London Waterbus Company: Camden to Little Venice by narrowboat
Forty-five minutes on the Regent's Canal between Little Venice and Camden Lock, through a tunnel and past the zoo. Book online, pick the narrowboat.
By Only Camden Editorial
About 45 minutes, £17 for an adult, booking online. The London Waterbus Company runs scheduled boats on the Regent's Canal between Little Venice and Camden Market, in either direction. The Camden end is West Yard, Camden Lock Market, NW1 8AF. Check the booking page for today's times before you set off.
Which boat to pick
There are two. The Classic is a historic narrowboat with live English commentary. The Comfort Cruiser is a wide barge with music, a bar and refreshments, but no guided tour. If you want the view and the story, take the narrowboat. Time Out points to the big windows, and says you can spot London Zoo animals such as warthogs and monkeys. Some mixed reviews on Tripadvisor suggest one boat did not deliver the sightseeing people expected, so check which one you are booking.
One correction to old information: the boats do not stop at London Zoo. The operator's FAQ says so plainly, and some older write-ups still talk about zoo-admission services that no longer apply.
What you see
The route runs through Regent's Park and the grounds of London Zoo, then through the Maida Hill tunnel, about 248 metres long. Time Out describes the tunnel as echoey, which is the fun bit. The Regent's Canal opened in 1820, linking the Grand Union Canal to the Thames at Limehouse. At Little Venice, Browning's Pool is named after Robert Browning, who lived there from 1862 to 1887 and is believed to have coined the name.
Prices and booking
- Adult (17 to 59): £17
- Child (4 to 16): £14
- Infant (0 to 3): free
- Student, senior and concession tickets also exist. Children and infants need an adult, student or senior ticket selected first.
A return is two singles, with a discount applied in the same checkout, according to Time Out. Camden Council's directory says online booking is required for all Waterbus services, with card payment. Phone numbers differ between listings, so use the website.
When to go
Published opening hours disagree, and times shift with the season, so the booking page is the only answer worth trusting. Services run all year, though the Canal Museum says boats are less frequent at weekends in winter. Weekends at Camden Lock are packed, so book ahead.
My tip: start at Little Venice and finish at Camden, so you step off into the market ready to eat. Warwick Avenue is the closest tube for Little Venice, per Time Out. Check the booking page for the exact boarding point. If you start in Camden, Camden Town (Northern line) is a two-minute walk and Chalk Farm about five, according to an unofficial guide.
Good to know
- The classic narrowboat services are dog-friendly, subject to terms, says the official FAQ.
- Experience Days says the trip is not wheelchair accessible. Viator mentions steep entrance stairs and a maximum of 28 travellers.
- These are not part of London's public transport system, so TfL tickets are not valid.
For after: West Yard
You dock at West Yard, so eat there. Camden Market's own journal calls it the canal-side cobbled yard for food traders, naming Yorkshire Burrito, The Cheese Wheel, Asador and Meathead Mexican. An unofficial guide says the stalls are walk-in, from about £6, and mostly close by 6 or 7pm, so do not leave lunch late. Camden Market is at Camden Lock, NW1.
If you want a more social trip, the company also sells Camden Ahoy!, a 70-minute return cruise from Camden Market on a wide barge with booths, a bar and music. Details are on the operator's site.
Sources: London Waterbus Company, Time Out, Camden Market journal.
