England: Grand Union Canal, London

September 2008

On my first visit with AFVdR we spent most of that short stay in his neighborhood. I was on the way to Singapore which included a brief stopover in London.

On that visit, rather than be focused on "London", I was more interested in seeing A's home neighborhood. That lent to a more relaxed visit and allowed me to experience his home turf more naturally. One of the highlights for me was the Union Canal, not very far from A's flat. We had several nice walks along it and I insisted that we stop for a beer at the Union Tavern (much to A's dismay as it was "needlessly expensive") along the canal.

The Union Canal actually still functions and houseboats line parts of it. Considering it is not used industrially these days, it is a testament to London's desire to keep some of its history alive.

The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. It is the principal navigable waterway between London and the Midlands. Starting in London, one arm runs to Leicester and another to Birmingham. The Birmingham canal is 137 miles with 166 locks. The Birmingham line has a number of short branches to places including Slough, Aylesbury, Wendover, and Northampton. The Leicester line has two short arms of its own, to Market Harborough and Welford. It has links with other canals and navigable waterways, including the River Thames, the Regent's Canal, the River Nene and River Soar, the Oxford Canal, the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, the Digbeth Branch Canal and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

(Wikipedia)

Cousin/sister EJ and I often talk about travel by canal boat in England. I think a cruise from London to Birmingham might be an amazing experience. It was fascinating to see that people actually "lived" on those houseboats. What a totally alternate kind of existence to anything I have lived.

A also showed me London's "little Venice" [see: Little Venice, London] where the Regents Canal meets the Grand Union - now a popular film and TV location.

I never expected that one of my favorite parts of London would be a canal. It seemed so retro and so improbable to exist in today's world. I wish the US had not so completely abandoned most of its former canal systems.