Little Venice, London Zoo , Camden Market and Regents Canal from Hemel Hempstead

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Booking Office : PO Box 57, Budleigh Salterton. Devon. EX9 7ZN. England.

Cruise this route from : Winkwell Dock

View the latest version of this pdf Little-Venice,--London-Zoo-,-Camden-Market-and-Regents-Canal-from-Hemel-Hempstead-Cruising-Route.html

Cruising Days : 7.00 to 0.00 Cruising Time : 40.75 Total Distance : 76.00 Number of Locks : 66 Number of Tunnels : 2 Number of Aqueducts : 0

Little Venice is home to quirky waterside cafes, cosy pubs, and charming restaurants and boasts some of the most interesting independant theatre venues in London .

Regent’s Park combines large open spaces with tree-lined pathways, formal gardens.

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. Today it houses a collection of 698 species of animals, with 20,166 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

Cruising Notes

See Canals & Rivers Trust website (link can be found below under useful links) if you wish to pre-book moorings in London Along the Regents Canal moorings are provided at Kingsland, Battlebridge and Cumberland Basins all by prior arrangement, and at St.Pancras, east of Islington Tunnel, Little Venice, Bulls Bridge, Cowley Lock, Limehouse, and Brentford Gauging Lock. Also moorings at Little Venice, Camden, Kings Cross, Islington, Victoria Park-Old Ford Lock 8(just before the junction with the Hertford Union canal) ,

For Tourist information about London go to the visit london link (below under useful links).

Cruising notes

Day 1

You start your cruise with the trainer who will accompany you through your first locks. Your first lock comes very shortly after you start at Winkwell, the canal follows the course of the River Bulbourne as you approach Hemel Hempstead. Hemel Hempstead is a well planned new town with excellent shops built around a charming old town with attractive streets. The Old Town Hall is an Arts centre in a Victorian building with an imaginative programme of theatre, comedy and music.

Along the canal are various large Paper Mills which the area is famous for.

To the east of the canal close to Lock 67 is the Paper trail- a fully working Victorian paper Mill, with visitor centre and tours . - Frogmore Paper Mill is the world's oldest mechanised paper mill - the birthplace of paper's industrial revolution. Today it is still a working paper mill producing around 100 tonnes of specialist grade paper every year on historic paper machines. Open- 2017 – Every Thursday and the first Sunday of each month from 11.00 to 16.00. Open for pre-booked group visits only on all other days.

It is 2 hours to Apsley Mill visitor moorings and a good place to stop for the night.

By Bridge 67 is a large pub with canalside seating- the Paper Trail.

Day 2

The canal continues to descend, and leaves Hemel Hempstead behind.

Kings Langley is soon reached, there is a useful store just west of bridge 158.

Kings Langley is a small country town and there are the remains of a palace there. The tomb of Edmund de Langley, brother of the Black Price lies in the Norman church.

At the peaceful village of Hunton Bridge by bridge 162 is the Waterside Tavern which has moorings.

The canal follows the course of the River Gade, so twists and turns through the valley. Cassiobury Park is, a long and lovely stretch of wooded parkland and just to the south is a famous ornamental stone bridge that the Earl of Essex insisted that the canal company build before he allowed them to build a canal through his park. The park was once part of the 17th C gardens of the Earls of Essex , and in the avenue of limes many of the trees are 300 years old. The Park stretches for 190 acres.

On the outskirts of Rickmansworth is Common Moor to your left and Croxley to your right where part of the old village still survives with several attractive houses around the village green, and Watford where the canal keeps well away from the town and instead climbs through .

You can Moor for the night close to bridge 173 it is 6.5 hours to here , at Blatchworth Locks in a marquee on the lawn between the locks is Anni's Kitchen serving drinks and snacks in conjunction with the Canal Centre there.

Just after the lock is a Tesco supermarket with moorings for patrons. Rickmansworth is off to your right north of bridge 173.

Day 3

The canal turns away from Rickmansworth, and old chalk quarries adjoin the Canal.

There are some interesting 16th century farm buildings close by to Stockers Lock.

There are canal side pubs at bridge 180 and 177.

Black Jack's lock and Copper Mill Lock are very attractive with tiny timbered cottages, a small mill, and attractive canal side buildings. The big mill at Copper Mill was once a paper mill, but when the Canal was built it re-invented itself and made copper sheets for the bottom of boats.

East of Bridge 80 there are shops at South Harefield.

The canal continues northwards past the village of Denham through a landscape of lakes, woods and mills across Harefield Moor, a stretch of common land with much wildlife to enjoy.

Between the A40 Road bridge and 183 Denham Bridge there is a gravel wharf on the off-side loading into large barges, so beware of them operating and allow them to manoeuvre in the deepest part of the channel.

Uxbridge Lock is in an attractive setting with a lock-keepers cottage at the side, and a modern flour mill with lovely landscaped gardens right down to the waters edge.

The Swan & Bottle Pub is by Bridge 185 and has moorings. In the early 19th Century the Paddington Packet Boat used to run daily from Paddington to Cowley , pulled by 4 horses, it made the 15 mile lock free journey in a remarkable time, taking passengers up and down the canal.

The Battle of Britain was directed by the late Air Marshal Lord Dowding from the RAF HQ in Uxbridge. The town has a selection of modern and futuristic buildings.

There is a large shopping centre in Uxbridge, access from Bridge 186.

Cowley and Uxbridge to your left are the start of the outer suburban belt that surrounds London.

The main traffic on the Canal is the late 1800's was bricks made from the local clay.

At Cowley Peachey Junction keep towards Little Venice and Brentford you pass Yiewsley, West Drayton and Hayes Town, before turning left at Bulls Junction along the Paddington Arm to Little Venice, the main canal goes to Brentford and the River Thames. At this junction there was a large British Waterways yard which is now a 24 hr Tesco Supermarket if you need to stock up on supplies.

At Uxbridge Road Visitor moorings by bridge 20 you can stop for the night as you will have cruised for just over 6 hours The Hamborough Tavern is canalside .

Day 4

Continue along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal . Horsenden Hill and Perivale Wood provide a long stretch of beautiful hilly parkland along with Greenford Golf Course which adjoins the Canal. Between bridges 11 and 12 there is a useful Sainsburys supermarket right by the canal with moorings, and again by Kensal Green Bridge, just to the west.

When you reach Little Venice the Paddington basin is straight on, but you will be swinging left. However if you wish to get into the West End, Covent Garden, or any part of London, Paddington underground (Tube) station is very close and allows you to catch the Tube to all parts of the City. These days if you have a card with touch facility,you don't have to buy a ticket for trains or buses in London, you just touch your card at the beginning and end of your journey and your card will be automatically charged.

There are extensive moorings stretching west at Little Venice, also a pump out, toilets and full boater facilities. Groceries are available nearby. Little Venice is an oasis of tranquility. It's thought to have been so-named by the poet, Robert Browning. It is home to many boats, including a floating art gallery, puppet theatre and café. Lovely picnic spots include the Rembrandt Gardens. Grab your picnic hamper and enjoy the sunshine surrounded by flowers. Moorhens, Coots, Tufted Ducks, Pochard, Greylag and Egyptian Geese are all common sights on the canal and the local wildlife is never more alive than in the summer months. It is 3.5 hours cruising to here from Uxbridge Road bridge. Time to get out and explore!

The Regent’s Canal is one of London’s best-kept secrets - a peaceful haven often hidden by the surrounding buildings. Locks are padlocked, you will need a Watermate key. Cruise along the Regents Canal which is tree lined with glorious Regency houses until you reach the Maida Vale Tunnel , check for oncoming boats through the tunnel, as there is only room for one boat .

After the tunnel you can moor by Park Road Bridge 7 .

Regents Park to your right is soon reached. Regents Park was originally part of Henry V111's great hunting forest in the 16th C.

The Park is surronded by very impressive Regency terraces & Gateways.

Park Road bridge 7 is the best access to Madame Tussauds & the Planetarium and the Sherlock Holmes Museum are along Park Road.

Moor just after Lisson Grove bridge 2 and walk along the canal to Bridge 7. London Zoo is situated canalside, moor just after footbridge 12 for access to the Zoo near the Cumberland Basin.

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828 and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. In 1831 or 1832 the animals of the Tower of London menagerie were transferred to the zoo's collection. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of 698 species of animals, with 20,166 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

At the Cumberland Basin the canal swings away to your left , there is a large Morrisons Supermarket off to the left as you go over the railway.

Camden Visitor moorings are between Regents Park road bridge 15 and Fitzroy bridge 16. Its is 4 hours to here from Uxbridge Road visitor moorings .

Camden market is off to your left - Eclectic market with youthful vibe and stalls/shops selling fashion and accessories, music and more. Contine to Oblique Bridge 31 and turn your boat just before St Pancras lock, it is an hour each way back to Camden Moorings so you will have cruised for 6 hours today.

Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Cruise the 20 hours back to the Marina

Useful Links

The information above is provided in good faith to assist you with planning your canal boat holiday. Information accuracy cannot be guaranteed, however, if you do see something that needs updating, please don't hesitate to contact us.