Dragon Boat Racing in Reading, Berkshire
Grab a paddle, find the beat and race for the line. Dragon boat racing at Hi5 Reading Lake is one of the most exciting team activities in Berkshire, and one of the best ways to get a whole group working as one.
Each long, colourful dragon boat carries a crew of paddlers, a drummer at the front setting the rhythm and a helm at the back steering for the finish. There is no hiding place: the boat only flies when everyone paddles together.

How a Dragon Boat Race Day Works
- Safety briefing and kit: everyone gets a buoyancy aid and a full briefing from our qualified instructors.
- Learn the stroke: our coaches teach you how to paddle in time with the drum and work as a crew.
- Practice runs: crews get a feel for the boat before the racing starts.
- Heats and finals: teams race head to head on Reading Lake, building up to a grand final in front of the bank-side crowd.
- Medals and bragging rights: the winning crew takes the glory.
No experience is needed. Our instructors run every race and safety cover is on the water at all times.
Perfect For
- Corporate team building and away days
- Company fun days and summer parties
- Charity and fundraising events
Dragon boat racing works brilliantly for larger groups. We can run several crews in heats, and combine it with our other land and water activities, such as team building challenges, raft building, axe throwing or human table football, for a full day out.

Venue and Location
Dragon boat racing takes place at Reading Lake, just 15 minutes’ drive from Reading town centre and only 5 minutes from junction 11 of the M4. There is parking on site, plus changing rooms and showers, so you can get straight back to work or out for the evening. Water-based activities run from March to October.
Book Your Dragon Boat Race
For prices and availability, call us on 01189 567556, email sales@hi5events.com or use our contact form. Tell us your date, group size and any other activities you would like, and we will put together a package for your team.
