Wide shot of a canal on a sunny day with buildings on both sides and a couple of people on the towpath

Coventry Canal

The Coventry Canal, with its lush green towpaths reaching out from the city into the surrounding towns and villages, is a perfect place to begin your canal adventure in the Midlands.

Beyond its starting point in Coventry Canal Basin, much of this 38-mile canal is rural and home to diverse wildlife.

At its other end, the Coventry Canal joins the Trent & Mersey Canal at picturesque Fradley Junction.

A five-and-a-half mile stretch between the basin and Hawkesbury Junction was designated as a Conservation Area in 2012. This lush towpath is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists as it offers peace and tranquillity away from the busy city.

Boating the Coventry Canal

All you need to know about boating the Coventry Canal

Things to do on the Coventry Canal

Coventry Canal walk

This 5 mile walk from the canal basin to historic Hawkesbury Junction can also be broken up into sections if you prefer a shorter route

Enjoy a cycle ride

Suitable for all ages, cycle from Tamworth to Polesworth

Young person with adult learning how to fish on the canal

Go fishing

You'll typically find a good stock of silver fish as well as perch, zander and pike

Narrowboats next to bridge on Coventry Canal

Hire a boat

Experience all that Coventry Canal has to offer on the water

Places to visit near the Coventry Canal

Teeming with wildlife, with an abundance of heritage and even an art trail, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Don't forget to 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.

History of the Coventry Canal

Discover more about the history of the Coventry Canal

Where does the water come from?

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. 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 Northamptonshire.

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.