The Regent’s Canal in London was established as the city’s waterway in the early 19th century – even today the canal enjoys great popularity with locals and tourists alike.
Getting around London on foot as a tourist can be quite tedious – the Regent’s Canal offers a welcome change for visitors to the metropolis who want to move away from the well-known tourist magnets of London. Here you will find useful information in case you want to discover the Regent’s Canal on your own.
History and course of the waterway in London
The Regent’s Canal was opened in 1820 to facilitate the movement of goods in the capital of England. Goods could be transported more quickly and easily on the waterway than on city streets. The Regent’s Canal connected the docks with Paddington and included twelve locks and three tunnels. Regent’s Canal was in commercial use until the 1960s, which was then converted into a recreational area for the city of London in the 1970s. The canal runs through some of the city’s most densely built-up areas. If you want to get to know the Regent’s Canal, you can do it on foot or with a tour boat.
Regent’s Channel: Tips for Exploring
The most popular tour in London along the Regent’s Canal is the so-called Towpath between Little Venice and Camden, which you can walk to in about an hour. Allow approximately 3.5 hours for the Little Venice to Limehouse route, which is about 12 kilometers long. In any case, Little Venice is the ideal starting point, which is best reached via the Warwick Avenue or Paddington underground stations. In Little Venice itself, the waterway impresses above all with the idyllic sight: in addition to houseboats, there are many small gardens that go perfectly with the noble and quiet district of London. In Camden, expect the hustle and bustle of the alternative market, which takes place all year round.
