Aerial view of a flight of locks, each with large overflow pounds next to them, surrounded by fields.

Caen Hill Locks

The 16 locks that form the steepest part of the flight at Caen Hill are not only a scheduled ancient monument, they are an Olympic-sized challenge every boater must do. This 'wonder of the waterway' is a rite of passage.

Caen Hill (pronounced ‘cane'), is one of the longest continuous flight of locks in the country. A total of 29 locks with a rise of 237 feet over two miles with a 1-in-44 gradient.

Visit our welcome boat, The Admiral, for activity sheets, local walks and information and stories about the locks before taking a stroll over to our newly planted, Diamond Jubilee Wood.

Download your free map

More information about what you can enjoy at Caen Hill

Things to see and do

Places of interest

Planning your visit

Information leaflet

Take a look at our fold-out guide to Caen Hill

Got a boat?

Find out about lock times, moorings and facilities

Getting here

The locks typically take five to six hours to traverse in a boat. Check opening times. If you're thinking of travelling up (or down) the flight you'll need to talk to our volunteer lock keepers as they have the experience to make sure the water is conserved during your passage. There are visitor and lock waiting moorings at the top lock and some visitor moorings, as well as boating services near the bottom of the main 16 flight locks.

A bright green wooden door with a sign saying 'Caen Hill Cafe' written in traditional boat sign writing with canal roses.

Brick building sits next to the canal below a lock, with people walking by.

Two narrowboats at the bottom of a lock with the gates open and Canal & River Trust volunteers in life jackets stand on the bank.

Caen Hill welcome boat and cafe