How long is Regent's Canal?
Regent's Canal is 8.6 miles long, running between the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal and the Limehouse Basin on the River Thames.
Questions about Regent's Canal
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who proposed building Regent's Canal?
Thomas Homer first proposed Regent's Canal in 1802 as a link between the Paddington arm of the Grand Junction Canal and the River Thames at Limehouse. Architect John Nash later served as a director of the canal company and folded the route into his 1811 masterplan for the Prince Regent.
When did Regent's Canal open?
The first section of Regent's Canal, from Paddington to Camden Town, opened in 1816. The remaining section, from Camden to Limehouse, opened on the 1st of August 1820.
What happened at Macclesfield Bridge on Regent's Canal?
Just before 5am on the 2nd of October 1874, the narrowboat Tilbury exploded beneath Macclesfield Bridge near London Zoo while carrying petroleum and gunpowder. The blast killed everyone aboard, destroyed the bridge, and was heard 20 miles away.
Why did companies try to turn Regent's Canal into a railway?
Several companies pursued schemes between 1845 and 1883 to convert the canal's route into a railway line connecting north London to the City. None of these projects succeeded in building a railway. The canal was eventually sold in 1883 and became part of the merged Grand Union Canal Company in 1929.
What is Regent's Canal used for today?
Regent's Canal is used today mainly for pleasure cruising, with an hourly waterbus running between Maida Vale and Camden in summer. Its towpath also carries National Cycle Route 1 and forms part of an underground cable route supplying London's electrical grid.