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Twelve wide-beam locks and two tunnels. The Islington Tunnel is 960 yards long. The Maida Hill Tunnel is 272 yards long. Both tunnels are wide enough to allow two narrow boats to pass each other or a single wide-beam boat to navigate through.
Our 'Lock Count' includes Locks 1a & 1b which, ordinarily would be as a single lock. This 'Lock Counting' method is unique to just a handful of canals on the network.
Note: Loading Locks & Bridges at the same time on large & complex maps can be cluttered.
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Lock Gates
Tunnel AqueductSpanning over 200 years, lets delve into its industrial past, and its transformation into a modern leisure waterway.
The Regent’s Canal is one of London’s most historic and scenic waterways. Spanning 8.6 miles, it runs from Paddington Basin in the west to the Limehouse Basin in the east, where it meets the River Thames.
Where Does It Run?
The canal winds its way through Little Venice, Regent’s Park, Camden Town, King’s Cross, Islington, and Mile End, before reaching Limehouse. Today, this route is lined with parks, towpaths, houseboats, cafes, and redeveloped industrial sites that have become part of modern London life.
The Vision Behind the Canal
London in the Early 19th Century
At the dawn of the 1800s, London was booming with trade and industry. However, transporting heavy goods like coal, timber, and building materials across the city was slow and costly. Roads were congested, and the River Thames was not suitable for efficient internal transport.
Why the Regent’s Canal Was Built
To solve this, entrepreneurs and engineers proposed a new canal that would link the Grand Junction Canal at Paddington to the River Thames at Limehouse — creating a direct route for goods entering London from the Midlands and beyond. This new waterway would make it easier and cheaper to deliver coal and supplies into the heart of the capital.
The Regent’s Canal was designed by James Morgan, a young civil engineer who had been an assistant to the great John Nash, the architect responsible for much of Regency London’s development. Nash also acted as a key advisor and promoter of the canal.
The project was supported by a group of influential investors and received Royal Assent in 1812. The canal was named after Prince Regent (later King George IV), whose patronage lent prestige to the venture.
1802: Proposed by Thomas Horner
1812: The Regent’s Canal Act was passed by Parliament.
1813: Construction began under James Morgan’s supervision.
1816: The first section opened from Paddington to Camden.
1820: The full length of the canal was completed to the Thames at Limehouse.
Engineering Feats – Tunnels, Locks, and Aqueducts
Building the canal was a major engineering challenge. It included:
The Islington Tunnel, over 960 yards long — allowing the canal to pass beneath Islington without locks.
Several locks, including Camden, St. Pancras, and Hampstead Road Locks.
Aqueducts and bridges, built to carry the canal over roads and railways.
From the 1820s to the early 20th century, the Regent’s Canal was a lifeline for London’s industries. Barges and narrowboats carried coal, timber, ice, bricks, and building materials, feeding the capital’s factories, homes, and gasworks.
Warehouses sprang up along the canal’s route, many of which still stand today as redeveloped apartments, art spaces, and restaurants. The Ice Wharf in Camden and Battlebridge Basin near King’s Cross are examples of these industrial remnants.
Camden became one of the busiest hubs, with horses pulling barges through the locks. Paddington Basin served as a key interchange point, connecting the canal network to goods arriving from the Midlands.
By the mid-1800s, the rise of the railways transformed transport. Trains were faster, more reliable, and could carry larger loads. The Regent’s Canal could no longer compete with this new technology.
The Canal’s Struggle for Survival
Although some goods continued to move by barge — especially coal and building materials — traffic gradually declined. By the early 20th century, large parts of the canal had fallen into disrepair.
After World War II, the canal was at risk of closure. However, a growing number of enthusiasts, local groups, and the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) began campaigning for its preservation.
In the 1960s and 70s, responsibility passed to the British Waterways Board, which helped stabilize and reopen the canal for leisure use. Volunteer groups restored towpaths, locks, and tunnels, turning the canal from an industrial relic into a public amenity.
King’s Cross and Battlebridge Basin now host stunning redevelopments, while Islington Tunnel remains a marvel of early 19th-century engineering. Limehouse Basin, at the canal’s eastern end, connects directly to the River Thames.
Preservation and Conservation Projects
Organizations like Canal & River Trust now manage the canal, ensuring its preservation for future generations. Educational programs highlight its industrial past and ecological importance.
Museums and Heritage Trails
The London Canal Museum near King’s Cross provides fascinating insights into the canal’s history, featuring original barges and ice wells once used for ice imports.
Q1. Who built the Regent’s Canal?
The canal was designed by James Morgan and supported by John Nash, with construction beginning in 1813.
Q2. When was it completed?
It opened fully in 1820.
Q3. Why was the canal built?
To transport coal and goods across London more efficiently during the Industrial Revolution.
Q4. How long is the Regent’s Canal?
It stretches 8.6 miles (13.8 km) from Paddington to Limehouse.
Q5. What is it used for today?
Mainly for leisure boating, walking, cycling, and tourism, as well as residential moorings.
Q6. Who manages it now?
It is overseen by the Canal & River Trust.
From an ambitious 19th-century industrial project to a beloved 21st-century leisure route, the Regent’s Canal has undergone a remarkable transformation. Built to power London’s growth, it now connects communities, preserves heritage, and offers a peaceful escape within the heart of the city. Its towpaths and waters continue to reflect the story of London itself — one of innovation, resilience, and reinvention.
Users of the information displayed in this website or in websites linked to directly or indirectly, do so on the basis that it is a guide only. I Do Canals or its directors, partners or associates do not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies, omissions, costs incurred or disappointments of any kind what-so-ever. It is the users responsibility to check directly with any services, displayed, listed or linked to in or from this website, or associated parties with regards to (but not limited to) directions, costs, facilities, services, hospitality, availability, accommodation, etc. There is no implied recommendation for any of the entries or firms listed, nor is any criticism implied for any entry or firm not yet listed.
We have added 103 Waterways and there are 3100 entries listed and displayed on our maps and/or the resource pages:
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Waterside Attractions. We continue to add items on a very regular basis.
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