Wanderthirst

Wanderthirst
Wanderthirst Blog

Friday, October 14, 2011

A tranquil canal ride takes London visitors to the city's Little Venice


Few places in London are more picturesque than the city's Little Venice area along the Regents Canal as it cuts a tranquil swath through the heart of the metropolis.


Starting from Limehouse Basin in East London's Docklands moving northwest to the city's Maida Vale district on to Regent's Park, visitors on a London vacation can take a waterbus, traditional narrow boat or open-sided boat to traverse the canal.

Stops along the way may include a visit to the London Zoo or Camden Locks market, where the selection of goods ranges from collectibles to clothing. The marketplace, one of the city's most popular visitor attractions, is particularly active on weekends when thousands of people converge on its vendor stalls.

Little Venice, located just north of Paddington area where the Grand Union and Regent's Canals meet, has a selection of waterside cafes and pubs for a lunch or afternoon tea. From there, visitors can reboard a boat or walk along the footpaths following the waterway as it curves through the bustling city around it.

Getting back to the heart of London is easy enough as streets and underground rail stations are never far from the canals.