Narrowboats and towpaths: London’s canals, the back story

About Narrowboats and towpaths: London’s canals, the back story

By the ULTIMATE London Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

London’s canals were the motorways of the early 19th century. The Regent’s Canal, from Little Venice to Limehouse, now offers a quiet, green route through the city.

The Regent’s Canal

The Regent’s Canal opened in the 1820s, linking the Grand Union Canal at Paddington with the Thames at Limehouse. Horse-drawn boats carried coal, timber and ice across London.

Little Venice

Little Venice, where the canals meet near Warwick Avenue, is a pool of moored narrowboats with cafés and a puppet theatre afloat.

The canal towpath is London’s best-kept secret shortcut.

Camden and King’s Cross

East of Regent’s Park, the canal passes London Zoo and reaches Camden Lock and its markets, then continues to King’s Cross, where the London Canal Museum tells the canals’ story.

On the water

The London Waterbus Company runs boat trips between Little Venice and Camden; walkers share the towpath with cyclists, so keep to one side.

Our advice: walk from Little Venice to Camden in the morning, have lunch at the market, and continue to King’s Cross for the Canal Museum and Coal Drops Yard.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Narrowboats and towpaths: London’s canals, the back story before you go.