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!
En bref
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 | Montée totale | Temps de marche | Difficulté | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford to Hanwell | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) | 59 ft (18 m) | 1 hour 45 min | Facile |
| Regent’s Canal | 11.4 miles (18.34 km) | 69 feet (21 m) | 3 heures 40 minutes | Facile/ Intermédiaire |
| Colne Valley | 10.3 miles (16.57 km) | 331 ft (100.8 m) | 3 hours 30 min | Facile/ Intermédiaire |
| Colline de Horsenden | 2.7 miles (4.3km) | 177 ft (54m) | 1 hour | Facile |
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 Canal de la Grande Union 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 et le 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.
Lire le guide complet ici.
Logistics of Brentfor to Hanwell Canal Walk
- Distance:4.2 miles (6.8 km)
- Montée: 59 ft (18 m)
- Point culminant : 98 ft (29.8 m)
- Point le plus bas: 16 ft (4.9m)
- Estimation de la marche: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Difficulté: Facile
- Comment s'y rendre:
- 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.
- Ce qu'il faut emporter :
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. A pair of trainers is ideal due to the towpath being paved
- Sac à dos
- 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.
- Couvre-chef, crème solaire et lunettes de soleil si vous partez par temps clair, pour les mêmes raisons que celles évoquées ci-dessus.
- Informations complémentaires
- 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
- Il s'agit d'une promenade sans marches
- Dog-friendly walk
- Où manger et boire :
- 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
- Canal de la Grande Union
- 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.
Lire le guide complet ici.
Logistics of the Regent’s Canal Walk
- Distance: 11.4 miles (18.34 km)
- Montée: 69 feet (21 m)
- Point culminant : 135 ft (41 m)
- Point le plus bas : 13 ft (4 m)
- Estimation de la marche: 4 heures et 40 minutes
- Difficulté: Intermediate due to the distance
- Comment s'y rendre:
- 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
- Ce qu'il faut apporter:
- 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
- Informations complémentaires:
- There are public toilets in Camden Town, Granary Square and Victoria Park
- Il s'agit d'une promenade sans marches
- This walk is dog friendly
- Où manger et boire :
- 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?
Lire le guide complet ici.
Logistics of the Colne Valley Walk
- Distance: 10.3 miles (16.57 km)
- Montée totale: 331 ft (100.8 m)
- Point culminant : 364 ft (111 m)
- Point le plus bas : 98 ft (30 m)
- Estimation de la marche: 3 hours and 30 minutes at an average speed of 2.9 mph (4.7 kph)
- Difficulté: Intermédiaire
- Comment s'y rendre:
- 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
- Ce qu'il faut apporter:
- 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:
- Informations complémentaires:
- Il n'y a pas de toilettes publiques sur cette promenade
- Il s'agit d'une promenade sans marches
- Cette promenade est adaptée aux chiens
Highlights of the Colne Valley Walk
- Moor Park
- The sitcom The Good Life’s house
- Colne Valley Regional Park
- Le canal de la Grande Union
- 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.
Lire le guide complet ici.
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
- Montée : 177 ft (54m)
- Point culminant : 279 ft (85 m)
- Point le plus bas : 98 ft (30 m)
- Estimation de la marche: 1 hour for the 2.7 miles reference walk
- Difficulté: Easy to Intermediate depending on your ability to walk up the hill
- Comment s'y rendre:
- 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
- Ce qu'il faut apporter:
- 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
- Informations complémentaires
- There are public toilets at the Farm
- Il s'agit d'une promenade sans marches
- Cette promenade est adaptée aux chiens
Highlights of the Horsenden Hill Walk
- Community Farm & Farm Shop
- Gruffalo Trail
- Horsenden Hill Trig point
- Horsenden Wood
- Playground
- Canal de la Grande Union
- 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 ici.
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.
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