On Monday 17 April 2023 over twenty IWI members, family and friends gathered at Canary Wharf pier before taking the Thames Clipper service to Westminster, enjoying the superb views of the regenerated old wharves, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, London Bridge and the Shard.

This was the first leg of IWI’s mini tour of London’s waterways.

The bus from Westminster (in theory) took the group to Camden Town, to discover the famous Camden High Street and market adjacent to the locks on the Regent’s Canal. However, preparations for the forthcoming coronation scuppered this as huge traffic jams brought the bus to a halt. Plan B saw everyone board the London Underground train instead.

Finally in Camden, this spectacular site was the starting point of a walking tour along the towpath. First stop was at St Pancras Cruising Club to visit its new headquarters. The walk continued along the canal to Battlebridge Basin, to visit the London Canal Museum with its curator Martin Sachs.

The last (surprisingly long) leg was on the towpath across Islington Tunnel, past City Road Basin with a welcome stop for refreshments near Kingland Basin. The route then skirted Victoria Park and the junction with the Hertford Union Canal before the sight of Canary Wharf skyscrapers meant we had reached Limehouse once more.

The evening saw a private dinner for IWI and friends in honour of retiring Council member Dr Roger Squires, in the Cruising Association headquarters at Limehouse Basin.

 

One of London’s little known bridges…

On Day 2 the group cruised in the private charter MV Connaught from Westminster to Hampton Court and back. A far more leisurely day…

To see more about IWI please click here.  Promoting inland waterways – Inland Waterways International