Discover London's East End waterways

The campaign, Yours to enjoy anytime, will see over 100,000 residents receive their own guide to the waterways, along with advertising and waterside offers to tempt locals to the towpath.

East London ring of waterways - an undiscovered gem

British Waterways London is focussing its campaign on the East London ring of waterways, which are currently a relatively undiscovered gem, in an attempt to get people to explore what’s on their doorstep, rather than the more well-known waterside locations in Central and West London.

In 2007 nearly two-and-a-half million visits were made to the towpath in Camden, well over a million people took to the waterside at Little Venice, but only 200,000 visitors made it to the green stretch of towpath running alongside Mile End Park. The Yours to enjoy campaign aims to reverse this trend and see East London’s waterways become a visitor attraction in their own right.

Encouraging local people to discover what’s on their doorstep

Mark Blackwell, business development manager, British Waterways London, said: "This campaign aims to encourage local people to discover what’s on their doorstep. The canals and waterways of East London can be everything from an active day out, cycling or walking the 10km loop, to the location for a leisurely towpath stroll, or a gastronomic treat taking in waterside pubs, restaurants and cafes.

"East London’s waterways have just as much, if not more, heritage, attractions and open spaces than those across town, and we want to make sure people enjoy all that’s on offer in this great location. I’m hoping that when we see next year’s visitor numbers the East End waterways are up there competing with the more well-known spots such as Camden Lock."

The campaign showcases the best in waterside attractions, walks and wildlife around the 10km loop of waterways comprising the Regent’s Canal, Limehouse Cut, River Lee Navigation and the Hertford Union Canal.

Walking, cycling or boating the full circle of waterways, visitors can boast they've completed the length of a whole canal by exploring the 1.75 miles of the Limehouse Cut, toured Britain’s oldest standing mill at Three Mills Island, enjoyed the green spaces of Victoria Park which runs alongside the Hertford Union Canal or gongoozled at one of the many locks on the Regent’s Canal.

It's not unusual to see kingfishers by day and bats by night

For nature lovers the canals offer a green getaway from the urban environment, and it’s not unusual to see kingfishers by day and bats by night along the Regent’s Canal, whilst the ecology area of Mile End Park which borders the canal is home to rare orchids, moths, spiders, dragonflies and damselflies.

James Bidwell, chief executive, Visit London, added: "London's waterways are a fantastic asset to our city. They provide great opportunities for walking, boating and wildlife watching. They are an important part of Visit London's current Great Outdoors campaign, which inspires Londoners to make the most of the capital's many outdoor spaces and alfresco activities. I would encourage all Londoners to explore hidden gems like the East London waterways this summer."

Download a Guide and map to the East End's canals and London Docklands