Right on our doorstep

I’m letting you in on a little secret, this picture wasn’t taken near the coast, or in a leafy country village, it was taken smack bang in the middle of N4 at Stoke Newington West Reservoir Centre.

If you stop by, you’ll see a hive of activity with boats and kayaks bobbing about on the water, and if you’re brave enough, you can take part in some open water swimming or sailing classes.

There’s also a great Waterside Cafe where you can enjoy a glass of wine and a bite to eat overlooking the water. When we visited, a live band added a lovely laid-back holiday atmosphere to the terrace.

The centre is a popular wedding and events venue and the 1930s four-storey Main Tower building features original water processing equipment, high above the heads of visitors below.

This place is a real find and it reminded me to explore closer to home as a real find could be just around the next corner.