The five and a half mile stretch of the canal between the basin and Hawkesbury Junction was designated as a Conservation Area on 4 July 2012. The stretch, with its lush towpath, is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists as it offers peace and tranquillity away from the busy city.

Beyond Coventry, much of the canal is rural and home to diverse wildlife. At its other end, the Coventry Canal joins the Trent & Mersey Canal at picturesque Fradley Junction. Stop by the Canal & River Trust welcome station where our friendly volunteers will chat to you about the story of Fradley Junction and the local area. Go for a stroll past the locks or around Fradley Pool Nature Reserve and enjoy the abundance of wildlife.

Days out near Coventry

The history

The Coventry Canal was constructed to connect the rapidly expanding city of Coventry with the Trent & Mersey Canal. This way, its promoters hoped to exploit the potential of the Warwickshire coalfields, shipping fuel both to the north (via the Trent & Mersey Canal) and the south (via the Oxford Canal).

The canal's construction period dragged on for over 20 years before the whole line eventually opened in 1790. Nonetheless, it was a profitable venture that still paid a dividend right up to 1947, the year before the canals were taken under the Government's wing.

Commercial traffic north of Nuneaton continued until the 1960s and has now been replaced by increasing volumes of pleasure boats. The line terminates a short walk from the cathedral at a basin that has itself undergone much improvement in recent years.

Hawkesbury Junction

For about a mile south of Hawkesbury Junction, the old route of the Oxford Canal can be seen running parallel. This was the ludicrous result of a disagreement between the rival companies, which was only resolved when the connection was cut at Hawkesbury. The resulting sharp turn from one canal into the other can be a challenge to navigators of longer craft.

Hawkesbury Junction is also known as Sutton Stop, after the family of the same name who once lived in the lock keeper's cottage.

Where does the water come from?

Atherstone Locks

The water at the top of the flight of 11 locks at Atherstone on the Coventry Canal, comes mainly from the Oxford Canal, which is higher than the Coventry Canal. Feeders (diverted streams) bring smaller amounts of rainwater into the system, but if it is very dry, they may not flow at all. Water is also pumped up from Griff Brook. Pumping is expensive, so water from reservoirs and feeders is used whenever possible.

The Stop Lock at Hawkesbury Junction and the Sutton Stop Valve allow water into the Coventry Canal From the Oxford Canal. Water coming from the Oxford Canal comes from the River Swift near Rugby and reservoirs in Northhamptonshire.

The Griff Pumping Station may pump 400 million litres in a typical year. Atherstone Top Lock uses 124,000 litres of water. It's used about 5,500 times a year.