Draycote Water image

Draycote Water

Tourist attraction Park Tourist information center National reserve

Popular park on a reservoir with a playground & activities such as fishing, water sports & cycling. People often mention walk, reservoir, good, cafe, park, great, nice, parking, path, dogs,


Address

Kites Hardwick, Rugby CV23 8AB, United Kingdom

Website

www.stwater.co.uk

Contact

+44 1788 811107

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Saturday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Sunday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Monday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Thursday: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: walk (30) reservoir (11) good (10) cafe (10) park (9) great (8) nice (8) parking (8) path (8) dogs (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Alihan D. 2 years ago on Google
    Draycote Water can be a great choice for nature lovers. You can take a wonderful walk around the lake. There is a nice playground for children, your children can have a good time while you sit in the picnic area. There is no entrance fee, you just have to pay the parking fee. I recommend it to anyone who wants to spend a pleasant day.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 mogs tau teta t. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely place for a day out, loads of parking available - £3 for 2 hours or £5 all day. It took us 1h45m to walk around the lake which was well maintained. There are free toilets there too which are also well maintained
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Steve B. 1 year ago on Google
    Thought we'd be spontaneous and come for a walk around the reservoir, paid a fortune to park the car, then paid £9 for 2 ice creams for the kids, then found that necause we have dogs that we are nit welcome here! Rip off and very stupid rules. Won't bother again.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Elliott J. 1 year ago on Google
    Good walk but BEWARE you cannot complete the circle route around the reservoir. You only find this out on the final straight when there's a massive fence blocking your way. Many people were being caught out.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ray D. 6 years ago on Google
    Much much better now investment has been forthcoming, better parking and much better facilities. Over the years I have seen a steady decline in ST Water having any interest other than basic maintenance here. So it is nice to see it back and very popular too. On the afternoon we arrived it was the hottest day so far this year and it showed, the car park was full but not to bursting, and everyone was happy. We didn't use the cafe this time as we brought dinner with us and sat on the hill overlooking the yacht club. My first problem here is not enough seating is available, also not enough waist bins as people just leave what was left of their lunch either in the BBQ stands or on the floor to blow away. We then walked anti-clockwise round the lake which in my mind is the best way. By the way what is happening to the capping slabs on the straight section just after you leave the cafe? (Photo provided). My second and final problem, the shared pathways are for everyone with priority to pedestrians or so it says on the signs, either cyclists are not aware of this or choose to ignore it. Don''t get me wrong I am a cyclists too, but much clearer signage is needed at all entrances as my wife was nearly mowed down by a speeding rider on a mountain bike, this happened on the path and not on the roadway where I think such speed is acceptable. Anyway. Overall I really enjoyed our afternoon here all the more special because a friend of ours was with us, and he is from Kensington London where the Grenfell Tower tragedy had happened.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 John T. 4 years ago on Google
    This is a great place to have a quiet walk or bike ride either alone or as a family group and is really popular with the children. It's a 4.8 mile walk around the lake but just do however much you are happy to. There is a massive children's play area, a glorious cafe serving hot and cold food or just a cuppa if that's what you want and there's every chance you can watch or partake in a watersport or two. A lovely relaxing venue for all ages.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jn f. 3 months ago on Google New
    Very disappointed after a long journey to get here to find out no dogs are allowed. No clear signage to inform you dogs aren’t allowed near the payment area, you only find out you can’t walk your dog here when you get up to the path. There is a boggy ‘country park’ no bigger than your local park that you are allowed to sludge around but at a push it’s a 30 min walk and that’s smelling every leaf the dog walks past. Reasoning for not allowing dogs seems health and safety gone mad, the path is plenty wide enough for everyone to enjoy just as people do in every park across the country. Save yourself the time and money and go to any park you can find on the way here.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Jan L. 11 months ago on Google
    Mixed views about this place. On the right day it is lovely rain or shine, but sometimes eager cyclists, runners etc spoil a quiet leisurely walk to watch sailors, birds etc. The cafe is lovely and parking a plenty.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dave H. 5 years ago on Google
    Fabulous place to walk. Super views. It's 8km all the way round. There is a. It's hide for bird spotters an lots of wildlife. The way is undulating in places and in winter there is a high chill factor the wind blows over the old water. In the summer there are gnats , nevertheless this is a wonderful area to walk in. Access is best approached from Dunchurch.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Richard M. 2 years ago on Google
    Good path. About 4 miles long and fairly flat. Nice restaurant. Beware the cyclists who can go rather fast.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 SUNDAR T. 8 months ago on Google
    Nice place with a small kids area , lake walk, restaurant and playground . Not so much ppl in July mid summer is surprising
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Demmi F. 6 months ago on Google
    Lovely place to walk, nice reservoir however not very well sign posted that the path is closed due to ongoing building walk which is 4.5 ish miles round it. It was very infuriating that we had to go in to wooded areas; climb over various barbed wire fences, and through farmers fields to save us walking back the 4.5 miles we had just done. The walk itself is supposed to be 5 miles but we probably did about 7 in the end. There were lots of others which made the same mistake as us however, chose to walk the 4.5 miles back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brad K. 6 months ago on Google
    Best place around for many miles to go for a walk, ride a bike, watch nature at its finest, see great sunsets and see many happy fishermen!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Happy “Lindy” C. 6 months ago on Google
    Lovely place with a nice cafe and the option to sign up for sailing. Great walk around the water but dogs are not allowed. There is a park for the little ones which is well-kept and has an ice cream kiosk. Toilets on site.

  • 5/5 Jeff M. 6 months ago on Google
    Loved it, plenty of parking but everyone has to pay including blue badge holders. There is a takeaways cafe and a restaurant. These are on the second floor. They have a balcony with great views over the waters. Very helpful friendly staff food and drinks good quality and not too expensive. The walk along the waters is vechile free so kids can take their bikes.

  • 5/5 maithri 9 months ago on Google
    A great place for long walk and cycling.

  • 4/5 Mark Hubbard (Coalville N. 5 months ago on Google
    Nice walk around the reservoir, although part of it was closed when we visited, so we had to go back on ourselves. Nice cafe on site too.

  • 5/5 Old A. 4 months ago on Google
    Very scenic park. Great playground for kids. The view of the water is beautiful. Saw the sunset here. No dogs allowed except guide dogs which is a great rule for people who have kids. One of the cleanest outdoor places in Coventry. Has designated picnic benches. You can see the birds up close. There’s a little mini bridge to go around aswell. Lots of nice nature here

  • 5/5 ThisIsMexD 1 year ago on Google
    I recommend this place. for the whole day because there is something to do, this object is big. there will also be something for children. 😊👍

  • 5/5 Don 9 months ago on Google
    Really nice lovely reservoir, absolutely beautiful in terms of natural scenic views. Absolute must in the summer but you'll have to make sure your in good walking shoes or boots as walking around the reservoir takes time. Lots of flies so insect repellent is a must! Picnic area consists of a few benches which are no where near the reservoir so I'd skip on that. Visitors centre is good, refreshments and lavoratories. You just pay for parking and all is good. We left after 6:30pm which is closing time and it seemed people were still there so not sure how that works.

  • 5/5 Rian H. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place . The food at the cafe is nice as well.

  • 5/5 Daniel W. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a really good reservoir to have a walk around and enjoy some spectacular views, which there are a plenty. The facilities are excellent with a restaurant, small shop and toilets. There is a small display celebrating 50 years of the site. The walk around the reservoir takes just over 2 hours where the views are particularly breathtaking on a sunny day. Situated south of Rugby and east of Coventry makes it a perfect location. Overall a nice pleasant picturesque location for a walk.

  • 5/5 Lynda C. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent friendly cafe , good parking , plenty of water to walk round. Ducks, geese and swans to feed. Thank you to all who keep it tidy and litter free.

  • 5/5 Andy S. 1 year ago on Google
    Draycote Water is a great walk for all abilities. The path that surrounds the water is a hard solid path in excellent condition and can be used by people in wheelchairs, walkers of all ages, cyclist's, baby buggies, all with ease. There are some benches dotted around although not very many but there are plenty of grassed areas that can be used. I have used the cafe a couple of times and it's really good, great Coffee. The toilet facilities are good and clean as well. All in all I really enjoyed both my walks around Draycote Water.

  • 1/5 Tabitha J. 2 years ago on Google
    A lake walk that isn't dog friendly 🤯 ("incase pedestrians & cyclists trip" 🙈) & the older wardens are on a little power trip, though the younger one seemed better.

  • 5/5 Muthukumar S. 4 years ago on Google
    Lovely view, coffee shop and children park. Best for cycling and dog walk

  • 5/5 Sarah W. 4 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed a good long walk here. Nice path all the way round. Excellent for bikes

  • 5/5 Ben F. 4 years ago on Google
    Absolutely lovely to have a bike around and amazing services at the visitors centre. Would highly recommend a visit on a summer's day!

  • 5/5 Anghelina C. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing place for a walk, run or picking. Stunning place to watch the sunset

  • 5/5 Mark B. 2 years ago on Google
    Spent a lovely few hours walking around this reservoir which supplies drinking water to Rugby and Coventry. There is a flat, five mile tarmac road all the way around the reservoir (which is suitable for pushchair and wheelchair access). Car parking is available which opens at 7:30am every day except Christmas Day and closes at dusk from September to April and 18:00 from May to August.


Call +44 1788 811107 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Tourist attractions nearby

Coombe Country Park image
1
Coombe Country Park
Country park
500-acre park offering walking and wildlife in woods and by lakes, a restaurant and craft studios.
4.60 (3.3K reviews)
Ryton Pools Country Park image
2
Ryton Pools Country Park
Country park
Dog- & family-friendly park with a visitor centre/cafe, paved paths, wildlife viewing & play areas.
4.60 (2.6K reviews)
Caldecott Park image
3
Caldecott Park
Park
Town park featuring floral displays, play areas, a multi-use sports area & a cafe.
4.50 (1.6K reviews)
Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve image
4
Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve
Nature preserve
220-acre nature reserve offering a visitor centre, picnic area & tea room, plus bird hides & trails.
4.70 (899 reviews)
GEC Recreation Ground image
5
GEC Recreation Ground
Park
👍👍 Nice clean place, huge for any activities
4.40 (393 reviews)
Last updated:
()