There are canal boat tours, canal boats that you can rent for a vacation and even houseboats. [4] The bridge was nick-named the 'Blow-Up Bridge'. [3], Just before 5am on 2nd October 1874 the narrowboat barge 'Tilbury' which was loaded with sugar, nuts, three barrels of petroleum and around five tons of gunpowder exploded right under the Macclesfield Bridge, just outside London Zoo. It is in a popular location in a beautiful setting in the Cumberland Basin. It was so much of an explosion that people ran from their homes thinking there had been a massive earthquake. If you'd like something to eat or have a cup of coffee visit the Waterside Cafe, housed on a canal barge, before starting the walk. Jason—the vessel—is an authentic canal … By the proposed railway, passengers and goods will be brought into the heart of the City at a great saving of time and expense, and facilities will be afforded for the more expeditious transmission of the mails to most parts of the kingdom.[7]. Journey along the canal by narrowboat. It performs a sharp bend at Camley Street Natural Park, following Goods Way where it flows behind both St Pancras railway stationa… First proposed by Thomas Homer in 1802 as a link from the Paddington arm of the then Grand Junction Canal (opened in 1801) with the River Thames at Limehouse, the Regent's Canal was built during the early 19th century after an Act of Parliament was passed in 1812. [2], The City Road Basin, the nearest to the City of London, soon eclipsed the Paddington Basin in the amount of goods carried, principally coal and building materials. It's very picturesque so the area makes for great photos. The canal is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) long.[1]. From white-stuccoed Victorian terraces, Regency villas and gorgeous gardens, to one of London’s most thriving houseboat communities, this Little Venice Canal Walk is a true gem of peace and tranquillity. As with many Nash projects, the detailed design was passed to one of his assistants, in this case James Morgan, who was appointed chief engineer of the canal company. : Cumberland Basin to the east of Regent's Park, Battlebridge Basin (close to King's Cross, London) and City Road Basin). In September 1845 a special general assembly of the proprietors approved the sale of the canal at the price of one million pounds to a group of businessmen[6] who had formed the Regent's Canal Railway Company for the purpose. A narrowboat must be under 7 feet wide with a maximum length of 72 feet. As the story goes, in the early morning of October 2, 1874, the narrowboat, Tilbury, was traveling down the canal carrying gunpowder to a quarry in the Midlands. The Regent's Canal forms a junction with the old Grand Junction Canal at Little Venice, a short distance north of Paddington Basin. (Having been to … 2020 marks 200 years since the official opening of the Regent’s Canal in 1820. The Regent’s Canal runs from the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal at Little Venice to Limehouse Basin. This waterway is a leisurely corridor through London, navigated by leisure boats and lined with quirky houseboats. Camden lock is part of Camden Town, formerly docks and stables on the Regent's Canal. Continuing eastwards beyond the Islington tunnel it forms the southern end of Broadway Market and meets the Hertford Union Canal at Victoria Park, East London. Regent's Canal Towpath: Thames River to Little Venice is a 9.4 mile point-to-point trail located near Tower Hamlets, London, England that features a river and is good for all skill levels. [11], In 2012, playwright Rob Inglis was awarded a £16,000 Arts Council grant to write Regent's Canal, a Folk Opera, a musical that celebrates the 200th anniversary of the digging of the canal. Further schemes over the next twenty years also came to nothing,[citation needed] with the Metropolitan Railway that opened to the south in 1863 serving much the same purpose of linking the lines radiating north of London. Chug Along Regent’s Canal On Your Very Own Picnic Boat By Alex Landon • 27 June, 2019 GoBoat lets you steer your very own motor boat along London’s canals. Free shipping. The Canal links the River Thames at Limehouse to the Grand Union Canal junction at Paddington. There are shops and cafes to enjoy. Pumped canal water is circulated as a coolant for the high-voltage cables. Visiting the Regent’s Canal is like stepping into a hidden world. Things to do nearby. The Regents canal opened in 1820 linking the Grand Union canal at Little Venice and the River Thames at Limehouse, providing an important industrial transport route. If you prefer a guided tour, check out this London Canals Walking Tour.. To start the tour, take the train to Warwick Avenue tube station and as you get off, walk up the avenue towards Little Venice… They … [10], The Regent's Canal forms a junction with the old Grand Junction Canal at Little Venice, a short distance north of Paddington Basin. [4] [5], All people on board died, these were captain Charles Baxton, a labourer named William Taylor, a third man and a young boy. You'll want to be on the opposite side of the canal to walk to Camden. The three canals enter the basin at the corners: the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal is to the west, the Regent's Canal is in the north-east corner and the short connecting canal of the Paddington Basinto the south east. The Canal and River Trust website offers many canal-side walks with maps and photographs. Many of the newer narrowboats now have steel hulls. Finish: Camden Lock OS Grid ref: TQ286840. This brilliant barge-based restaurant offers fine seafood based dining, … You'll often see fluted Greek columns and other decorative elements. 44 Reviews. The famous Regency houses, designed by architect Robert Nash and built in the early 19th century, can be seen on your walk from Little Venice to Camden. From modern day urban graffiti, unique architecture, industrial history to landscaped gardens and wildlife, the route gives … The canal is frequently used today for pleasure cruising; a regular waterbus service operates between Maida Vale and Camden, running hourly during the summer months. The bridge is more commonly known as "Blow up Bridge." Take a Tour of Little Venice. The canal … Canal walk in London. Regency architecture was classical in nature and was loosely based on elements from Greek and Roman architecture. Distance: Two miles. Travel from picturesque Little Venice to vibrant Camden Lock along the Regent's Canal. It's part of the locks system on Regent's canal and immediately to the north of Hampstead Road Locks, a double manually operated lock. Explore Little Venice. It continues through Camden Town and King's Cross Central. The opening of the London and Birmingham Railway in 1838 actually increased the tonnage of coal carried by the canal. Take the underground to the Warwick Avenue tube station and you'll be at Little Venice, named by the poet Robert Browning who lived overlooking the canal in the 1800s. Jason’s Original Canal Boat Trip takes you down a picturesque stretch of Regent’s Canal between Little Venice and Camden Lock. As you walk, there are many things to see, places to shop and dine, and scenery that will extend the length of your walk. The Feng Shang Princess is a large, floating red pagoda-style restaurant, complete with gold decorations and Chinese lanterns. The typical Regency house was constructed of brick and covered in stucco or painted plaster. Now just a little bit about its history: the Regent's Canal Company was formed in 1812 to cut a new canal from the Grand Union Canal's Paddington arm to Limehouse, where a dock, or basin, as they liked to call them in those days, would link the new canal … Regent's Canal is a canal across an area just north of central London, England. Little Venice to Camden on the Regent’s Canal/photo: Helen Earley As soon as we exit we find ourselves in an exciting new development called Paddington Central , an area designed to offer … In 1883, after some years of negotiation, the canal was sold to a company called the Regent's Canal and City Docks Railway Company. There’s also a remarkable canalside sculpture garden by outsider artist Gerry Dalton that lines the canal on the offside. Along the walk, you'll often get to see narrowboats on the water. The railway company subsequently failed, but in 1846 the directors of the canal went about trying to obtain an Act of Parliament to allow them to build a railway along its banks. Anything wider or longer will be unable to navigate most of the British canal network. The Macclesfield bridge was destroyed and rebuilt in 1876 reusing the cast iron pillars (made in Coalbrookdale according to an inscription at their top), but turning them by 180° (canal side towards tow path side) so, tow rope grooves that were created before the incident can be seen on the outer side of the columns. From the colourful collection of narrowboats at Little Venice it runs on through Regent’s Park, where it is overlooked by London Zoo’s … The Feng Shang Princess Restaurant was built back in the 1980s and was the first floating restaurant in London. Following on the success of the Grand Union’s Paddington Branch, the Regents was opened to exploit the potentialities offered by water transport. Start: Little Venice OS Grid ref: TQ262818. In 1860 the Regent's Canal Company proposed a railway track alongside the canal from Kings Cross to Limehouse, but funds could not be raised. Designed and built by John Nash, Regent’s Canal was completed and opened in 1820. It turns south towards the Limehouse Basin, where it meets the Limehouse Cut, and ends as it joins the River Thames. Little Venice is around the point where three canals meet to form a basin. After passing through the Maida Hill and Lisson Grove tunnels, the canal curves round the northern edge of Regent's Park, passing London Zoo and skirting round the base of Primrose Hill. Cafe Laville is a short walk from Little Venice and is right over the Regent's Canal so offers great views from inside. Parking: Car park at Paddington (charge) Train: Nearest stations: Warwick Avenue & Camden Road… However, by the early twentieth century, with the Midland trade lost to the railways, and more deliveries made by road, the canal had fallen into a long decline. Until now, take a boat trip … The narrowboats were constructed especially for travel on London's narrow canals. The area is considered a counter-culture haven and has a thriving club scene with well-known jazz musicians playing at the Jazz Cafe and the Roundhouse. Every Saturday at 2 pm, you can catch a guided tour of Little Venice … ​, 10 Things to Do Along London's Regent's Canal, Get Visitor Info About ZSL (Zoological Society London) London Zoo, Camden Market - How to Spend A Day of London Retail Madness, Free London, England Experiences for the Kids, The 9 Best Venetian Gondola Rides of 2021, Walking Tour of "Notting Hill"; Film Locations, The Picturesque Kerala Backwaters and How to Best Visit Them, The 10 Best Neighborhoods to Explore in London, 10 Cool Things to Do in London's King's Cross Neighborhood, Walk the Regent's Canal in London: Little Venice to Camden. There were a number of abortive projects to convert the route of the canal into a railway. Camden Lock is a great place to leave the canal and shop or dine at Camden Markets. A short walk east from Little Venice will take you round the edge of Regent’s Park where the immaculate rears of some of London’s grandest villas can be spied, with terraced gardens sloping down towards the canal. Walking beside the Regent's Canal in London from Little Venice to Camden is a wonderful way to pass a few hours. These were goods that were being shipped locally, in contrast to the canal's original purpose of transshipping imports to the Midlands. The scheme was abandoned in the face of vigorous opposition, especially from the government who objected to the idea of a railway passing through Regent's Park. To acquaint yourself with London's waterways, visit the London Canal Museum on New Wharf Road in London. [12] It played in a number of locations around London in 2012. Work began on 14 October 1812. item 5 The Regent's Canal An Urban Towpath Route from Little Venice … It now offers Japanese cuisine as well. The one-to-two-hour route passes beautiful houseboats at Little Venice, Nash Regency … item 4 The Regent's Canal: An Urban Towpath Route from Little Venice to the Olympic Par 3 - The Regent's Canal: An Urban Towpath Route from Little Venice to the Olympic Par. Various intermediate basins were also constructed (e.g. … Regency terraces, or row houses, are seen in many parts of London. Here the canal joins the Tidal Thames and Limehouse Cut. Debris flew in all directions, the roofs of surrounding houses blew off, windows smashed, trees uprooted and dead fish rained down on the West End. Until the explosion, the Tilbury was part of a convoy consisting of a tugboat and three narrowboats travelling westwards heading for a quarry in the West Midlands. It actually used to be called London’s Venice. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and feature Italian food. Noted architect and town planner John Nash was a director of the company; in 1811 he had produced a masterplan for the Prince Regent to redevelop a large area of central north London – as a result, the Regent’s Canal was included in the scheme, running for part of its distance along the northern edge of Regent's Park. The Canal passes … You'll reach Macclesfield Bridge on your walk. All the locks were built with duplicate chambers to facilitate the heavy barge traffic. Even if you don't stop for something to eat, its worth a photo or two. The canal company that owned Tilbury was condemned for gross negligence in permitting the “highly imprudent and improper” practice of carrying petroleum and gunpowder aboard the same barge. The canal opens out into Battlebridge Basin, originally known as Horsfall Basin, home of the London Canal Museum. These 400 kV cables now form part of the National Grid, supplying electrical power to London. The tugboat’s keel was found embedded in a house 300 yards away. The navigational depth is, on average 1.15 m (3 ft 6 in). It's fun to watch the boats go through the locks. at a cost of £1,170,585. The company altered its name to the North Metropolitan Railway and Canal Company in 1892, but no railway was ever built; instead it raised money for dock and canal improvement and eventually, in 1904, became the Regent's Canal and Dock Company.[6]. There are plenty of places to stop off along the way – not least London Zoo, which the Regent’s Canal runs right through – so you can make the walk as action-packed or quiet as you like. The length of the sides of the basin are about 120 yards (110 m) from the Regents Canal to the other two corners and the length from the Paddington arm to the paddington basin canal is slightly longer at abou… When the bridge was rebuilt, they turned the pillars around so that they offered a smooth surface for boats' towing ropes so look for the rope grooves on both sides of the pillars. Today, the canal is a leisurely corridor … Regents Canal Waterbus Boat Trip Camden Lock to Little Venice, London. Laura Porter is an experienced UK travel writer specializing in all things to do with London. The junction of the three canals forms a triangular basin within which is a small island. It covers a part of it that takes you from West London to Central London. [citation needed], On the Regent's Canal the maximum length is 21.95 metres (72.0 ft), with a beam of 4.27 metres (14.0 ft) and a headroom of 2.79 metres (9 ft 2 in). Regent’s Canal Ramble: Little Venice to King’s Cross. The most characteristic Regency designs survive today in terrace housing. You can buy your ticket on board the boat. Eventually, they were replaced with steam and then diesel engines. Full description. Stop for Chinese at the Floating Restaurant. This picturesque corner of London lies at the point where the Regent's Canal … National Cycle Route 1 includes the stretch along the canal towpath from Limehouse Basin to Mile End. [8], Due to the increase in cycle commuting since the 2005 London Bombings[9] and increasing environmental awareness, the canal's towpath has become a busy cycle route for commuters. The Grand Union canal runs for 220 kilometres north-north-west of Little Venice until it reaches Birmingham. One, from a company called the Central London Railway and Dock Company, was accepted by the directors, but once again the railway company failed. [13], Explosion of the barge Tilbury under the Macclesfield Bridge, 'Cycling on London's Waterways', British Waterways London, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://canalrivertrustwaterfront.org.uk/history/the-great-barge-explosion/, https://londonist.com/london/history/the-explosive-history-of-blow-up-bridge, "Musical writer Rob Inglis finishes off folk opera script from hospital bed", Canalplan AC Gazetteer: Grand Union Canal (Regent's Canal), Plan of Grand Union Canal (Regent's Canal), More background information and history of the Regent's Arm, Regent's Canal, Camden markets, history and pictures, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Regent%27s_Canal&oldid=998246418, Articles needing additional references from October 2012, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 January 2021, at 13:46. After passing through the Maida Hill and Lisson Grove tunnels, the canal curves round the northern edge of Regent's Park, passing London Zoo and skirting round the base of Primrose Hill. [7] The advertisement for the company explained: The vast importance of this undertaking, whereby a junction will be effected between all existing and projected railways north of the Thames, combined with the advantage of a General City Terminus, is too obvious to require comment.