Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal links London to Birmingham, passing through rolling countryside, industrial towns and peaceful villages. It is our longest canal, the ‘trunk route’ of the system, and helps thousands of people to live healthier, happier lives.

Grand Union Canal |  (main line only) |
Length | 137 miles from the Thames to Birmingham |
Locks | 158 |
Maximum boat dimensions |
Guide only - weather conditions can affect water levels |
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These dimensions are from Berkhampstead to Camp Hill | Many other pinch points exist - see full dimensions for details |
Zoom into the map to find details such as moorings, boaters' facilities and access points. You'll need to zoom in fully to see all the details. Click the red 'i' icon in the bottom right hand corner to expand the key.
Events 5
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Let's Walk! Greenford to Historic Northolt Village
6th June 2022 10:30am to 5th September 2022 1:30pm
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Let’s Walk & Cruise – Little Legs
16th August 2022 11:00am to 16th August 2022 1:15pm
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Let’s Walk & Cruise – Little Legs
18th August 2022 11:00am to 18th August 2022 1:15pm
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Let’s Walk & Cruise – Little Legs
23rd August 2022 11:00am to 23rd August 2022 1:15pm
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Let’s Walk & Cruise – Little Legs
25th August 2022 11:00am to 25th August 2022 1:15pm
Boat Services 32
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ABC Leisure Group - Grove Lock Marina
Narrow Boat Moorings.
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Boat Training & Moving
Fully Qualfied RYA Instructor.
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Delicious Signs
I’ve been a boater for ten years and a sign writer for four years.
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The Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd
Diesel, pump-out, gas, drydock, blacking, boat painting
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ABC Leisure Group - Gayton Marina
Self-Catering Narrow Boat Holiday Hire.
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Knowle Hall Wharf Ltd
Boat Building and Repairs
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The Boat Movers
We are a water based boat moving service, for the inland waterways of Great Britain. We can relocate your boat between locations, for any reason you might need moving.
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John's Boat Works Ltd
BRENTFORD BASED BOATYARD
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Nelson's Wharf
Historic canal arm non-residential moorings in the heart of Warwickshire countryside. Secure moorings all with power and water.
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Kate Boats Stockton
Narrowboat hire on the Grand Union Canal, also pumpouts, gas, repairs and refits, including painting, blacking, gas engineer, general engineering, engine servicing.
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Kate Boats
Narrowboat hire for short or longer term holidays from our bases at Stockton and Warwick on the Grand Union Canal. Repairs and modifications at our Stockton base, including blacking, engine repairs and...
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Christopher Berry marine survey
Boat safety examinations - Pre-purchase surveys - Insurance surveys - Christopher Berry has run a yacht building business for twenty six years, with work encompassing most aspects of the marine industry...
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Baxter Boatyard
We are a boatyard providing a range of services. We have a covered dry dock with inspection pit where we do boat blacking, painting and metalwork. We also offer engine servicing, carpentry and repairs....
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Winter Moorings
Winter moorings available for rent outside out Pub in Warwick. Only 15 minutes walk to town. Very close to hospital & bus stops & train.
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Safe Boat Movers Ltd
Safe Boat Movers Ltd is authorised by the CRT and insured at Lloyd's of London to move narrowboats on the UK inland waterways. Email or call us to get a quote to move your boat.
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Cluett Carpentry
Carpenters and Joiners crafting bespoke wooden furniture for narrowboats, barges, yachts and houses on the canals and on land in London.
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Your Helmsman, boat mover & boating coach
I’m Giles, a boat mover and boating instructor, and I'm here to help you move your boat from one part of the waterway network to another when you can’t do it for yourself.
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Hill Farm Leisure
50 Berth Marina located on a beef and sheep farm in rural Warwickshire. Truly unique and tranquil.
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Nelson's Wharf
Countryside canal basin moorings for up to 12 Narrowboats. Permanent and short term moorings including overnight.
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Braunston Village Website
Visitor information about Braunston; its organisations, businesses (e.g. eating places and canal services), local walks, history, news and events.
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Rose Narrowboats
Escape to a slower pace of life...
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Bugbrooke Marina
Small friendly marina on the Grand Union Canal midway between Stoke Bruerne and Buckby. 15 miles of lock- free crusing with pub and village shop nearby. Affordable rates with no hidden extras. Bugbrooke...
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Bowen Marine Associates
Consulting Marine Engineers and Small Ship Surveyors based in West London and covering U/K and Europe.
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Bulls bridge docks
Wet and dry dock facilities.
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Kate Boats
Self drive narrowboats on the Grand Union Canal.
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Malthouse Wharf Ltd
We offer long term moorings to 8 boats in the semi tidal waters between Thames Lock (101) and Brentford Gauging Locks (100) on the southern end of the Grand Union Canal. Brentford. We rarely have vacancies...
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Calcutt Boats Ltd
Calcutt Boats is a family run business based on the junction of the Grand Union and Oxford canals near Napton. Established over 35 years ago Calcutt has developed into a full service boatyard providing...
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Jules Fuels
Diesel, coal, logs, kindling, gas and Elsan blue from narrow boat Towcester operating between Braunstonand Hemel on the Grand Union Canal.
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Days Afloat
We carry out all aspects of boat repairs and refurbishment.
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J G Marine Services Ltd
Narrowboat surveys for Insurance, Condition and Pre-purchase. Valuations for insurance and other purposes. Gas Safe Registered.
- Chiswick Pier Trust
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M A & S M Stimpson
Inland Waterway Consultants.
Businesses 22
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Julies Jugs Canal Art
Hand painted canal ware
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Drift Fenders
Traditional narrowboat fenders and other products made using grade 1 manila rope. Custom knotwork projects to order.
- Mayfly Narrow Boat Hire
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Hotel Boat Kailani
Kailani is a modern luxury 5 Star wide beam Hotel Boat cruising Southern England's waterways. Kailani has also been awarded the Gold Accolade from Visit England, the first Hotel Boat to receive this award....
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Bywater Hotelboat Cruises
Luxury Canal Hotelboat Holidays
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Cards and Curios
Cards and Curios are a Roving Trader company selling homemade cards, jewellery and other curiosities on the towpath of the Midlands’ canals.
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The Beer Boat Company
The Beer Boat is a floating Off-Licence, selling Real Ale, Wine & Cider sourced from local and other producers around the midlands, all products are from independent breweries, Vineyards and Cider Farms,...
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Kay's Canal Crafty Arts
Handpainted canal art on traditional canal-ware (Buckby cans, door panels, Narelle etc) and interesting upcycled and new pieces. Lanterns, planters, teapots, coffee pots, Christmas decorations, hanging...
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Floating dolly lady
Floating dolly lady is a roving canal trader travelling the whole network selling an array of fair trade recycled metal garden sculptures and wild life figures, we also sell original Russian dolls.
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Inland Navigators
Day Boat Hire of our day boat: Jessop. Fun family days out along rural Northamptonshire canals with up to 10 in a group. The day boat is equipped with full picnic inventory, easy to steer and full tuition...
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Narrowboat Training and Experience Days
Join me on board my 62' narrowboat for a day of hands-on narrowboat training and discovery. You'll learn how to handle a narrowboat on a 12 mile, six lock cruise through beautiful rural Warwickshire. And...
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Little Pen's Trading Company
Handmade crafts & jewellery. Specialising in children's nightlights.
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The Billet Hotel Boat
The Billet offers luxurious and relaxing short holiday breaks, in the marvellously peaceful English countryside, enjoying the beauty of the river and canal network and its historic past.
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LPG Gas Engineer
Please contact us for LPG Gas Safety Check in Boats up to 40meter long. Electrical Inspections. Etc..
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The Country Punk Kin Pizza Boat
Plant based takeaway pizza boat operating between Bristol and London
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The Narrow Boat Trust
We are a heritage charity run entirely by volunteers, operating a pair of Grand Union Town class narrow boats Nuneaton and Brighton.
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LNBP Community Boating at Braunston
LNBP Community Boating at Braunston, formerly known as the London Narrow Boat Project, is a Registered Charity, a non-profit making voluntary organisation and a Company limited by Guarantee.
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The Skinny Boat Photography Company
The Skinny Boat Photography Company supplies unique handmade greetings cards and framed pictures. All of the images have been captured by us so you will not see them for sale anywhere else. We capture...
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Nancy May Crochet
Operating from on board Narrowboat 'Drifter', Nancy May Crochet supplies beautiful handmade crocheted items for baby, toddler and adult. We also accept commissions for one off items.
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Flavoursafloat The Coffee Boat
We are Roving Traders travelling the inland waterways on our narrow-boat Islonian trading as Flavoursfloat The Coffee Boat.
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Boatfaeries Travelling Emporium
Boatfaeries are always busy on NB Sense of Freedom and have a selection of Arts and Handcrafted Gifts on a canal near you.
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Antiques Afloat
We sell a wide selection of interesting antique and collectible items with an emphasis on nautical, wooden and canal bygones. We always have a selection of Meashamware teapots available!
Activities 9
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The Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd
28 narrowboats for holiday hire, short breaks and longer hires available.
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Chiltern Canal Boat Holidays
A family run business offering canal boat hire for short breaks or full weeks on our bespoke, luxury narrowboats. Based on the south Grand Union canal, our route runs through the beautiful Chiltern Hills...
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Union Canal Carriers
Union Canal Carriers are a family run hire boat company celebrating over 50 years in business. The fleet of 17 hire boats are built by us and are all individual as we believe our customers are. Our staff...
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Waterways Experiences - Accessible Canal Boating For All
We operate the only passenger boats on the southern Grand Union Canal which are both wide-beam and purpose-built to provide access and comfort for people with mobility or other difficulties.
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Electric Bike Tours
Try Hertfordshire's No.1 cycling experience and visit historical places and beautiful countryside on a guided electric bike tour.
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Black Prince Holidays
Choose to take your canal boat holiday from a choice of nine holiday centres, from the Peak District to the Midlands, Cheshire, Cambridge, Oxford, Wiltshire, Scotland, Wales and London, each with their...
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Puddling Cruisers
Luxury Canal Boat Holidays based out of Milton Keynes Marina on the Grand Union Canal.
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The Electric Barge
Our Business: The Electric Barge
- Skippered Narrowboat Charter
Trusts and Societies 3
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Rickmansworth Waterways Trust
We are a heritage education charity based at Batchworth Lock in Rickmansworth and run entirely by volunteers.
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Braunston Canal Society
We are a group of volunteers based in Braunston. The society, started in 2012, adopted a two mile stretch of the Grand Union canal that includes Braunston's flight of six double locks. 2018 saw the current...
- IWA Chiltern Branch
Fisheries 51
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838: Dolphin Angling Club
Bridge 73 Waterfields Hampton Lane to M42 Motorway Bridge
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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795: Wellingborough & District Nene Angling Club
Leicester LineNorth portal of Husbands Bosworth Tunnel to Bridge 51
Grand Union Canal South East
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828: Weltonfield Narrowboats Ltd
From a point 68 metres south of Welton Hythe Marina to Aqueduct 2
Grand Union Canal South East
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820: Royal Leamington Spa Angling Association
Bridge 62 Church to Bridge 67 Lapworth Turnover
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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785: Lure Anglers Canal Club
Lock 3 Calcutt Bottom to Lock 11 Stockton bottom
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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770: London Borough of Islington
City Road Basin
Grand Union Canal London
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775: Lure Anglers Canal Club
Bridge 70 Kings Arms to Bridge 72 Kixley Lane
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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388: Naseby Angling Club
Naseby Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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401: Blenheim Angling Association
Lock 83 Springwell to Lock 81 Batchworth
Grand Union Canal South East
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319: Blenheim Angling Society
Lock 87 Denham to Lock 83 Springwell
Grand Union Canal London
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54: Lure Anglers Canal Club
Lock 11 Stockton bottom to Bridge 51 Birmingham Road
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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565: MEM Fisheries
Welford Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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572: Wreake Angling Club
Leicester LineNorth portal Saddington Tunnel to Bridge 84 Tythorne
Grand Union Canal South East
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53: Stockton Reservoir Angling Club
Stockton Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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418: Blythe Waters
Blythe Waters
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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57: PERLS Angling Club
Bridge 67 Lapworth Turnover to Bridge 70 Kings Arms
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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404: Tring Reservoirs
Tring Reservoirs - Startopsend, Marsworth and Wilstone
Grand Union Canal South East
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400: Gary Beale
Thorpe Lea Fishery
Grand Union London
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399: Mentmore Game Farm
Tringford Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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394: Towcester & District Angling Association
Bridge 64 Castlethorpe Wharf to Bridge 62 Yardley Gobion
Grand Union Canal South East
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385: Simpley The Best Drayton Angling Club
Drayton Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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62: Cornerstone Angling Club
Bridge 89 Golden Hillock Road to Camphill Bottom Lock
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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339: Northampton Nene Angling Club
Northampton ArmGayton Junction to Lock 17 plus section of River Nene at Cotton End
Grand Union Canal South East
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338: Wreake Angling Club
MARKET HARBOROUGH ARMSign far end of Union Basin to Foxton Locks
Grand Union Canal South East
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336: 336: Wreake Angling Club
Leicester LineBottom of Foxton Locks to southern portal of Saddington Tunnel
Grand Union Canal South East
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334: The Old Kings Head Angling Club
Leicester LineBridge 13 Lodge to Bridge 28 Elkington Road
Grand Union Canal South East
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337: Wigston Angling Society
Leicester LineBridge 84 Tythorne Bridge to Lock 42 North Lock
Grand Union Canal South East
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389: Saddington Angling Club
Saddington Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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59: Barford Angling Association
Bridge 72 Kixley Lane to Bridge 73 Waterfield Hampton Lane
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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505: 100 Angling Club
M42 Motorway Bridge to Bridge 79, Solihull Gas Footbridge
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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55: Oaklands Farm Angling Club
Bridge 51 Birmingham Road to Bridge 52
Grand Union Canal Birmingham
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324: Luton Angling Club
Bridge 126 Cooks to Bridge 102 Stoke Hammond
Grand Union Canal South East
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335: Wellingborough & District Nene Angling Club
Leicester LineBridge 51 to Bridge 60 Gumley Road
Grand Union Canal South East
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386: Prestwood & District Angling Club
Weston Turville Reservoir
Grand Union Canal South East
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402: The Tring Anglers
Bridge 135 Tring to Bridge 126 Cooks
Grand Union Canal South East
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403: The Tring Anglers
WENDOVER ARMJunction with main line to Tringford Pumping Station
Grand Union Canal South East
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323: The Tring Anglers
Aylesbury ArmJunction with main line to Red House Lock near Aston Clinton
Grand Union Canal South East
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332: Northampton Nene Angling Club
Bridge 62 Haines (Yardley Gobion) to Bridge 22 Watling Street A5
Grand Union Canal South East
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331: Deanshanger & The Stratfords Angling Club
Lock 21 Cosgrove to Bridge 64 Castlethorpe
Grand Union Canal South East
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326: Galleon Angling Club
Bridge 68 Old Wolverton to Great Ouse Aqueduct
Grand Union Canal South East
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325: Milton Keynes Angling Association
Bridge 102 Stoke Hammond to Bridge 81
Grand Union Canal South East
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329: Milton Keynes Angling Association
Bridge 76 Black Horse to 68 Old Wolverton
Grand Union Canal South East
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327: Milton Keynes Angling Association
River Great Ouse at Cosgrove
Grand Union Canal South East
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384: Watford Piscators
Lock 81 to 80
Grand Union Canal South East
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318: London Anglers' Association
Lock 72 Hunton Bridge to Bridge 135 Tring
Grand Union Canal South East
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322: Kings Langley Angling Society
Bridge 166 Cassiobury Park to Lock 72 Hunton Bridge
Grand Union Canal South East
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321: Watford Piscators
From the railway bridge south of Lot Mead Lock 80 to Bridge 166 Cassiobury ParkRiver Gade adjacent to Lot Mead Lock 80
Grand Union Canal South East
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320: West Hampstead Angling Society
Sabeys Pool and River Chess from swing bridge to lock
Grand Union Canal South East
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348: Gerrards Cross and Uxbridge District Angling Society
SLOUGH ARMWhole of Arm from junction with main line at Cowley to Slough
Grand Union Canal London
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347: Central Association of London & Provincial Angling Clubs
Bridge 200 Hayes to Bridge 191 West Drayton
Grand Union Canal London
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734: The Tring Anglers
Aylesbury ArmLock 13 Red House near Aston Clinton to Bridge 19 footbridge upstream of Aylesbury Basin
Grand Union Canal South East
There's plenty to see along the Grand Union Canal. From the vibrant heart of London, it leads you out into the rolling Chiltern Hills, through rural Northamptonshire and Warwickshire and into the Birmingham suburbs.
The canal’s striking historic features include the dramatic span of the Iron Trunk Aqueduct and the steeply climbing Hatton Lock Flight, set in charming Warwickshire countryside. Take a walk and marvel at the engineering.
Family days out and scenic walks
The Grand Union Canal is bursting with bustling locks, peaceful walks, areas of living history and wildlife. We've put together some free guides to the best family days out along the Grand Union Canal.
The history
Competition from the railways and the narrow size of its locks meant that this mammoth waterway had to fight hard to survive in the early 20th Century.
The word Union offers a clue to the heritage of this canal. The Grand Union Canal was never constructed as an entity, but is the result of amalgamations between 1894 and 1929 of several independent waterways — the oldest being the navigations around the River Soar in Leicestershire, the longest the Grand Junction Canal from Braunston to the River Thames.
The term ‘Grand Union’ is now generally taken to mean the canal from the Thames at Brentford to the junction with the Digbeth Branch in Birmingham.
Grand Junction Canal
The Grand Junction Canal was built to improve the communications between Birmingham and the Midlands and London. It received its Act in 1793 and was fully opened in 1805. Its major engineering works were the two long tunnels at Blisworth and Braunston, and the long and deep cutting at Tring summit.
Branches added:
- Paddington (1801)
- Buckingham (1801)
- Northampton (1815)
- Aylesbury (1815) The canal to Newport Pagnell (opened 1817) was built by a separate company
- Slough Branch was one of the last canals to be built (1882)
Although the Grand Junction was built as a broad canal and could take boats 14ft wide, at its northern end it joined the narrow Oxford Canal and the canals which continued the line to Birmingham were also narrow. In practice, therefore, it was generally used only by narrow boats, except at the London end.
The canal had water supply problems, especially for the summit between Marsworth and Tring. A navigable feeder was made to Wendover (1797) and several reservoirs with pumping engines built near the junction. Over the years, back-pumping was introduced at many of the locks.
The advent of the railways forced the waterways to adapt in order to survive. The duplication of locks at Stoke Bruerne and the ascent of the northern slope of the Chilterns is an early example of attempts to speed up traffic on the Grand Junction. Despite reductions in tolls because of railway competition, the canal stayed profitable.
North of Napton Junction
This section was built by two separate companies, the Warwick & Napton Canal and the Warwick & Birmingham Canal. Both were designed for narrow boats and were completed in 1800.Â
They shared many committee members and worked closely together, enjoying a profit until railway competition arrived in 1838. The weight of freight carried dropped by nearly a third in a few years, then stayed reasonably steady for several decades. However, tolls were greatly reduced, and receipts in the 1860s were less than a third of what they had been in the 1830s.
Amalgamation
 In 1894 the Grand Junction bought the canals which now comprise the ‘Leicester Line’, then in 1929 the Regent’s, Grand Junction and the two Warwick Canals merged and were renamed as the ‘Grand Union Canal’.Â
The new company embarked on a large-scale modernisation programme, largely financed by government loans, with the aim of enabling broad-beamed boats to work between London and Birmingham. Long lengths were dredged and strengthened with concrete bank protection. Bridges were widened or replaced, and the narrow locks between Braunston and Birmingham were replaced with broad locks (the remains of most of the old locks can be seen alongside their larger replacements). The canal company also embarked on an programme of building a large fleet of narrow boats but it struggled to find crews to man them.
The ambitious scheme was completed in 1937 but much of the canal remained too shallow for broad boats to pass each other, and of course broad boats could not pass in the tunnels. However, narrow boats could now easily and quickly work in pairs. Traffic increased in the short term, but after the war the long-term downwards trend was relentless as canalside factories ceased using coal as a fuel or obtained it from other sources.
The Grand Union today
Today, the Grand Union Canal is alive with pleasure boats, walkers, cycle trails, anglers and day trippers. 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, Middle Eastern cafes, juice bars and a terraced canalside seating area at Sheldon Square.
The Slough Arm is an unexpectedly green and rural bit of canal, passing through the pretty town of Iver. It is a great place to escape the crowds on the nearby London waterways.