Regent's Canal is over 200 years old and 13.8 km long, cutting through some of the most well known parts of the capital, for example the towpath route allows visitors to stroll (or cycle) from Victoria Park to Regent's Park.
Regent's Canal, via Canal & River Trust:
The Regent’s Canal is one of London’s best-kept secrets - a peaceful haven often hidden by the surrounding buildings. Today it is well-loved by boaters, walkers and cyclists all looking to escape the capital’s busy streets, but this gem of a canal was all too nearly converted into a railway. [..]
Walking along the Regent's Canal is always a pleasant experience. Step of the busy pavement, onto the towpath and recharge your batteries.
The story begins
In 1812, the Regent's Canal Company was formed to cut a new canal from the Grand Junction Canal's Paddington Arm to Limehouse, where a dock was planned at the junction with the Thames. The architect John Nash played a part in its construction, using his idea of 'barges moving through an urban landscape'.
Completed in 1820, it was built too close to the start of the railway age to be financially successful and at one stage the Regent’s only narrowly escaped being turned into a railway. But the canal went on to become a vital part in southern England's transport system.
