The Best Canal Walks in London

Date post added: 30th January 2026

Think London waterways and the mighty River Thames is likely to spring to mind. And a walk along the Thames Path is a wondrous thing. But London isn’t only shaped by that river. There’s a network of canals in London that are integral to our great city.

There’s something slightly hidden about a canal. It may only be a few metres away from a main road, but it feels so much further. A walk along a canal path introduces you to a quieter London. Narrowboats drift beneath cast-iron bridges. Willow trees sweep the water. Herons stand in the shallow waters. Artists and baristas flourish in former industrial units or on narrowboats.

Across the capital, canals form a hidden network of towpaths where the city moves at walking pace. Canal walks can take you from West London, through Central London and across to East London. You’ll experience a London there that you miss entirely on public transport.

London’s canals offer some of the most varied and rewarding walks in the city. London’s canals are home to floating communities, rare urban wildlife and some of the city’s most distinctive waterside architecture. In the space of a single afternoon you can take in such diverse and sublime surroundings.

Here, we’ll share our favourite London canal walks. We’ve been guiding London canal routes for 50 years, so we certainly know their best bits and the lesser-known hidden gems along the way.

Why walk London’s canals?

London has over 100 miles of navigable inland waterways. You can walk many of them from end to end. We truly believe that canal walks are different from almost every other London walk. That’s a large part of their magic. Walking the canals isn’t about ticking off landmarks. It’s about seeing London differently.

Canal routes are flat and accessible. These towpaths were generally designed for horses and boats, not cars. That’s great news for walkers and cyclists alike.

They’re immersive, encouraging you to look up and around rather than down at your phone. They offer constant visual interest. Take in boats, bridges, locks, reflections and waterside life unfolding as you go.

Canals connect places in an alternative way to pavements and roads. They tell stories of trade, innovation, industry and reinvention. These stories continue to play out along the water today. And new ones are constantly emerging.

For an unparalleled canal walk experience, take a London Walks tour. Our London canal walks are lead by incredible guides. Saying they’re knowledgeable is only the half of it. All of our London Walks canal guides are members of the Inland Waterways Association. Many of them own canalboats or barges themselves. They have genuine expertise, local knowledge, amazing insights and first-hand stories to draw on.

Canal walks in London

The most well-known is the Regent’s Canal. It runs from Little Venice in West London to the Limehouse Basin in the east. That’s where the canal connects with the River Thames.

The Grand Union Canal may not be the most famous, but it is the longest. It extends from Paddington in West London all the way to Birmingham in the Midlands. It’s about 137 miles long and around 14 miles (23 km) of that runs through Greater London.

Limehouse Cut is London’s oldest canal and is only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. It’s dead straight and traverses urban East London. It provides a shortcut between the River Thames at Limehouse and the River Lea (Lee Navigation), avoiding the long tidal loop of the Thames.

Hertford Union Canal is another short stretch of water at only a mile long. Like the Limehouse Cut, it provides a connection to the River Lea. This link is between the Regent’s Canal and Lee Navigation.

What will I see on the Regents Canal Walk?

We don’t like to play favourites as we find all London canal walks fascinating. But the Regent’s Canal walk offers something rather magical. There’s so much to see along the way, from iconic London sights to unusual and enchanting wonders. You may even catch a glimpse of a monkey or two!

Highlights include:

• Little Venice
• King’s Cross
• Islington
• Regent’s Park
• London Zoo
• Camden Lock
• Camden Market
• Hackney Wick
• Mile End Park
• Victoria Park and more.

Some of the more obscure places along the towpath, and our favourite waterside sites, include the Puppet Theatre Barge, the Word on the Water floating bookshop and the London Canal Museum.

Canalside cafes and restaurants

All this walking can build up an appetite. There are some lovely canalside cafes and eateries to visit along the way. Sitting beside the water and taking in these sublime surroundings with a great brew is a wonderfully simple pleasure.

• Waterside Café: Beside Browning’s Pool in Little Venice, this floating cafe on a barge also sells pre-loved books
• Café Laville: A hidden Italian gem, it’s perched on a bridge overlooking the canal near Maida Vale
• Darcie & May Green: Enjoy an Aussie-style brunch on a colourful barge at Paddington Basin
• Crepes + Coffee: A cute café on a converted narrowboat along the Grand Union Canal in Alperton, North West London
• Number 90: This waterside bar in Hackney Wick serves up great cocktails and decent burgers in an arty space
• Lilla Flicka Bakery: Set inside a renovated barge in Upper Clapton, this bakery serves freshly baked croissants that melt in your mouth. Open weekends only.
• Feng Shang Princess: This floating Chinese restaurant near Regent’s Park serves up outstanding Asian food in their spectacular venue on the canal
• The Lock Tavern: This Camden Lock pub is a popular place for a drink or bite to eat by the water. There’s often live music happening too
• Broadway Market: Just a short walk from Regent’s Canal in East London, this buzzing weekend market is well worth a pitstop for delicious street food
• Crate Brewery: Craft beer and pizza in a former factory canalside in Hackney Wick.

Are there guided tours available for canal walks in London?

Absolutely, there are! We offer around 30 guided tours for canal walks in London. And they’re guided by people who truly know and understand these amazing waterways.

We’re running a series of canal walks which take place on Saturdays or Sundays. You can pick the section of canal that interests you most or you could walk a different stretch on different dates. Each walk is two-hours long and we pack an awful lot of stories and info into that time.

Upcoming canal walks:

The Regent’s Canal – Little Venice to Camden Town

The Regent’s Canal – King’s Cross to the Canal Museum (circular tour)

North Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

400 Years of the New River

The Regent’s Canal – Mile End to Limehouse

The Regent’s Canal – Kings Cross, Granary Square, St Pancras

Limehouse – River Thames – Docklands

The Regent’s Canal – River Tyburn to Little Venice

Other canal walks on offer:

You could also choose one of these varied canal walks. We’re happy to provide a private tour for a small group if there’s an area that piques your interest.

The Regent’s Canal – Mile End to Haggerston

Grand Union Canal – Kensal Green to Alperton

Wandsworth Canal and River Wandle

Grosvenor Canal and Battersea Power Station

Grand Surrey Canal – Rotherhithe, Russia Dock Woodland, Greenland Dock

Grand Union Canal – Uxbridge to Little Britain and West Drayton

River Lee Navigation – Enfield to Ponders End

Royal Victoria Dock to East India Dock

Contact us to find out more and chat about your ideal walk

About our canal guides

All the London Walks canal guides are members of the Inland Waterways Association. Many of them are barge owners themselves. They have genuine expertise, local knowledge, amazing experiences and first-hand stories to draw on. You’ll gain such incredible insights into London’s canals on one of their guided walks. It’s the reason London Walks’ canal walks are the gold standard.

London canal FAQs

What is the longest canal walk in London?

At about 137 miles long, the Grand Union Canal is the longest canal. Around 14 miles (23 km) of it runs through Greater London. It stretches from Paddington Basin in West London via Uxbridge and The Chilterns and on toward Birmingham. We offer various Grand Union Canal walks focussing on stretches in London and out to Uxbridge.

The Regent’s Canal is a more manageable 8.6 miles long. We also offer guided tours of the Regent’s Canal in bitesize chunks – two-hour walks.

How long does it take to walk the Regent’s Canal?

All of our canal walks take two hours. We walk particular stretches of the canal on each walk.

To complete the entire Regent’s Canal typically takes 3-4 hours. It’s an 8.6 mile walk. But you could easily take twice as long if you stop to take in the sights, enjoy canalside cafes and detour to discover delights like Primrose Hill, Maida Vale and Victoria Park.

Is Little Venice in London worth visiting?

Most definitely, yes. It’s such a pretty part of West London. Take the tube to Warwick Avenue and start your Little Venice experience from there. Our Little Venice Canal Walks blog will show you the unmissable highlights of the area.

Which London canal walk offers the best scenery?

We don’t pick favourites! Each canal walk has its own merits.

Regent’s Canal has such a variety of things to see. From London Zoo to Camden Market, feats of industrial engineering to tranquil havens, there are many highlights to absorb along the canal route.

Grand Union Canal is one of contrasts. It links one industrial city to another (London and Birmingham). Once you leave Central London and head west, you’ll find beautifully serene sections which feel decidedly rural.

Limehouse Cut is great for industrial architecture and Dockland history.

Walk with our London canal guides

We’ve designed the best walking routes to take in iconic sights and discover excellent tales from the canal bank. Our canal guides have such extensive knowledge on these waterways, that you’ll get a true picture of life on the water. Book a canal walk with a London Walk guide to discover a more peaceful slice of London life.