The River Leam flows through central England in Warwickshire, running approximately 32 miles (51 kilometres) before joining the River Avon as a tributary. The river passes through Royal Leamington Spa, where it runs between tree-lined banks and alongside riverside gardens, including Jephson Gardens and the Welches Meadow and Leam Valley Nature Reserves, both maintained by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

The primary Mill Gardens on Mill Road (CV31 1BE) access point for paddlers in Leamington Spa is at Mill Gardens on Mill Road, where the Leam Boat Centre operates directly at the water's edge. From this launch site, paddlers can head upstream through Welches Meadow and the Leam Valley Nature Reserve, or downstream toward Warwick Castle and Saxon Mill. The river eventually connects to the River Avon, with the Grand Union Canal also accessible nearby. One paddler's account describes the through-town route as approximately four miles. The entry at some points can be difficult, and there are at least two weirs to negotiate along the river, which represent the primary hazards paddlers should be aware of and plan for accordingly.

No licence is required to paddle the River Leam, according to Go Paddling. The Leam Boat Centre is a British Canoeing registered provider and offers hire of canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowing boats, and pedalos, as well as introductory and training sessions for paddlers of all abilities.

The Leam Valley Nature Reserve, immediately east of Leamington Spa, borders the river and offers notable wildlife interest. Kingfishers are known to breed along the river, and otters have been recorded in the area. The reserve also supports a range of dragonflies and damselflies, including banded demoiselle, darters, chasers, hawkers, and the emperor dragonfly. Fish species including roach, perch, and common bream are present in the river. The elusive grass snake may also be spotted swimming among aquatic vegetation such as arrowhead, yellow water-lilies, and flowering-rush.

The river passes through a historically significant spa town; Leamington Spa developed around its mineral springs, with Georgian architecture and formal gardens lining sections of the riverbank. The overall character of the paddle through Leamington Spa is an urban river experience with accessible nature reserves upstream and historic landmarks along the route.