooms with so many varities, it is a lovely place to spend some quiet time and just enjoy the tranquility and the different roses. How disappointed once again we were as the usual pristine roses had just been left, no-one had dead headed them or tended to the beds, it just looked quite sad.
Shame on you Portsmouth City Council.Please get your act together and put these things right. Both Canoe lake and the Rose Gardens are usually wonderful for tourist and locals alike, you have let them down,BADLY
Written July 11, 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.
garfus
4 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
I purchased a cheese & bacon burger from here on July 1st 2015 & had to be rushed to hospital with severe food poisoning where the meat had not been cooked properly!!!! I was projectile vomiting, diarreah, fever, shaking & even lost conciousness due to the bad bacteria. Thank god I didn't give any to the kids!!! I am contacting food standards to go and check the place as their hygiene must be revolting!!! I am so ill & absolutely disgusted!!!!!!!
Written July 4, 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.
How much does it cost to go on the Swan boats?
Written June 19, 2017
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