Grand Union Canal Walk Kensal Green to Little Venice Guide

The Grand Union Canal Walk from Kensal Green to Little Venice is a 2.2-mile (3.5km) scenic towpath route in west London taking approximately 3 hours, passing historic cemeteries, houseboats, and canalside cafés including Canal Deli, Crepes+Coffee boat near brent/wembley/">Wembley, and Waterside Café in Little Venice.

What is the Grand Union Canal Walk from Kensal Green to Little Venice?

The Kensal Green Canal Walk is a 2.2-mile flat towpath route along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, starting at Kensal Green Bakerloo station and ending at Little Venice basin near Warwick Avenue tube, featuring houseboats, cafés, and Kensal Green Cemetery.

This walk follows the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, which connects via Regent’s Canal to Limehouse and the Thames, reaching the main Grand Union line at Bull’s Bridge near Heathrow. The route is entirely flat with no locks, making it accessible for all walkers including families and those with mobility considerations. Kensal Green Station opened in 1916 and serves both the Bakerloo line and London Overground trains. Little Venice marks the only junction on the Paddington Arm, where it meets Regent’s Canal.

The canal itself was constructed in 1800 as part of the Water Highway system connecting London’s industrial areas. Today it serves as both a historic waterway and a peaceful green corridor through west London, with houseboats moored end-to-end from Little Venice to Ladbroke Grove.

How long is the Kensal Green to Little Venice canal walk?

The walking distance is 2.2 miles (3.5km) taking approximately 3 hours at a leisurely pace with café stops. The route is entirely flat with no locks, and the full Grand Union Canal runs 145 miles from Paddington to Birmingham.

The 3-hour timeframe includes time for sightseeing at key landmarks like Kensal Green Cemetery, Clifton Nurseries, and Little Venice basin. Without stops, the walk takes approximately 45-60 minutes. The route spans approximately 5km of picturesque London scenery.

For comparison, the full Grand Union Canal Walk is 145 miles (234 km), linking London and Birmingham. The Paddington Arm specifically is 13.5 miles (22 km) from Bull’s Bridge to Paddington Basin.

Where does the Kensal Green to Little Venice walk start and end?

The walk starts at Kensal Green Station (Bakerloo line/London Overground) near the canal towpath beside Kensal Green Cemetery, and ends at Little Venice basin near Maida Vale with Warwick Avenue Tube Station (Bakerloo line) as the nearest exit.

Start Point: Kensal Green Station

Kensal Green Station opened in 1916 and is served by the Bakerloo line and London Overground trains. The station is located on Langeham Place, NW6 7EP. From the station, walk south toward the canal; the towpath access is immediately visible beside Kensal Green Cemetery on the south side. Tube option: Kensal Green (Bakerloo) or London Overground.

End Point: Little Venice Basin

Little Venice is the major waterways place at the junction of the Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch) with Regent’s Canal. The basin is located near Maida Vale, with Warwick Avenue Tube Station (Bakerloo line, opened 1915) as the nearest exit. Next to the tube station, you find one of London’s cabmen’s Shelters.

Alternative end points include Paddington Basin behind Paddington Station, from where you can continue to Little Venice island turnabout.

What are the main highlights along the Kensal Green to Little Venice route?

Key highlights include Kensal Green Cemetery (one of London’s “Magnificent Seven” opened 1833), the Grand Union Canal towpath, Little Venice basin with houseboats and pubs, Clifton Nurseries garden centre with café, and the Canal Café Theatre above Bridge House pub.

Kensal Green Cemetery

The Kensal Green cemetery opened in 1833 and is one of “The Magnificent Seven” London Cemeteries. The south side of the graveyard borders the canal, with gates in the outside wall where coffins carried by barges could be unloaded. This historic burial ground is a significant Victorian landmark and provides a peaceful green space along the route.

Grand Union Canal Towpath

This is the Paddington branch of the Grand Union Canal. The towpath offers a flat, well-maintained walking surface alongside the water. Houseboats are moored pretty much end-to-end along the Grand Union from Little Venice to Ladbroke Grove. The canal connects via Regent’s Canal to Limehouse and the Thames.

Little Venice Neighbourhood

Stroll around the picturesque neighbourhood called Little Venice with all its waterways, boats and green spots. You find a lot of pubs and cafés in the area, including the Canal Café Theatre, well situated above the Bridge House pub. The Warwick Castle pub often welcomes visitors with flowers, offering outdoor seating in summertime and indoor seating by the fire in winter. Sir Richard Branson has a houseboat moored at Little Venice.

Clifton Nurseries

Clifton Nurseries is a well-known garden centre in London offering a variety of plants as well as a café. You can enjoy a cake and a cup of tea in the orangery with lush plants around you. Clifton Nurseries operates Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.

Canal Café Theatre

The Canal Café Theatre is well situated above the Bridge House pub at Little Venice basin. This venue hosts performances and is a notable cultural landmark on the canal.

Where can you find cafés along the Kensal Green to Little Venice canal walk?

Cafés along the route include Canal Deli & Café on the canal walk near Trellick Tower, Crepes+Coffee floating café on a historic narrowboat near Wembley (off Beresford Avenue), and Waterside Café at Little Venice (Warwick Cres, W2 6NE) serving tea, coffee, breakfast, light lunches, and afternoon teas.

Canal Deli & Café

Just on the canal walk, you will bump into the Canal Deli with brick walls, a high ceiling, and a good collection of lunches. You can sit outside on a sunny day. This café is located near Trellick Tower, a building with 217 flats.

Crepes+Coffee Floating Café

You’ll find Crepes+Coffee along the Grand Union Canal near Wembley, just off of Beresford Avenue. This tiny boat is actually London’s ‘original floating café’, delighting passersby in Little Venice since 1995. The floating café serves classic crepes and speciality coffee from a historic narrowboat.

Waterside Café Boat

Waterside Café offers tea, coffee, breakfast, light lunches and even afternoon teas, and is a perfect spot for a sun-drenched break during a walk along the canalside. You’ll find it at Warwick Cres, W2 6NE, near Little Venice. This restaurant boat has an all-day cafe serving breakfast, afternoon teas and freshly baked cakes.

Additional Cafés in Paddington Area

Beany Green in Paddington right by the mooring is very good for coffee, and their Lamingtons seem to inspire a lot of love. Heist in Paddington Basin is a really good bar with great beers, excellent pizzas and a pool table. Café Laville is a beautiful Italian café perched right on top of the entrance to the Maida Hill Tunnel with a great view of the canal and houseboats.

What houseboats and floating venues are moored along this canal stretch?

Houseboats are moored end-to-end along the Grand Union from Little Venice to Ladbroke Grove, with notable floating venues including the Puppet Theatre Barge in Little Venice, Cheese Barge at Paddington Central (Sheldon Square, W2 6DL), and Feng Shang Chinese imperial barge on the canal.

Houseboat Moorings

House boats are now moored pretty much end-to-end along the Grand Union from Little Venice to Ladbroke Grove, which is quite different to how it was 10-15 years ago. From bridge 3 and St Mary Magdelene church, with its Grand Junction cafe, the boats are double banked on the towpath side all the way to the old Toll House and Paddington Stop Lock at Little Venice.

Puppet Theatre Barge

The Puppet Theatre Barge in Little Venice is as charming as it is unique, and is well worth a visit for children and adults alike. This historic barge offers puppet performances and is a distinctive floating venue.

Cheese Barge

Floating fromage is the venture of the Cheese Barge, a double-decker boat permanently moored on the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Central (Sheldon Square, W2 6DL). This floating restaurant specializes in cheese-based dishes.

Feng Shang Barge

Feng Shang is a hand-crafted, floating, Chinese imperial barge on the canal serving some of London’s favourite Chinese food. This traditional barge offers authentic Chinese cuisine in a scenic canal setting.

Waterside Café Boat

Waterside Cafe is a restaurant boat with an all-day cafe serving breakfast, afternoon teas and freshly baked cakes at Little Venice. The boat is located at Warwick Cres, W2 6NE.

Crepes+Coffee Narrowboat

This tiny boat is actually London’s ‘original floating café’, delighting passersby since 1995. The historic narrowboat serves crepes and speciality coffee near Wembley.

Explore More Area Guide

Kensal Green Hidden Gems: 12 Authentic Things to Do in West London

Kensal Green Cemetery Guide: London’s Best Victorian Hidden Gem in West London

What bridges and landmarks mark the Kensal Green to Little Venice route?

Key bridges include Kensal Green Bridge (Bridge 4), Harrow Road Bridge (Bridge 3), Pipe Bridge (3a), Halfpenny Bridge (Ha’fpenny Bridge), and Little Venice Bridge 3c, with landmarks including St Mary Magdalene Church at Westbourne, Trellick Tower (217 flats), and Westbourne Green area named after the lost river Westbourne.

Bridge Sequence

The Paddington Arm features several bridges including Kensal Green Bridge (Bridge 4), Harrow Road Bridge (Bridge 3), Pipe Bridge (3a), and Halfpenny Bridge. At Little Venice, you’ll find Little Venice Bridge and Little Venice Bridge 3c. Between bridges 11 and 12 there is a useful Sainsburys supermarket right by the canal with moorings.

St Mary Magdalene Church

St Mary Magdalene Church at Westbourne is worth a look. The church features the Grand Junction cafe and is located near bridge 3 where boats are double banked.

Trellick Tower

Trellick Tower is a building with 217 flats located near the Canal Deli. The tower is a distinctive architectural landmark visible from the canal walk.

Westbourne Green Area

The river Westbourne has given its name to the Westbourne Green area. The river is one of London’s lost rivers, directed into pipes in the early parts of the 19th century. It runs from Whitestone Pond in Hampstead to The Thames, just south of Sloane Square. At Sloane Square tube station, the river runs in a conduit above the trains.

How do you access the towpath from Kensal Green Station?

From Kensal Green Station, walk south toward the canal; the towpath access is immediately visible beside Kensal Green Cemetery on the south side, with gates in the outside wall where barges could unload coffins.

Kensal Green Station is on the Bakerloo line and London Overground, opened in 1916. The station address is Langeham Place, NW6 7EP. Upon exiting the station, head south toward the canal towpath. The cemetery borders the canal on the south side, providing direct access to the walking route.

Alternative transport includes Westbourne Park (Metropolitan line) for access to the Grand Union Canal Towpath (Paddington Arm).

What is the historical background of the Paddington Arm canal?

The Paddington Canal Arm (also called Paddington Branch) of the Grand Union Canal is a 13.5-mile (22 km) canal constructed in 1800, running from Bull’s Bridge in Hayes, west London, to Paddington in central London, with Little Venice as its only junction (connecting to Regent’s Canal).

The canal was constructed in 1800 as part of the Water Highway system. It connects via Regent’s Canal to Limehouse and the Thames. The arm reaches the Grand Union main line at Bull’s Bridge close to Heathrow in the west.

Little Venice is the only junction on the Paddington Arm, where it meets Regent’s Canal to the North, with Limehouse Basin to the east. Cumberland Basin is on Regent’s Canal, 1 mile and 4.75 furlongs northeast from Little Venice.

The Grand Union Canal runs for 147 miles from Paddington into the heart of Birmingham, linking the cities of London and Birmingham.

What practical tips should walkers know for this canal route?

The route is entirely flat with no locks, making it accessible for all walkers; wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water, and check café opening times (Clifton Nurseries: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm); the walk takes 3 hours with stops or 45-60 minutes without.

The walk is fairly flat and适合 gentle, low-impact exercise that’s easy and free to everyone. Walking strengthens your heart and lowers illness risk.

For guided walks, London Walks offers “The Grand Union Canal – Kensal Green to Little Venice” with Adult tickets at £20, Students & Seniors at £15, Children at £5. Private tours can be booked by ringing Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or emailing for tailored requirements.

Near the canal by Kensal Green Bridge, there is a useful Sainsburys supermarket with moorings. Toilets and cafés are available in Paddington, at Sainsbury’s near Ladbroke Grove/Kensal Green, and at various pubs along the route.

Where can you continue the walk beyond Little Venice?

Beyond Little Venice, walkers can continue east on Regent’s Canal toward Camden Lock and London Zoo (approximately 50 minutes from Camden, 30 minutes from Regent’s Park), or head west on the main Grand Union line toward Bull’s Bridge and Heathrow.

Starting from Paddington Basin, you can go north-west under the lattice blue bridge at Little Venice and continue up the right canal branch toward Camden. The walk from Camden Lock to Little Venice is approximately 50 minutes, while from Regent’s Park it takes about 30 minutes.

Little Venice to Camden is a short canal walk through London with downloadable route maps and instructions from Canal & River Trust. Turning right at Cowley Peachey Junction towards Little Venice and hounslow/brentford/">Brentford leads past Yiewsley, West Drayton, and Hayes Town before reaching Bulls Junction.

The walk is one of London’s best-kept secrets, a 9-mile route that is fairly flat.

This Grand Union Canal Walk from Kensal Green to Little Venice offers west London residents and visitors a unique combination of historic waterways, peaceful green spaces, distinctive houseboats, and canalside cafés. The 2.2-mile flat route takes approximately 3 hours with stops, making it an accessible and enjoyable walk for all ages. From Kensal Green Cemetery’s Victorian heritage to Little Venice’s picturesque houseboat community, the route showcases London’s hidden waterway character while providing practical amenities including multiple cafés and easy tube access at both ends.