Stretching a huge 137 miles from the vibrant heart of London, it leads out into the Chiltern Hills, through rural Northamptonshire and Warwickshire and into the Birmingham suburbs.
Meandering across the East Midlands, West Midlands and London & South East regions, it's bursting with bustling locks, peaceful walks, areas of living history and wildlife.
As well as the impressive mainline, many smaller branches make great diversions if you have time to explore. The longest of these is the Leicester Line with its own brand at Welford. Others include the Aylesbury Arm, Market Harborough Arm and Northampton Arm.
The Paddington Arm runs through a lively and attractive area of West London, full of bars, restaurants, shops, cafes, and a terraced canalside seating area at Sheldon Square.
The Slough Arm is an unexpectedly green and rural stretch of canal, passing through the pretty town of Iver. It is a great place to escape the crowds on the nearby London waterways.
