Beautiful houses, a Park and a Zoo all on the same stretch of Regents Canal

Thursday, 18 August 2011 08:16

The Regents Canal passes through a number of tourists' "hot spots" and water-borne ones can enjoy some of it.

The water buses stop at London Zoo and have their own landing stage

The "countrified" urban canal continues for a little further .....

John Nash designed the villas on the east bank; originally there were meant to be 56, but only 8 were completed. Their graceful, Grecian and Roman architecture really enhance the canal-side.

Another Lisson Grove villa on the east bank

Macclesfield Bridge is more commonly known as Blow Up Bridge. In 1874 a gunpowder barge blew up and destroyed the original bridge. When it was rebuilt the pillars were turned around, so the horses' rope grooves are on the "wrong" side.

Blow Up Bridge

The London Zoo, in Regents Park, has almost, but not quite, ignored the canal. The park extends eastwards and the canal goes right through the middle of the Zoo. If you are lucky (and we weren't) you can catch a glimpse of some of the animals in the various "houses" which have their back to the water and a quick ear might hear some unusual cries!

Snowdon Aviary overlooks the canal, pioneering engineering in 1965

There are some elegant bridges too - St Mark's Bridge

The canal turns abruptly north (or left for us) at the old Cumberland Arm, the area known as Waters Meeting. The half mile Cumberland Arm was built as part of the original canal to serve the market and military area near Euston Road in the huge Cumberland Basin.  After the second world war it was filled in and is now under the main car park of Regents Zoo.

Cumberland Arm remains

The Fen Shang Chinese "floating" Restaurant is somewhat incongruous beside the junction. Apparently it is top heavy and is only kept afloat by the footbridge leading to it.

The Regents Canal continues after Albert Road Bridge, to the left.

Turning left towards Camden

To be continued ......