Towpath Walks from London Canal Museum

Explore the Regent's Canal on foot with a guide from London Canal Museum. Two walks are available.. Both start from the museum along the canal towpath. The route is via local streets to join the Regent's Canal at Caledonian Road from which point we make a short detour to visit the west portal of Islington tunnel. Then we follow the towpath west to St. Pancras Lock. After this the two walks have different destinations:

The Camden walk is leisurely and the walk is suitable for anyone including wheelchair users, but you should of course be able to cope with the distance of about a mile and a half (2 km). The camden walk lasts about 90 minutes and ends up at Camden, London's famous market, which you can explore when we arrive (Not evening walks). Your guide can advise you about the frequent bus and Underground services which can take you back to King's Cross if you need to return, for example to collect your car, or you can walk back in under half an hour.
The Water Tower Panoramic Walk takes us to the top of a magnificent tower. After St. Pancras Lock we cross over the lock, and then visit the huge Victorian water tower that was moved from St. Pancras Station, where it once provided water for steam trains. We will climb up two flights of stairs to the top where there is a fine view of the area. This walk is only suitable for fit people due to the nature of the lock and the water tower. People who are in any way infirm will not be able to take part (apart from the first part as far as St. Pancras).
The Cumberland Arm Walk proceeds to Camden via the towpath with brief explanation of the history as we pass reminders of the canal's working days. Then we explore the remains of the long-closed Cumberland Arm to Cumberland Market. The walk will take up to two hours and will end near Euston Station.
The "Footsteps" walk explores the route eastbound from the museum, looking at both ends of Islington Tunnel and, with a guide from Clerkenwell and Islington Guides Association, we explore the route over the top of the hill as taken by the canal horses, which could not go through the tunnel.

There is no advance booking - just come along.

A group at Kentish Town Road lock during a towpath walk

On the walk we explore:

All Walks

Islington Tunnel
How the railway from London to Scotland was protected from flooding during bombing in the second world war.
Canalside buildings
The locations of old basins
The former uses of canalside areas, for example the Camley Street Nature Park, which used to be a coal depot.

Camden Walk

Four locks - you may get to see boats passing through, but if not your guide can explain how they work!
The site of the long forgotten Hydropneumatic lock, built by a famous rocket inventor
The general history of the Regent's Canal

Water Tower Panoramic Walk

See a small exhibition about the tower and its history
View the King's Cross and St. Pancras area from a height including the two stations, works for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the Regent's Canal, and the adjoining railway lands.
Watch a giant train set below!
Read our water tower page for more details

Cumberland Arm Walk

See the stump that is nowadays known as Cumberland Basin
Look at an attractive bridge over nothing and discover the canal connection
See the route where once there was water and boat traffic and discover the real Cumberland Basin.

"Footsteps" Walk

Explore the canal between Caledonian Road and Islington Tunnel, and learn about the history of the tunnel
Explore the route that was once taken across Islington Hill by the horses, whilst boats went through the tunnel. This part of the walk will be led by a guide from Clerkenwell and Islington Guides Association
See east end of Islington Tunnel and discover City Road Lock and the canal basin that was once one of the major destinations for narrowboats arriving from the midlands and north..

"River Fleet" Walk

Explore the course of the now-hidden River
Discover the influence that this watercourse has had on the building of the area
Walk will take in the area around King's Cross, St. Pancras, and Gray's Inn Road

Dates 2010

Date 2010	Time	Walk	Notes
11th July	1430	River Fleet	Wheelchair users welcome with advance notice
5th August	1930	Camden Town	Wheelchair-friendly
12th September	1430	Water Tower	Fit participants only*

* walk involves negotiating a lock and climbing stairs to the top of the tower. Those unable to do this may participate in the first part of the walk as far as St. Pancras Lock, towpath side.

Arriving for the walk

There is no need to book in advance. (except groups) If you are on the way and are late please call 020 7713 0836, we will wait up to 10 minutes or will arrange to meet at a convenient point part of the way into the canal walk. If the weather forecast is poor, please bring an umbrella or raincoat as there is limited shelter. The walk will not be cancelled due to rain.

After the walk

There are many things to do after the walk!

Take a one-way boat trip to Little Venice (See our boat trips page) (Camden Walk only)
Explore the famous Camden Market, one of London's great tourist attractions.(Camden Walk only)
Try out one of the numerous pubs and bars of Camden (Camden walks only)
Return to King's Cross by frequent bus (214) or Underground (Northern Line), or walk in about 30 minutes.(Camden walk)
Visit Camley Street Natural Park (Tower Walk only, subject to opening hours)

Walks for Groups

If you are considering bringing a group of at least a dozen people a special walk may be possible for your party by prior arrangement, normally combined with a visit to the museum. Walks for groups can take place at any time of year.

Other walks to try

Towpath walks are also offered by Original London Walks in co-operation with the Inland Waterways Association. These cover various routes. They do not start from the museum.

Logo: Walk London website The Walk London website provides FREE downloadable maps, leaflets and audio guides for over 580 km of quality walking routes that make up the Strategic Walk Network in London. You can read comments from people who have walked the SWN, see photos and also get the latest walking news and events for London. Three times a year, Walk London provides FREE led walks on every section of every route. Next event: Autumn Ambles 27/28th September 2008

There are local guided walks available from Clerkenwell and Islington Guides Association, known as Clerkenwell Walks.

The Guide booklet

We offer a short colour guide booklet to the towpath walk from the museum to Camden, in our shop, at a price of £1.50. This is suitable for people to use on their own without a human guide.

The Cost

There is a charge of £5 per adult, £4 for children. Please pay at the museum shop before departure.

The Wapwalk

The Wapwalk is a guided walk on the same section of canal but walking west to east, from Camden to the museum. The Wapwalk can be undertaken at any time (not reccommended after dark) with the assistance of your WAP mobile phone. The museum's mobile Internet home page is at www.canalmuseum.org.uk/wap from where you will find a link to the Wapwalk. There are regular points at which the text displayed on your phone will give you brief information about your walk. URL: www.canalmuseum.org.uk/mobile

The MP3 Towpath Tour

You can also download a guided tour of the towpath from Camden to the museum in audio format from this website. Use your Ipod, MP3 player, or MP3-playing mobile phone to listen to the history of the canal as you walk along it. Please go to our podcasts page to download the file (or a script for the hearing-impaired visitor)

Guided Towpath Walks

To Camden/Water Tower Panoramic