Little Venice
A tranquil canal basin where Regent's and Grand Union meet, free to stroll, lined with willows, painted narrowboats, a floating cafe and a puppet theatre on the water.
The lowdown
Where the Regent's Canal meets the Grand Union, the water widens into a leafy triangular basin that someone long ago nicknamed Little Venice. Lined with white stucco houses, weeping willows and a permanent flotilla of painted narrowboats, it is one of the prettiest and most peaceful free corners of central London.
There is a real community living on the water here, and dotted among the moored boats you will find a floating cafe, a tiny puppet theatre barge and an art boat. The towpaths are free to walk, and within minutes the roar of the Westway nearby fades into the gentle slap of water against hulls.
From here the towpath runs east through Regent's Park and London Zoo all the way to Camden, one of the loveliest free canal walks in the city. In early May the basin fills with decorated boats for the Canalway Cavalcade festival.
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