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Soon You Can Surf in London, Too

While Britain isn't the first destination that springs to mind when we're considering a surfing holiday, it's true that the south coast around Devon and Cornwall can get pretty flush with surfers. After all, there's even a regular surf blog out of Britain. But now, they say, the surf beaches are getting so crowded they need a more high-tech solution.

And this solution will come in the form of the world's first artificial outdoor surfing machine, on the River Thames in East London. A project by the Venture Xtreme group, it will include an artificial beach, palm trees and barbecues, along with the all important wave machine.

Don't book your tickets yet, as the attraction isn't due to open until 2011. At the moment they're predicting costs like £30 ($60) per hour (that's about six bucks a wave), but with a few years until opening day and the chance of delays and cost blowouts, the per wave price might increase by the time you get your board there. It also gives you a few years to decide whether "chlorine surfing" is cool enough or if you should just stick to the real waves.

Related Stories:
· Chlorine Surfers Wave Goodbye to Packed Beaches [Guardian]
· Surf Surprise: Hang Ten in the UK [Jaunted]

[Photo: G.E.Long]