London walks: Little Venice to Regent’s Park along the Regent’s Canal

The 8.6-mile Regent’s Canal runs from Paddington Basin in west London to Limehouse in the east, and the short stretch between Little Venice and Regent’s Park is one of my favourite London walks.

So when I was in London in August and had a bit of time to kill, I decided to revisit this old favourite.

I started my walk in Little Venice, so-called because it’s where the Grand Union and Regent’s canals meet.

No-one’s quite sure who gave the area its name, but the infamous Lord Byron and his fellow poet Robert Browning have both been attributed with coining the moniker.

Little Venice is a charming, picturesque part of London, filled with elegant Regency houses, and it’s one of my favourite London neighbourhoods.

If I was a rich person living in London, I’d be tempted to set up home here.

I made my way towards the towpath, where I stopped to admire the pretty views, before making my way back to Blomfield Road and walking along it to Maida Vale.

Crossing the busy thoroughfare, I continued up Aberdeen Place until I reached the unassuming entrance to the Regent’s Canal above Maida Hill Tunnel (above).

From there, I walked down the stairs to the towpath, where I passed a few families and the odd runner (below).

Although the canal was quiet by London standards, I was still surprised by how many people I passed.

When I lived in London 10 years ago, the towpath used to be almost deserted, even on weekends, and was a wonderfully tranquil place to escape from the capital’s hoards.

But like everywhere in London, it’s become more popular in recent years.

I ambled along the towpath and before long, I came to Lisson Grove Moorings, one of the many spots along the canal where narrowboat owners can moor their vessels.

Because it’s a residential area, there are lots of plants and bits of furniture lining the towpath.

It’s a fascinating place, but I often feel like I’m intruding as I walk along this section of the canal because even though it’s open to the public, you’re effectively walking through people’s gardens.

On leaving Lisson Grove, I carried on along the towpath and after a short while, the sumptuous, palatial villas adjoining Regent’s Park came into view.

The area along this part of the canal is lined with grand villas that look so impossibly perfect, I’ve never quite been able to wrap my head around the fact people actually live in them.

With their perfectly manicured lawns and pretty Regency-style exteriors, they look more like show-mansions than actual homes.

The mansions include Hanover Lodge, a Regency villa designed by John Nash that’s one of London’s most expensive private homes.

According to reports, the Indian billionaire Ravi Ruia bought it for a mindblowing £113 million in July 2023.

There are also six Regency-style villas designed by the English architect Quinlan Terry, which were built between 1998 and 2014.

After admiring the magnificent mansions, I continued my stroll along the towpath.

Before long a few of London Zoo’s enclosures came into view (above), but despite keeping my eyes peeled, I couldn’t spot any animals in them.

I continued on my way until I came to the path that leads off from the canal towards Primrose Hill (above), and followed it up to Prince Albert Road.

I emerged onto the pavement opposite St Mark’s Church Regent’s Park, which dates back to the 1850s.

From here, I crossed the canal via the Broad Walk and entered Regent’s Park, where I spent a lovely hour or so ambling around.

I really enjoyed my late afternoon stroll along this small section of the Regent’s Canal. It’s not a long walk, it takes just over an hour, but it makes for a lovely short stroll.

It was great to revisit one of my favourite London haunts and while it’s a little busier than it used to be, it’s still a fabulous place to escape from the craziness of the capital.