Little Venice

The Grand Union Canal arrives from Birmingham and meets the Regent's Canal here in a triangular pool with a small island, Browning's Island, named for the poet who lived nearby and who is sometimes credited with the Venice comparison, though Byron used it first. Narrowboats moor along both arms, some as homes, some converted into a puppet theatre, a cafe and a gallery. Waterbuses run from here along the Regent's Canal through Regent's Park and London Zoo to Camden Lock, about fifty minutes, passing through the Maida Hill Tunnel, which has no towpath, so horses were once led over the hill while crews legged the boats through by pushing against the roof. A canalway cavalcade of decorated boats fills the pool each May bank holiday.

What you actually see

• The canal junction - a triangular pool where two canals meet.
• The moored narrowboats - homes, a puppet theatre and a floating cafe.
• The waterbus - a boat route to Camden through Regent's Park and the zoo.
• The Maida Hill Tunnel - a towpath-less tunnel boats were once legged through.

When to go

April to September, when the waterbuses run frequently and the towpath is pleasant; the Canalway Cavalcade over the early May bank holiday fills the pool with decorated boats. Winter service is reduced.

Honest expectations

The Venice comparison is generous for a canal junction and a short stretch of towpath. Most narrowboats are private homes and photographing into them intrudes. Waterbus timetables are limited outside summer.

Nearby

Paddington Basin lies south; the towpath runs east to Camden through Regent's Park.