South & London

10 - 14 nights cruise

All boats can be booked for 10 day hire from Friday or Saturday through to Monday or Tuesday week or 11 day hire Monday/Tuesday to Friday/Saturday week.

In order to have a day or two for sightseeing in the centre of London, take a minimum of a ten day cruise. Paddington Basin provides visitor moorings close to the theatres and sights of London. Cruise on through Maida Hill tunnel to Regents Park, home to ZSL London Zoo, before turning at Camden Lock with its markets and restaurants.

Hours cruising each way to:
Paddington Basin: 37 hrs*
51 miles, 63 locks.

*These are approximate hours and do not account for possible delays.

Head south from Leighton Buzzard up the Chiltern Hills towards the beautiful village of Marsworth, keeping an eye out for the lion cut in the chalk on the side of Whipsnade hill. The reservoirs at Marsworth, which were built to supply water to the canal summit, are now also used as extensive nature reserves.

Wildlife is in abundance and it is very rewarding to have an afternoon or evening stroll around the lakes and study the bird life. From Marsworth, travel up the seven locks to Bulbourne. The canal then enters a three mile cutting past Tring Station to Cowroast.

Be on special alert as kingfishers are often spotted in the cutting. At Cowroast, the canal starts its descent to London, passing through Berkhamsted close to the old castle, outdoor swimming pool and leisure parks, then on down the Colne Valley towards the Thames Valley and London.

Although there are more locks as you cross the Chiltern Hills than travelling north, the canal is extremely pretty through places such as Bourne End and Cassiobury Park. Continue on past Watford and Rickmansworth where the Batchworth Lock Canal Centre is found, then on towards Uxbridge. Before you get here you will go through Denham Deep Lock, which is the deepest lock on the canal.

After that you will reach Cowley Peachey Junction, where the Slough Arm goes off to the right. Continue straight on to Bulls Bridge Junction where the Grand Union Canal goes on to Brentford where it meets the Thames.

Here you will turn right on to the Paddington Arm. Paddington Basin provides visitor moorings close to the theatres and sights of London. Cruise on through Maida Hill tunnel to Regents Park, home to ZSL London Zoo, before turning at Camden Lock with its markets and restaurants.

Hours cruising each way to:
Paddington Basin: 37 hrs*
51 miles, 63 locks.

*These are approximate hours and do not account for possible delays.