Little Venice To Blow-Up Bridge

Leave Little Venice under the attractively painted Warwick Avenue bridge (Warwick Avenue Underground Station is signposted) and pass between moored boats on both sides so the usual warning about keeping the speed down is repeated. On the left is Blomfield Road and on the right is Maida Avenue. Ahead is the entrance to Maida Hill Tunnel, with it’s cafe perched over the water. Look up to the right as you approach and you will see a blue commemorative plaque on the wall of a house. This is in memory of the actor Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwairing in Dad’s Army) who lived there.

Just before the tunnel mouth you will be able to see through to the other end, and it is a good idea to hold back if the way is not clear. Remember to switch your tunnel light on, and sound your horn as you enter. Maida Hill tunnel is 272 yards (250metres) long and can get a bit breezy, even on a warm day.

If this is your first experience of passing through a canal tunnel it’s a good place to start as it’s quite short, high and wide. Remember to go slowly, and make sure your crew are aware, so they don’t pop up through a hatch or leave their hands where they could get hurt. It is best if you have the light pointing slightly upwards, as this will stop it dazzling anyone ahead, won’t reflect off the water surface, and will also let everyone see the way the roof is built. Many people find it less daunting to steer if the cabin lights are switched on. At slow speed it won’t matter if you do get close to the wall, and apart from a bruised ego no harm will come to the crew, the boat or the tunnel.

As you emerge from the tunnel there is an old wharf on the offside where stone was delivered for dressing. The towpath (now on the left, except for a very short length at Camden) from here to Old Ford is actually another water channel, and overflow ‘windows’ appear at regular intervals. There are high voltage electricity mains cables in the void, and the canal water is used for cooling them. Occasionally a flush of water may be seen as the circulating pumps operate - it’s nothing to worry about though, so long as you don’t try and drive a mooring spike in ! - (The cover slabs are clearly marked).

On the subject of mooring - until you get beyond the Broadwater, Regents Park, the Zoo and Cumberland Turn, there are no opportunities for mooring. There are no bollards, no rings etc, and it is illegal to moor within the confines of Royal Parks. The Zoo landing stage is strictly private, as are the few offside mooring points that you pass .

Ahead there is another short tunnel, this time with a towpath, or is it a bridge? This is Lisson Grove, and after passing under it look back and see what is locally referred to as the ‘Upside-Down House’. This is No 120 Lisson Grove and is built with it’s entrance on the upper (road) level. The canal widens considerably now and it curves gently to the left. This is the Broadwater, where the towpath side is occupied by private pontoon moorings. This was the site of the Marylebone Goods Yard, and when finally closed the Lisson Green Housing Estate was built there. Beyond the moorings on the towpath side is an electricity generation station.

Beyond the footbridge from Lisson Green Estate the canal narrows down to it’s regular width, and ahead can be seen more long low bridges. These carry Railway lines into Marylebone Station, The Metropolitan Underground Line and then Park Road. Lords Cricket ground is off to the left and Baker Street Underground Station is within a reasonable distance off to the right. You now enter Regents Park

The canal bears to the left and then gently sweeps to the right around the northern side of the park. A detailed description of all that there is to see now is beyond the scope of this web site, and it is suggested that a guide book to this area of London be obtained. We will concentrate purely on the canal and what there is to see from there.

First, look back and to the right (offside) and you may see the minarets of the Central London Mosque through the trees. In the gardens to the left there is a good chance of seeing squirrels. Also note the vine on the top of the shelter. The large villas on the offside are Nash designs, the first is Ionic Villa, the second Venito Villa and the third Gothick Villa. The first bridge in the park is actually an aqueduct that carries the River Tyburn over the canal. The next bridge carries Macclesfield Road, but it is also known by the dramatic name ‘Blow-Up Bridge’