The Regents Canal runs from the Thames at Limehouse to its junction with the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. It passes through Mile End, Bethnal Green, (under) Islington, Camden and alongside Regents Park and through the middle of London Zoo. When built it was on the edge of London so all the mains railway lines into London cross the canal to reach Euston, St. Pancras and Kings Cross. The canal used to pass through some of the worst slums, now these ares have been wped out and replaced with new apartments. There is little left of the industry that once needed the canal but the modern canal is just as important as a leisure facility for the people of London. It is very popular with cyclists, joggers and runners.
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Hertford Union Canal | Islington Tunnel | Camden | Little Venice |
Limehouse Basin is now surrounded by new apartments and is home to leisure boats. In its working days it was the link between the River Thames and the canal network. It is said that it was so full of working boats you could wak from one side of the dock to the other across them. The Limehouse Cut now also enters the Dock.
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| River Thames |
Limehouse Ship Lock |
Limehouse Ship Lock |
Thames Path |
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| Walkers Signpost |
Limehouse Basin |
Limehouse Basin |
Commercial Road Lock |
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| Commercial Road |
Salmon Lane Lock |
Lock House |
Lone Chimney |
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| Johnsons Lock |
Johnsons Lock |
A Brick Bridge |
Mile End |
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| Mile End Road |
Mile End Lock |
Mile End Lock House |
Parish Boundry Stone |
As the Regents Canal reaches Victoria Park it meets the short Hertford Union Canal. The Hertford Union Canal was an indepedent canal linking the Regent's with the Lee Navigation. It opened in 1830 and was not a commercial success. It is just one and a quarter miles long with 3 locks. |
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| New Development |
Hertford Union Canal |
Graffiti |
Old Ford Lock |
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| Stables by Old Ford Lock |
Canal Bridge by Victoria Park |
Bethnal Green |
Underneath the Arches |
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| Gas Works |
convertable narrowboat |
Bethnal Green |
Actons Lock |
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| Haggerston |
Haggerston Bridge |
Rope worn Bridge |
Runners on the Towpath |
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| Bridge Map |
Kingsland Bridge |
Kingsland Basin |
Whitmore Bridge |
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| Canalside Living |
Sturts Lock |
Wenlock Basin |
Bridge Between Basins |
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| Narrow Boat Pub |
City Road Basin |
a Norman |
City Road Lock |
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| City Road Lock |
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Islington Tunnel is 960 yards long and is London's longest canal tunnel. It has no towpath so walkers have to find their way over the top through the streets of Islington. It passes underneath the Angel and Pentonville. The tunnel was completed in 1818. Boats were pulled through by a steam tug on a continuous chain.
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| Islington Tunnel |
View from the tunnel top |
Boats near the Tunnel |
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| Islington Tunnel |
Looking down the tunnel |
View from the Tunnel |
Islington Tunnel |
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| Islington Tunnel |
View from Thornhill Bridge |
Canalside Apartments |
New buildings by the canal |
The London Canal Museum is in a former ice store on the side of Battlebridge Basin. It is a small museum but worth a visit. It has a well stocked little shop with canal books and DVDs. |
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| Battlebridge Basin |
London Canal Museum |
Regents Canal Boundary Marker |
London Canal Museum |
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| Kings Cross |
Stop Lock |
St. Pancras Lock |
St.Pancras Lock 111 |
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| Eurostar |
St Pancras Basin |
Looking along the canal |
New apartment buildings |
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| The Regents Canal |
The Regents Canal |
Royal College Street |
Camden Road |
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| Camden Road |
Modern Canal Houses |
Grey Heron |
Grey Heron |
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| TV-AM Egg Cup |
Rope Worn Metal |
Approaching Camden |
Hawley Lock |
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| Hawley Lock |
Hawley Lock |
Canal Market |
Kentish Town Road |
Maybe the most visited part of the Regent's Canal is Camden Lock. Camden's markets bring thousands of tourists to the canal. The old Dingwalls Wharf site, formerly a timber yard, is now a complex of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. |
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| Hampstead Road Bridge |
Hampstead Road Bridge |
Hampstead Road Lock |
Signpost |
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| Hampstead Road Lock |
Hampstead Road Lock |
Hampstead Road Lock |
Hampstead Road Lock |
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| Hampstead Road Lock |
Hampstead Road Lock |
Hampstead Road Lock |
Hampstead Road Lock |
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| Cmaden Canal Market |
Camden Canal Basin |
Shops at Camden |
Camden Lock |
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| Camden |
Rope marks |
Towpath at Camden |
Pirates Castle |
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| Railway Bridge |
Houses by the Canal |
Gloucester Avenue |
Regents Park Road |
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| Cumberland Basin |
Bridge Makers Mark |
Metal Bridge near the Zoo |
Bridges Makers Mark |
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| Parish Boundary Stones |
Lord Snowdens Aviary |
Macclesfield Bridge
Blow-Up Bridge |
Bridge 8 carrying the River Tyburn |
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| Looking towards bridge 8 |
Along the canal |
One of the fine Georgian Houses |
London Central Mosque |
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| The Regents Canal |
Moorings on The Regents Canal |
Eyre's Tunnel |
Eyre's Tunnel |
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| Maida Hill Tunnel |
Maida Hill Tunnel |
Maida Hill Tunnel |
The Regents Canal |
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| Bloomfield Road Private Moorings |
Maida Hill Tunnel |
Bridge Number 1 |
Toll House |
Browning's Pool is named after the poet Robert Browning (1812 -1889) who lived nearbyin Warwick Crescent. It is a triangular basin with the Regents Canal, Paddington Arm and Grand Junction Canal all meeting. There is an island in the middle of the basin, popular with ducks and geese. There is a floating cafe and a floating theatre here. Its a popular spot to sit and watch barges on the move. |
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| Start of the Regents Canal |
Brownings Pool |
Grand Junction Canal |
The Paddington Arm |
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London's Lost Rivers by Paul Talling, 2011
Walks and photographs of London's Lost Rivers and Canals. |
CAMRA's London Pub Walks by Bob Steel, 2006
Includes walks which take in the Regents Canal |
Globetrotter Walking Guide
Walking London's Docks Riversand Canals by Gilly Cameron Cooper, 2005
A good guide with maps of waterside walks in London. |
Cicerone Guide: Canal Walks Vol. 3 South by Dennis Needham, 1997
Includes the Regents Canal |
Discovering London's Canals by Derek Pratt, 1987
A good little book a bit old now but a nice read. |
Exploring the Regent's Canal by Michael Essex-Lopresti, 1987
A good history and explanation of the Regents Canal with guided walks |
London's Canal by Herbert Spencer, 1961
An illustrated History of the Regent's Canal. |
| www.londoncanals.co.uk Photos and History of Londons Canals. |
| www.londonslostrivers.com Photos of the Lost Rivers and Canals of London |
| www.canalmuseum.org.uk Website of the London Canal Museum |
