Take a deep breath of fresh air with this best canal walks in London selection. No need to go far to find nature in the Capital city. With the Grand Union Canal and the Regent’s Canal passing through the city, you have plenty of options to enjoy a pleasant stroll on a sunny day. And with the GPS maps of the walks available for free, you can’t get lost!
At A Glance
In a hurry? No problem! Check the table below for the key data on the Best Canal Walks near London. I go into more detail for each walk in this article.
| Distance | Total Ascent | Walking Time | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford to Hanwell | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) | 59 ft (18 m) | 1 hour 45 min | Easy |
| Regent’s Canal | 11.4 miles (18.34 km) | 69 feet (21 m) | 3 hours 40 min | Easy/ Intermediate |
| Colne Valley | 10.3 miles (16.57 km) | 331 ft (100.8 m) | 3 hours 30 min | Easy/ Intermediate |
| Horsenden Hill | 2.7 miles (4.3km) | 177 ft (54m) | 1 hour | Easy |
Best Canal Walks in London
Now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walks. You will find all the maps of these walks at the end of this article.
1 – Brentford to Hanwell
Let’s start our selection of the best canal walks in London with this gentle stroll along the Grand Union Canal from Brentford to Hanwell. Starting at Boston Manor Park, a haven of greenery in the middle of the glass buildings, the walk goes on to join the bank of the Grand Union Canal all the way to the Hanwell Flight of Locks and the Wharncliffe Viaduct. Enjoy the calmness of nature and the freshness of the water in the heart of the city. Perfect for a peaceful promenade on a sunny day.
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of Brentfor to Hanwell Canal Walk
- Distance:4.2 miles (6.8 km)
- Ascent: 59 ft (18 m)
- Highest Point: 98 ft (29.8 m)
- Lowest Point: 16 ft (4.9m)
- Walking Estimate: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- How to get there:
- South Western Railway train from London Waterloo Station to Brentford Station. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
- For the return, take a Great Western Railway or an Elizabeth Line train from Hanwell Station to Paddington Station. The journey takes 20 minutes
- The outbound and inbound journeys are not operated by the same train line so you cannot book a day return ticket. However, both stations are on the TFL network, so you can use your Oyster Card or contactless payment instead of booking a train ticket.
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. A pair of trainers is ideal due to the towpath being paved
- Backpack
- Snacks
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day. Please note that the banks of the Grand Union Canal are pretty much exposed with few options to find cover.
- Headcover, sunscreen and sunglasses if you are going on a bright day for the same reason as above
- Additional Information
- There are toilets in Boston Manor Park, but you need to check if they are open before going due to the improvement works taking place in the park
- This is a stile-free walk
- Dog-friendly walk
- Where to eat and drink:
- There is a Cafe in Boston Manor Park, but please check before going if it is open due to the ongoing improvement works taking place in the park
Highlights of the Brentford to Hanwell Canal Walk
- Boston Manor Park
- Grand Union Canal
- Hanwell Flight of Locks
- Wharncliffe Viaduct
- River Brent
2 – Regent’s Canal
This is the ULTIMATE canal walk in London. Discover London with a new perspective walking alongside the Regent’s Canal from Maida Vale to Canary Wharf. The walk takes you through some of the most popular landmarks in the Capital, from the London Zoo to the Pagoda in Victoria Park passing by the lively and quirky Camden Market. “Take a stroll through London Town“, as Tom Walker would say in his song, from West to East, from posh Little Venice to a modern financial district.
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Regent’s Canal Walk
- Distance: 11.4 miles (18.34 km)
- Ascent: 69 feet (21 m)
- Highest Point: 135 ft (41 m)
- Lowest Point: 13 ft (4 m)
- Walking Estimate: 4 hours and 40 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate due to the distance
- How to get there:
- We are doing the walk from Warwick to Canary Wharf. You can of course do it the other way around.
- Bakerloo Line to Warwick Avenue Station in Zone 2 or Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf in Zone 2
- What to bring with you:
- You can leave all the fancy gear at home, this is a city walk.
- Wear comfortable footwear with cushioning as you are walking on concrete
- Depending on the weather wear layers that you can take on and off while walking. A T-shirt, a pair of leggings and a fleecy top will do perfectly well
- Bring a backpack with you to carry water and snacks or even lunch if you are not planning to buy it on the way.
- Bring a headcover, sunglasses and sunscreen as the path is exposed
- Additional information:
- There are public toilets in Camden Town, Granary Square and Victoria Park
- This is a stile-free walk
- This walk is dog friendly
- Where to eat and drink:
- There are plenty of options on the way as you are in the city
- My recommendation is to stop at Camden Market for lunch and the Big Easy in Canary Wharf for drinks and nibbles at the end of the walk
Highlights of the Regent’s Canal Walk
- Regent’s Canal
- Little Venice
- Regent’s Park
- London Zoo
- Camden Town
- Gasholder Park
- Granary Square
- Hackney Sharks
- Victoria Park
- Canary Wharf
3 – Colne Valley
Not so popular among Londoners, but what a great surprise when you get there! The Colne Valley is a 43 square miles (111 square km) Regional Park in North West London with a branch of the Grand Union Canal flowing through it. Starting in Moor Park, you make your way to the Colne Valley park and its endless meadows with cows and horses, before arriving at the bank of the Grand Union Canal and ending in Uxbridge. Who would have thought that finding the countryside in London could be so easy?
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Colne Valley Walk
- Distance: 10.3 miles (16.57 km)
- Total Ascent: 331 ft (100.8 m)
- Highest Point: 364 ft (111 m)
- Lowest Point: 98 ft (30 m)
- Walking Estimate: 3 hours and 30 minutes at an average speed of 2.9 mph (4.7 kph)
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Tube: Metropolitan Line to Moor Park Station
- Buses: 331, R1, R2. Get off at Batchworth Heath
- For the way back: Metropolitan or Picadilly Line from Uxbridge
- What to bring with you:
- Comfortable footwear and clothing. You are walking on easy terrain so you could wear trainers
- Sunscreen, head cover and sunglasses if the sun is out and rain gear and gaiters if it is not the case.
- Take a backpack to carry water (2L recommended), snacks and a packed lunch – unless you plan to stop for food in a pub on the way.
- Food stops:
- Additional Information:
- There are no public toilets on this walk
- This is a stile-free walk
- This is a dog-friendly walk
Highlights of the Colne Valley Walk
- Moor Park
- The sitcom The Good Life’s house
- Colne Valley Regional Park
- The Grand Union Canal
- Colne River
- Broad Water Lake
- Denham Deep Lock
- Uxbridge
- Uxbridge Lock
4 – Horsenden Hill
We end our selection of the best canal walks in London with the Horsenden Hill loop.
But it is a hill, not a canal you would ask?
And you are correct, indeed. Horsenden Hill is the highest point in Ealing (85 m) with the Grand Union Canal at its feet, so technically it is (still) a canal promenade. Walk up the hill, where you encounter some of Gruffalo‘s friends’ sculptures (there is a Gruffalo trail on site), and descent through forested areas and meadows before reaching the canal to close the loop. There is also a working farm and a farm shop to enjoy some local products at the end of the walk.
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Horsenden Hill Walk
- Distance:
- There are a variety of walks you can do on Horsenden Hill including Gruffalo Trail which is ideal for kids.
- I have put below the map of the 2.7 miles (4.3km) walk I have done as a reference, but there are many more you can do
- Ascent: 177 ft (54m)
- Highest Point: 279 ft (85 m)
- Lowest Point: 98 ft (30 m)
- Walking Estimate: 1 hour for the 2.7 miles reference walk
- Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate depending on your ability to walk up the hill
- How to get there:
- Central Line to Perival then it is a 10 minutes walk to the car park where the trail starts.
- Alternatively, you can take bus 297 which will take you much closer. Get off at Perival Community Centre stop and walk to the car park
- What to bring with you:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear.
- You will be climbing a hill as well as walking through a forested area where the path can get muddy if it has been raining during the week.
- I would recommend hiking shoes or a pair of trainers that you do not mind getting dirty.
- Bring with you a snack and a packed lunch as there is a kids’ playground which is perfect for a picnic.
- On a bright day, bring sunscreen and a headcover as you will be walking through open lands
- Additional Information
- There are public toilets at the Farm
- This is a stile-free walk
- This is a dog-friendly walk
Highlights of the Horsenden Hill Walk
- Community Farm & Farm Shop
- Gruffalo Trail
- Horsenden Hill Trig point
- Horsenden Wood
- Playground
- Grand Union Canal
- Horsenden Hill Activity Center
- Sudbury Golf
- Walk part of the Capital Ring
Best Canal Walks in London Maps
Do you want to do the same walks? Simply download the GPS maps by clicking on the link below the image. If you need some help understanding how to upload the maps into your navigation app, check my step-by-step guide here.
Final Thoughts on the Best Canal Walks in London
Now you strolled the best canal walks in London, why not venture outside of the Capital city? The Grand Union Canal continues its course in Hertfordshire. You can walk part of it after ascending the Ivinghoe Beacon on the Bekhamstead Circular walk or stay on the canal banks for a lovely promenade from Berkhamstead to Tring.
And you, what are your favourite canal walks in and outside of London? Let me know in the comments below.
Like these walks? Pin them!
[…] Related Content: Best Canal Walks in London […]