London's canals are quite special - you can take a few steps down from a busy London street, and find yourself in this world:
People work here
and live here
a lot of cyclists use the tow paths on their daily commute
whizzing past the water and the graffiti....
The Regents Canal in North East London was completed in 1820, to join up with the Grand Junction canal which goes through North West London and Paddington. Together they are the London section of the Grand Union canal - so its possible to travel from the midlands right through London and out to the West, entirely by narrow-boat.
One of the most famous bits of canal is Camden Lock which must be one of the busiest too, especially at the weekends when the Markets are open.
I more often find myself in Islington towards the end of the day - waiting to meet a friend for a date at Sadlers Wells theatre and marvelling at the reflections and the late sunshine on the water.
yes, yes, yes! I love the canal boats, even knew someone living in one once. These photos are great.
ReplyDeleteHubby and I are coveting a narrow-boat vacation - found a website all about them and are trying to figure out when/how we can pull it off!!
ReplyDeleteSort of England's equivalent of the Intercoastal Waterway! I'm assuming people live on many of those canal boats.
ReplyDeleteEloquent photos. I particularly like the feather resting on the still surface in the last one, like a price paidfor escape.
ReplyDeleteThe unique architecture agains all that water seems so balanced. And all of the colorful boats and buildings look like a magical world.
ReplyDeleteStunning tour, thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove the graffiti, and late sun reflections.
Thanks for sharing.
I've been to London many times and youre right these are little hidden snippets I've never seen. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! Fantastic!
ReplyDeletelovely bit of armchair travel. thanks for revealing a bit more of hidden london! like the street art.
ReplyDeleteRiver life holds so much charm. i love the stencils x
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful back yard! Look like lot of great climbing trees, too. -Jayne
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that there were such tranquil canals amid the crazy hubbub that is London. Thank you for your tour, I loved it.
ReplyDeleteI love those little canal boats - remind me of "Little Toot". So cute.
ReplyDeletei loved seeing the houseboats of London , Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Staring at them. Wondering what must it be like to live in one for a full year-- & experience a river life all year round?
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to see these...they are so cool!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo nice. J-pup and I will be visiting London, hopefully, this coming spring.
ReplyDeleteLoved this! So Amsterdamesque!
ReplyDeleteLove the name of the one boat: Maid Marian. That's exactly how my mom spelled her name: with an "a" instead of the usual "o".
Thanks for a special peek behind the busy scenes!
Beautiful and something I never saw when I was there! I hope you are doing well, Lettuce!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! I think I remember seeing a canal when I walked through the Maida Vale section of London while staying up near Paddington. Maybe it was the Grand Central canal you mentioned? (I saw it from Edgware Road.)
ReplyDeletereminds me of the Canal du Midi next to which I lived for a year.
ReplyDeleteCheers to you.
beautiful pics.. oh i'd love to live on one of those narrow-boats! love that graffiti too :)
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