London Canals

Leaving Paddington Basin we come to Brownings Pool in the area known as Little Venice. Here there are trip boats that leave from here to London Zoo and Camden Town, and restaurant boats and a puppet theatre on a boat too.

Through another guaging stop and onto the Regent's Canal the start of the journey to Limehouse Basin and the River Thames.

Leading up to Maida Hill Tunnel the route is lined with long-term residential moorings.

Once through the tunnel and past some very grand houses we come to London Zoo with the large Snowdon Aviary on one side, we only spotted a warthog on the other. Unfortunately there are no visitor moorings, so we couldn't get into the zoo for a visit.



the boys enjoying a moment together

At Cumberland Basin the floating Chinese Restaurant is still there, I think the Black prince boat was winding.

Camden Town was quiet, the shops weren't open yet as we passed through.

no gongoozlers here today (yet)



Down through St Pancras lock, home to a busy and active cruising club, keeping things ship-shape on the London Canals.

And soon we were on to the Hertford Union taking the short cut through to the River Lee. At the first lock there was a problem, the next pound was drained to a trickle. A BW (or should that now be a CART) man was coming through on his bicycle and agreed we could let some water through to be able to cruise along, he phoned ahead to colleagues to let them know the situation. He blamed the local kids on their Easter holidays for playing around.

Here the pound is filling up, and once through and in the second lock, the gates were so leaky maybe it wasn't just the kids!

In the final lock and the water was flooding over the gates,

Then it was on to the River Lee, a quick look back at the Olympic Stadium

and we were off  heading away from the city.



Regents Canal and Hertford Union

8 miles, 10 locks, 2 tunnels