Britain's official guide to canals, rivers and lakes

Monday 12th May 2008

Regent's Canal

From the River Thames at Limehouse to Paddington, the nine-mile Regent's Canal is one of the best-kept secrets in the capital.

Largely hidden behind buildings, the line sneaks its way through a rich collage of urban landscapes.

It starts at Little Venice - a colourful combination of boats and scenery at the junction between the Regent's Canal and the Paddington Arm. At Regent's Park, it passes the famous zoo in a fine example of an city canal line. After the bustle of Camden Market and the quieter reaches through north-east London, the line ends at Limehouse Basin, a well-heeled basin containing boats of all shapes and sizes. Along the way are several tunnels, city basins, and an astonishing variety of waterside architecture.