Canal Guides

Aileen, Carla, Charlie, David, Flora, John, Lulu, Mike G., Naomi, Richard and Roger all have many years’ experience of the Inland Waterways and have explored them extensively by narrowboat (and, in Roger’s case, canoe). They’re all active members of the Inland Waterways Association, which works in partnership with us to provide the towpath walks in the London Walks programme.

All of Canal Guides's Walks

The Regent's Canal – River Tyburn to Little Venice
The Regent's Canal – River Tyburn to Little Venice

Sunday, 05 May 2024 @ 2.30 pm

"we step into a different world here, a different world bouquet’d with incidental delights – 'The Upside Down House', for example..."

The Grand Union Canal – Kensal Green to Little Venice
The Grand Union Canal – Kensal Green to Little Venice

Saturday, 18 May 2024 @ 2.30 pm

"the Cinderella of London's canal network"

Grosvenor Canal & Battersea Power Station
Grosvenor Canal & Battersea Power Station

Sunday, 19 May 2024 @ 2.30 pm

Combines the hidden byways of London's most secret canal and the Thames' mightiest cathedral. 

The Regent's Canal – Mile End to Limehouse
The Regent's Canal – Mile End to Limehouse

Sunday, 26 May 2024 @ 2.30 pm

"from the Age of Canals to cutting edge, 21-st century London"

The Regent's Canal:   King's Cross-Granary Square-Camden
The Regent's Canal: King's Cross-Granary Square-Camden

Sunday, 02 June 2024 @ 2.30 pm (Click here for more dates)

The London of a couple of centuries ago. A London of tunnels and bridges and narrowboats and locks.

River Wandle & Wandsworth Canal
River Wandle & Wandsworth Canal

Sunday, 16 June 2024 @ 2.30 pm

"there's no lovelier piece of lowland scenery in South England..."

The Regent's Canal - Little Venice to Camden Town
The Regent's Canal - Little Venice to Camden Town

Sunday, 07 July 2024 @ 2.30 pm (Click here for more dates)

Life's better by water...

The Regent's Canal - King's Cross, Granary Square, St. Pancras
The Regent's Canal - King's Cross, Granary Square, St. Pancras

Sunday, 21 July 2024 @ 2.30 pm (Click here for more dates)

"unseen, untrodden, unexplored, unknown London beckons"

Four Hundred Years of the New River
Four Hundred Years of the New River

Sunday, 04 August 2024 @ 2.30 pm

It's not new and it's not a river...

Limehouse - Thames - Docklands
Limehouse - Thames - Docklands

Sunday, 18 August 2024 @ 2.30 pm (Click here for more dates)

"part gentrified, part solidly working class"

The Secrets of the Northern Queen Elizabeth Olympics Park
The Secrets of the Northern Queen Elizabeth Olympics Park

Sunday, 25 August 2024 @ 2.30 pm

"unique in Britain. A double radial gate lock, it was designed to cope with floods and tides..."

Other walks in Canal Guides's repertoire.

They run occasionally as 'Specials' but can also be booked privately.

Grand Surrey Canal, Rotherhithe, Mayflower, Surrey Water, Greenland Dock
Grand Surrey Canal, Rotherhithe, Mayflower, Surrey Water, Greenland Dock

"We've got an old canal here. And a dock. And memories. And traces..."

The Grand Union Canal – Little Venice & Paddington Green
The Grand Union Canal – Little Venice & Paddington Green

"a secret corner of London closed to the public for 200 years"

Grand Surrey Canal, Royal Navy Victualling Yard, Greenland Dock
Grand Surrey Canal, Royal Navy Victualling Yard, Greenland Dock

A get away from it all walk – down on that towpath it's 200 years ago. 

The Regent's Canal – Mile End to Haggerston
The Regent's Canal – Mile End to Haggerston

"Welcome to an English rainforest of different types of trees and plants. Then a POW! of a contrast..."

Royal Victoria Dock to East India Dock Towpath Walk
Royal Victoria Dock to East India Dock Towpath Walk

A new towpath walk created by the London Walks team of Regent's Canal guides (in conjunction with the IWA – Inland Waterways Association)

The Regent's Canal – Islington to Kingsland Road
The Regent's Canal – Islington to Kingsland Road

"ankle power, water power, horsepower, steam engine power, electric power, internal combustion engine power – the walk, er, runs the gamut"

The Regent's Canal:   King's Cross-Granary Square-Camden
The Regent's Canal: King's Cross-Granary Square-Camden

The London of a couple of centuries ago. A London of tunnels and bridges and narrowboats and locks.

Limehouse - Thames - Docklands
Limehouse - Thames - Docklands

"part gentrified, part solidly working class"

The Regent's Canal – King's Cross to Hitchcock's Hackney
The Regent's Canal – King's Cross to Hitchcock's Hackney

out of the chrysalis of old 19th-century industrial London into the buzz of a new London

The Regent's Canal - King's Cross, Granary Square, St. Pancras
The Regent's Canal - King's Cross, Granary Square, St. Pancras

"unseen, untrodden, unexplored, unknown London beckons"