Camden to Victoria Park
A satisfying stretch along the Regent’s Canal, from famous Camden Lock to the main Olympic site, this Section highlights the contrasts thrown up by a living, growing capital, meandering between old districts and new developments, each with their own unique style and atmosphere.
Camden to Victoria Park
This is the fifth Section of the Jubilee Greenway. Most of the route runs along the Regent’s Canal from Camden Lock to Victoria Park - there being a point at Islington where the walker cannot follow the towpath and must cross some roads. At Victoria Park the Regent’s Canal joins the Hertford Union Canal, running round the southern perimeter of Victoria Park. It also runs down the Mile End extension to Limehouse, joining the Thames at the Limehouse Basin.
This section of the route takes the walker through Camden, Islington, Hackney and Bethnal Green, leading finally to Victoria Park. This provides the walker or cyclist with a fascinating look at how London is developing, passing many new developments and constructions, while savouring the atmosphere of the canal. In some ways the towpath side has changed little, whereas the south side of the canal has developed a great deal. Victoria Park is to be one of the Olympic sites.
Begin at Camden Lock, and Camden Lock Market (where a short diversion to the left up Chalk Farm Road leads to the Roundhouse on the left).
Back on the canal towpath, head east towards Victoria Park. This route passes under a number of bridges and locks, including Hampstead Road Lock, Kentish Town Bridge Road, Camden Street Bridge, Camden Road Bridge and Royal College Street Bridge, after which there is a sudden view of the Post Office Tower to the right. Another Bridge is next to the Cellar Bar, and the Constitution Pub on the left.
There are steps up to Camley Street Natural Park, and Camley Street Bridge (no 31).
The next bridge is a substantial rail bridge serving St Pancras Station. The canal widens into the St Pancras Yacht Basin and St Pancras Lock. Here is the St Pancras Cruising Club.
The route passes a major development being undertaken by Argent at King’s Cross to the north of the towpath.
(A short diversion at King’s Cross leads to the London Canal Museum. Leave the towpath at York Way, turn right in the direction of King’s Cross Station, turn left into Wharfdale Road, and then left into New Wharf Road. The museum is on your left, and overlooks a basin of the canal. Rejoin the route by retracing the route. There may be another way back.)
Pass under the Caledonian Road Bridge. Then it is necessary to climb the steps before the next bridge, which has no towpath through it. This is the Islington Tunnel.
The next part is a bit more complicated. Rise to Muriel Street and turn left. Then turn right opposite Barnsbury Estate and Thurston House into Carnegie Street, which rises uphill. Pass through a housing estate. Pass Victoria Primary School (which has a high green fence). Turn left, following a sign for the Towpath Link. The path opens into a cul-de-sac, Half Moon Crescent, with Maygood House on the right and Berners House on the left. Proceed up Maygood Street and then turn right into Barnsbury Road.
Cross the road (passing Tolpuddle Street) and turn left into a street called Chapel Market, which is indeed a market. At the end of that, turn right into Liverpool Road which leads into the busy thoroughfare of Upper Street. Cross Upper Street at the pedestrian crossing, opposite Angel Underground Station. Turn left up Upper Street, and then right into Duncan Street (passing the antique market, Camden Passage) on your left. Take the pedestrian crossing over Colebrooke Row, and next to 20 Colebrooke Row is an unmarked wall with a wrought iron gate. Go through this gate and down a steepish hill which leads back to the towpath of the Regent’s Canal. After this diversion, the Regent’s Canal can be followed all the way to Victoria Park.
Bridge no. 38 is the Danbury Street Bridge. From this point it is 2 1/4 miles to Victoria Park. Next is City Road Lock with the City Road Basin to the right, affording a glimpse of 30 St Mary Axe (colloquially known as the Gherkin) in the distance. Here there is often canoeing taking place.
Pass under Wharf Road Bridge, and presently there is another housing development, the Parkinson Square Improvement by the Hyde Group Housing.
At Stuart’s Lock, there is often more canoeing taking place. Enter the Borough of Hackney, near Shoreditch Park. Hackney is particularly well sign-posted. The bridges are all named and they give the names of the roads that pass over them.
Therefore continue under New North Bridge (New North Road), Rosemary Branch Bridge (Bridport Place & Southgate Road), Whitmore Bridge (Whitmore Road), Kingsland Bridge (Kingsland Road), and Haggerston Bridge (Queensbridge Road). This leads to Kingsland Basin (on the left).
After another bridge, the path leads to Acton’s Lock. A short diversion north leads to the famous Broadway Market. Bridge no 53 is Bonner Bridge. Next comes Old Ford Lock, and bridge no 54 is on the corner of Victoria Park.
(A short diversion leads to Bistrotheque, a cutting edge venue with bar and restaurant, situated in Wadeson Street, a short diversion from the route. Turn right down Mare Road, passing Vyner Street and then next left into Wadeson Street. It is on the left.)
At Victoria Park, take the first entrance into the park, climbing some steps to the left.
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St Pancras railway station is a major railway station situated in the St Pancras area of central London between the British Library and King's Cross station. It was opened in 1868 by the Midland Railway as the southern terminus of that company's Midland Main Line arriving from the East Midlands and West Yorkshire.#|17/02/2009#51.5411#-0.1457#Camden Lock#
Camden Lock, or Hampstead Road Locks is a twin manually-operated lock on the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, London Borough of Camden. The sign identifying the lock reads "Hampstead Road Lock". 51.5411, -0.1457#|17/02/2009#51.5432#-0.1519#The Roundhouse#
The Roundhouse is a former engine shed (or roundhouse) now used as an arts and concert venue in Chalk Farm, London. Built in 1846, it ceased to be used as an engine shed by 1867, and underwent various uses before being abandoned just before the Second World War.#|26/02/2009#51.536186#-0.127877#St Pancras Lock#
St Pancras Lock is a lock on the Regent's Canal, in the London Borough of Camden. The St Pancras Basin is nearby.#|26/02/2009#51.532652# -0.09892#City Road Lock#
City Road Lock is a lock on the Regent's Canal, in the London Borough of Islington. A few hundred metres west of the lock, the canal enters the Islington Tunnel.#