Explore the highlights and hidden gems along the Regent’s Canal, an 8.6-mile waterway linking the Paddington Basin and the Limehouse Basin in London, England.
01
from 10
Take a kayak tour
Direction
Windsor Leisure Center Day Care , Stovell Rd , Windsor SL4 5JB , UKGet directions
Telephone
+44 845 453 2002
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See London from a different perspective by taking the water in a kayak. A 90-minute guided excursion with London Kayak Tours covers the main attractions along the Regent’s Canal, including Camden Town, London Zoo, Little Venice and Regent’s Park. Tours are led by British Canoe Union instructors and are suitable for experience levels, including children ages 9 and up.
02
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Explore little Venice
This picturesque corner of London is located at the point where the Regent’s Canal meets the Grand Union Canal. The waterways here are lined with colorful narrow boats and you can jump between cafes, bars and restaurants at the water’s edge. The streets of the area are home to beautiful regency-style houses.
03
from 10
Dine at a floating Chinese restaurant
Direction
Southern Star Cumberland Basin, Prince Albert Rd , Londres NW1 7SS , Reino UnidoGet directions
Telephone
+44 20 7485 8137
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Savor traditional Chinese dishes like dumplings and crispy Peking duck in the quirky surroundings of Feng Shang Princess, a floating restaurant in the Cumberland Basin of the Regent’s Canal. This converted narrow ship was handmade in the 1980s and is decorated with authentic Chinese-style interiors. Said to be one of Paul McCartney’s favorite Chinese restaurants.
04
from 10
Buying books on a converted barge
Direction
Regent’s Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW, UKGet directions
Telephone
+44 7976 886982
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Word on the Water is London’s only floating bookstore. It’s packed with affordable books and features live music and poetry events on the roof of a restored Dutch barge from the 1920s. It was saved from closure after a passionate campaign and is now permanently moored in Granary Square near the station. from King’s Cross.
05
from 10
Cruise aboard a traditional narrow boat
Direction
CAMDEN LOCK, Camden Lock Place / West Yard of, Camden Lock Market , Londres NW1 8AF , Reino UnidoGet directions
Telephone
+44 20 3763 9981
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Cruise the smooth waters of the Regent’s Canal on a traditional narrow boat between Little Venice and Camden. The London Waterbus offers regular service throughout the year (weekends only during the winter months) and sells a 50 minute journey past elegant waterfront mansions and through the Maida Hill tunnel. You can also purchase a London Zoo ticket that includes a boat ride through the zoo, as the boats have access to a canal gate just inside the attraction.
06
from 10
Sip cocktails at East London Liquor Company
Direction
GF1, 221 Grove Rd, London E3 5SN, United KingdomGet directions
Telephone
+44 20 3011 0980
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Nonconformists flock to this former glue factory turned into a pub on the edge of Victoria Park for alcoholic beverages made at the local distillery. The bar is right next to the Regent’s Canal on the Hertford Union Canal and serves artisan cocktails made with its own brand of gin, vodka and whiskey. Stop by for a potent drink or learn about drunken botanicals with a tour and tasting.
07
from 10
Watch a puppet theater show on a barge
Direction
opposite, 35 Blomfield Rd, London W9 2PF, UKGet directions
Telephone
+44 20 7249 6876
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The Puppet Theater Barge is an intimate playhouse on a converted barge in Little Venice. The 55-seat venue was founded in 1982 by the Movingstage theater company and hosts regular puppet shows for children and adults between October and July. The barge is moored in Richmond between July and September.
08
from 10
To visit a museum
Direction
12/13 New Wharf Rd, London N1 9RT, UKGet directions
Telephone
+44 20 7713 0836
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Learn all about the history of London’s waterways at the London Canal Museum. Explore inside a narrow boat and learn about the people who have lived and worked on the canals over the years. The museum building used to be an ice storage warehouse for a famous ice cream maker and dates back to 1862. The museum runs regular tunnel trips, a guided narrow boat tour through the long Islington Canal Tunnel.
09
from 10
Explore la plaza Buzzy Granary
Direction
Granary Square, London N1C 4PQ, UKGet directions
Granary Square is a bustling canal-side hub near King’s Cross Station. It features over 1,000 choreographed fountains that dance throughout the day and light up at night. The square is home to a number of trendy restaurants, including Caravan, an industrial-chic spot that serves brilliant lunches, and Dishoom, a Bombay-style restaurant serving Indian street food. In the summer months, the steps leading to the canal are carpeted to provide a comfortable seating area. Regular events take place in the square throughout the year.
10
from 10
See a spectacular moving bridge
Direction
S Wharf Rd , Londres W2 1NW , Reino UnidoGet directions
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Right off the Regent’s Canal in the Paddington Basin, the Rolling Bridge is an eye-catching bridge with an innovative design that allows it to curl up in an octagonal shape. Created by British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the bridge is made of eight triangular sections that can be rolled into an octagonal ball to let ships pass. Every Friday around noon, it is deployed for people to cross.
