Jenny Wren canal cruise: Camden Lock to Little Venice

The short version: Jenny Wren is a 90-minute narrowboat trip on the Regent’s Canal from Walkers Quay, 250 Camden High Street, NW1 8QS, to Little Venice and back. Adult fare £23.00, booked online until midnight the day before, with any remaining seats sold at the boat. Check the sailing calendar before you set off, because mid-week departures are not listed on the timetable page.

What it is

Jenny Wren is an open-sided narrowboat decorated in the traditional style. The route goes from Camden through a working lock, past London Zoo and Regent’s Park, through the short Maida Hill tunnel and out at Little Venice. The boat circles the island there, then comes back. Crew give live commentary. The operator, Walkers Quay, says it is the only trip boat to go through the lock at Camden, which is the bit that sets it apart from other operators on this stretch, whose cruises turn round above the locks.

There is a full-length canopy for rain, but the sides are open, so in October bring a layer. Walkers Quay also runs the widebeam restaurant boat My Fair Lady, if you fancy a different kind of afternoon.

A bit of history

Jenny Wren has run since 1968, and Waterways (the Inland Waterways Association) says Walker’s Quay is where the trip boat has operated from for all that time. Walkers Quay is family-run. Its sources disagree on which generation is in charge, so call it family-run since 1968 and leave it there.

The canal itself is 14 km long and was completed in 1820. According to Waterways, regular through freight on the Regent’s Canal carried on until the 1960s, with some timber trade lasting until 1970. So the trip boat arrived just as the working canal was winding down.

A pedant’s note: the Canal & River Trust point, as quoted on Wikipedia, is that “Camden Lock” is really the market area. The actual locks on this stretch are Hampstead Road Lock, Hawley Lock and Kentish Town Lock. Camden Lock itself is Grade II listed.

Fares

• Adult: £23.00
• Seniors (over 65) and students (under 25): £21.00
• Children 4 to under 16: £14.00, maximum two children per adult
• Infants 0 to 3: free, one adult per infant who is not supervising other children

Group and private charter rates are on request. Private hire takes up to 60 people, and Camden Council’s directory lists children’s parties among the options. The ticketing provider adds a booking fee online. Fares can change, so confirm on the Jenny Wren page before you pay.

When to go

The timetable runs April to October. Monday and Friday sailings leave at 12:30 and 14:30. Saturday and Sunday add a 16:30. Tuesday to Thursday are not shown on the timetable page, so use the sailing calendar or ring 020 7485 4433. Phone lines are open 10:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 18:00 at weekends, according to Camden Council.

Different listings give the season as starting in March or April and ending in October or November, so check the calendar if you are travelling near either end. The 12:30 sailing is the sensible pick for a weekender: you can have the morning at the market and still be back in time for the afternoon.

Booking and practical details

• Where: Walkers Quay, 250 Camden High Street, NW1 8QS. Visit London lists the departure point as 250B. Nearest Tube is Camden Town.
• Booking: online until midnight the day before, with remaining seats sold at the boat by cash or card.
• Refunds: available until midnight the day before. Read the terms on the booking page for missed departures.
• Children: welcome but must be supervised at all times. If the boat is full, prams and scooters may have to be folded and stored on the roof.
• Access: a third-party listing says the boats are not suitable for people with physical disabilities. Ring ahead if that matters to you.

What to look out for

The lock is the highlight. Reviewers on TripAdvisor describe the crew working it by hand while passengers sit and watch the water level change, and a recent review praises the knowledgeable guide. After that comes the zoo side of Regent’s Park, the Maida Hill tunnel and the turn around the island at Little Venice. Time Out’s old listing names it as Robert Browning’s Island.

For after: Camden Market at Camden Lock

Walk back into Camden Market, beside the lock, where you will find canalside stalls, music venues and cafés. Camden Market’s main areas are open 10:00 to 19:00 daily, according to a third-party guide, and the Hawley Wharf food halls open 11:30 to 23:00. Individual traders vary, so do not promise yourself a particular stall.

If you want shopping rather than snacking, Stables Market is on Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH, with vintage and crafts stalls behind the bronze horse statues. Time Out notes the redevelopment cost it some of its old charm, so go for browsing rather than nostalgia.

For a pint with the water in view, Lockside Camden is at 75 to 89 Upper Walkway, West Yard, Camden Market, NW1 8AF. It is described as a canalside pub with craft beers by day and a terrace over the market and canal. Check its hours before you commit.