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Stretching from Paddington to Limehouse via Camden, Islington and Hackney, Regent's Canal is really pretty nice. It's a shade under 9 miles long, which means it's eminently walkable in a single sunny day, especially if you stop at one of the many fine pubs, cafés and restaurants along the way. And apart from a short detour near Angel, you can follow the towpath nearly the whole way. Here are just a few of the nice things you'll see as you walk it west-to-east...
Catch the tube to Edgware Road and start your walk from Paddington Basin.
Soon you'll wind up at the Little Venice junction with the Grand Union Canal. Nip through Rembrandt Gardens...
Now you've reached the actual Regents Canal. Onwards!
OK, you've only walked 500 metres. But there's a cool café on a bridge, so pop in if you like!
The canal disappears into a tunnel, but follow along at street level, and return to the waterside here:
Aww yeah. Then there's a bit more like this...
Then you'll find yourself walking through Regent's Park – in fact 'in between' two parts of London Zoo. You can see the big Snowden Aviary looming over you.
As you leave the park, you'll see Feng Shang, a Chinese Restaurant on a boat.
And after that, a Pirate Castle! (Do pirates have castles?) Anyway it's actually a youth club themed after marauding sea thieves.
Then you might stumble upon this excellent, turf-and-flower-covered barge... if it hasn't moored up somewhere else by now.
Sweet. And then... congratulations, kid, you've made it all the way to Camden!
That calls for a drink, or maybe buying a crap t-shirt. (Personally I spent £1.80 on a bottle of water.) Once you're ready to continue, navigate around the gaggles of Italian teenagers and follow the water.
Wander over this exciting walkway:
Then you get to St. Pancras Lock, which has an adorable cottage alongside:
Then you get to this cool old gasholder which has been turned into a little park...
And soon enough you'll be at Granary Square's green green steps.
It's a pretty spot!
You could also stop off here to eat at Dishoom, Caravan, or Grain Store (who also have an excellent bar.) Or keep it strictly canalside at The Lighterman.
You can also find Word on the Water, London's floating bookshop!
Carry on a bit further, and oh no! What's that ahead? It's a footpath-free tunnel is what.
Not accessible to landlubblers, you'll now have to schlep briefly through Angel. Until, oh joy, you're back again!
Mmhmm.
Aww yeah.
There are also very many delightful bridges – about 51 by our count.
Sometimes they have random stuff underneath.
Somehow, as if such a thing is possible, you will by now be in Shoreditch?! Grab some sustenance from the Towpath Café:
Or just a little further and you'll be within spittin' distance of Broadway Market!
Refreshed? Soon you'll find yourself strolling along the edge of Victoria Park:
Before skirting along the edge of Mile End Park:
Almost there!
Until finally your journey ends...
At Limehouse Marina!
Lying just beyond, you'll find two Thames-side spots to celebrate the end of your mildly-epic expedition – Gordon Ramsay gastropub The Narrow or Ian McKellen's pub The Grapes. Cheers!