Regent’s Canal – A Leisurely Walk in London

Trip Over to London

We had gone racing down to Westminster Pier in the hopes of catching the ferry out to Hampden Court Palace for the day. But once we arrived at the ticket office we found that the ferry wasn’t going that day because the tides up river on the Thames were too low…………..so a quick recalibration of the days plans was required.

The decision was made to go to Camden Town, then walk along Regent’s Canal.

From Westminster Pier it is a short walk along the riverside path to Embankment Underground Station, where we could catch the Northern Line to Camden Town. Emerging from the station we were swept into the colourful hustle and bustle of markets and amazing shopfronts. We had a wander around this area, the Chalk Farm Markets, the Stable Markets and Camden Town Markets. We found the statue of the wonderful Amy Winehouse, then walked up to Camden Lock to see where the walking path for the walk to Little Venice and the Paddington Basin begins.

There are various companies running trips on long boats down the Canal, but as it was a beautiful spring day the walk was more enticing. It takes anything from an hour to two, depending on the speed of your stroll, and how many times you stop to take photos, chat with other walkers or just look at all the things you come across along the way.

It was a lovely stroll, and it was definitely a stroll, possibly an amble, along what was once the tow path, where the big draft horses towed barges along the canal right up until the 1950s. Regents Canal opened in 1820 and was named after the Prince Regent, who later became King George lV.

Beautiful narrow boats are moored all along the canal, some look like they are permanent homes and others would be for leisurely summer jaunts along the English canals. There were people kayaking on the canal, a few stand up paddle boarders, the occasional tour boat and local bird life that lives along the canal.

After walking under Prince Albert Rd, look to your left. There is a bright red floating Chinese restaurant, the Feng Shang Princess, it looks very comfortable nestled in there, even if a little strangely out of place!

Continuing along the path, the London Zoo is on the other side of the canal, should you decide to visit the zoo, or head off into Regent’s Park, there are plenty of bridges to cross. We walked along the canal path working up a hunger, and thirst, so took a side excursion up the Maida Vale Rd for a nice pub lunch before heading back down to the canal for the last stretch to Little Venice.

Little Venice is an unbelievably pretty, watery little area, considering it is so close to Paddington Station. Surrounded by coffee shops, bars and restaurants, some on long boats it would be very nice to visit again one day.

After walking around to the Paddington Basin, rather than jump on the tube to go back to where we were staying in St James’s, we decided to keep on walking. Hyde Park wasn’t too far away, then as luck would have it – we found ourselves at the Dorchester having a couple of cocktails!!

While in London you might like to visit the beautiful Kew Gardens, or be part of London’s amazing history at the Tower of London. Or you if you are in Lndon at the right time of year, the Chelsea Flower Show is very inspirational, even for a non-gardener like me!