Walk From Little Venice To Camden in London

I had heard a lot about this walk from Little Venice to Camden along the Regents Canal in London. I had heard about how beautiful it is and read about how it’s one of the best walks in London. Well, I have to say, I was slightly disappointed. It wasn’t a bad walk by any means, and some parts were really rather lovely. But it wasn’t quite what I was expecting…

What to expect

I think my expectations were set too high. If you look online at photos for the Little Venice to Camden walk, it’s all flowers and prettiness with quaint canal boats. Some of it is like this, but most of it is not. Most of it is brick, fencing and graffiti (and of course, the canal).

I also suspect that my opinion of it was slightly tainted by the fact that I had just got caught in a downpour. I was damp, and everything around me just felt damp and dark and gloomy.

But as I said, it wasn’t all bad. The start of the walk in Little Venice was gorgeous, then towards the other end of Regents Park, and heading into Camden, the loveliness continues. It’s just that bit in the middle that was a bit grey.

Update: Yes, the weather did play a factor. I’ve since been back to walk from Little Venice to Camden in nicer weather, and it was a totally different vibe. Much nicer.

I still enjoyed it, and I do recommend it, as it’s a good way to get a bit of nature in, in the heart of London. It’s also very short. At 2.5 miles in length, it would work very well as a midday stroll to then finish in Camden for lunch at one of the many food stalls it has on offer.

Logistics

Start: Little Venice
Finish: Camden Lock
How to get there: Little Venice you can access from Paddington station or Warwick Avenue station. Both are on the Bakerloo line of the London Underground (the brown one). Paddington is also on the Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines. Camden is on the Northern Line. Both have Santander cycle docking stations nearby.
Distance: 2.5 miles.
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Tips: Do it on a sunny day. I feel that if it was sunny and bright, my experience of it would be have been very different. Also, if you don’t enjoy big crowds of people, then I would say walk the other way. Camden is always heaving. So if you start the walk in Camden, you will get out of the way of it quickly, then finish at Little Venice which is more chill. There are also lots of little places to eat and drink on the Little Venice end.

Map for the walk

More local, or similar walk ideas, and links to guides will be at the end

How To Walk From Little Venice To Camden

If you are starting the walk from Little Venice to Camden from Paddington station, there is an exit right at the canal, and from here you turn left. If you happen to find yourself coming out of another exit, then check the map to find the canal.

You will be greeted here by riverside cafes, canal boat cafes, the canal with people in their little boats. It’s all rather lovely. I felt a sort of excitement and what was to come (little did I know).

From here you continue with the canal to your right, following the signs for Little Venice.

I didn’t actually take any photos of this part. Sorry.

Little Venice

Little Venice is around the point where three canals meet to form a basin. It actually used to be called London’s Venice. Basically, because it’s like London’s version of Venice.

(Having been to Venice, I’m not so sure)

The start of the walk from Little Venice to Camden, looking over the canal with a canal boat and a blue bridge in the background.

The start of the walk in Little Venice, with a few canal boats on the water and lots of green trees surrounding the canal.

Filled with brightly coloured canal boats, and surrounded by lush greenery. The area is worth a visit in itself without anything else.

A red canal boat with people on it going along the canal at the start of the walk from Little Venice to Camden. There are canal boats and trees lining the canal. There is a white and brown brick house on the left.

The path for the walk from Little Venice to Camden in London. There is a green and red canal boat next to the path and a blue bridge up ahead.

The canal boats lining the canal in Little Venice, London.

From this point you walk over the blue bridge and down to the canal, then follow the path. The canal will be to your right for this first part of the walk from Little Venice towards Camden.

Leave the Regents Canal

A bit further along, the canal path will come to an abrupt end and you will need to walk up to street level to continue the walk next to the road.

The path lined with bushes on the left and canal boats on the right.

I was kind of hoping to stay right on the canal edge, but the rest of that path is for canal boat owners. I actually get that. If I had my own canal boat, I’d want to have bits of the canal just for me (and the other canal boat people).

A canal boat on the other side of a black fence.

Once you reach the restaurant located on a bridge over the canal, cross the road and continue straight where the canal will disappear for a little bit.

Back to the Regents canal

At the end, continue through some black railings and down an alley (where the road curves left). You will meet the canal again, but this time you are way above it, behind the black railings.

Update: You can also walk back down to the canal here. I discovered it on another time I did this walk. There is an entrance through black gates, then down the steps.

The walking path with black metal fence along the right and the Regents canal down below.

A metal archway gate leading to the Regents Canal along the walk from Little Venice to Camden in London.

Continuing up here though, at the main road, take a right, then left, where you will find this gateway entrance back to the Regents Canal. For this next little bit of the walk from Little Venice to Camden, the Regents canal will be on your left.

Regents canal ahead and below, with canal boats parked along it and lots of green trees and bushes running along the right side.

Looking through the black fence railings at the colourful canal boats below on the Regents Canal.

Down to canal level

When you reach a bridge, cross over it and it will lead you back down to canal level, where the canal will now be on your right.

The bridge path with green railings on either side and trees and flowers lining the bridge.

This section of the walk is where I started to not like it as much. Everything down here felt sort of gloomy and dark. The greenery was lovely and lush, just the way I like it, but I wasn’t so keen on everything else. It was damp and grey, definitely got a vibe of not wanted to be down here alone at night.

Update: I have since come back in nice sunny weather, and it’s not that bad at all. Much nicer in fact. Totally different vibe.

The path as it runs along the Regents Canal. There is a train bridge ahead, and graffiti on the walll on the right Sid eof the canal.

The canal and the path running along the left side of it. The path is wet. The right side of the canal has a grassy back and trees.

Walk around Regents Park

There are some interesting unexpected things along the way though.

First off you will walk past a couple of big opulent type houses backed onto the Regents Canal. I wondered who might live here. Very rich people most likely.

A grand Manor House on the edge of the Regents Canal.

I can’t be quite sure, but I think these houses came once I was in the park. Regents park is known to have giant homes.

Next you will walk past a section of Regents Park Zoo. You might even see some animals. I saw the warthogs. I thought about Pumba.

This section of the walk was slightly more people traffic heavy. Even a few crowds in spots.

The path along the Regents Canal on the walk from Little Venice to Camden in London. There are lots of people walking on the path. There is a boat on the canal, and a bridge up ahead with a car on it.

The path on the walk from Little Venice to Camden running along the Regents Canal. There are people walking on the path and there is a small boat on the water with people in it.

The final stretch

Once you go under one of the bridges, you will see steps leading up to the street (or to Regents Park if you want to go in there). To continue on to Camden, don’t go up the steps, but stay on this canal path as it curves around to the left and under another bridge.

Regents Canal with boats lining the side of it and lots of overhanging trees.

The Regents Canal path with a few people walking on it. There is a canal boat and overhanging trees.

Things pretty up a bit more here. The canal boats are back, pretty flowers here and there.

Camden Lock

As you start to approach Camden the vibe changes and things are a bit more Camden like. Music coming from various directions, young people with funky eclectic fashion. A bit more buzzy. A lot more graffiti.

Regents Canal as it leads to Camden, at the end of the walk from Little Venice. There are lots of people on the path and buildings up ahead.

The Canal leading into Camden. There is a bridge up ahead and a few overhanging trees.

A brick wall with an archway entrance to Camden Lock.

Head up towards the bridge, but don’t go over it. Instead, go under the archway that says Camden Lock and you will enter the Camden Market food stalls.

This marks the end of the walk from Little Venice to Camden. It is actually the shortened version of the Regents Canal walk which follows the canal right down to the River Thames. So, if you would like to go further, then you could continue along the canal.

Camden food stalls with lots of people and a barge ion the foreground.

The road in London with a railway bridge up ahead and Camden Lock written on it.

More walks nearby and around London

If you enjoyed the Little Venice to Camden walk, then I think you will enjoy the Parkland Walk. It takes you along an old railway line which is now the longest nature reserve in London. You will also see bits of the old railway which is cool. It then finishes with amazing views to the city skyline. It’s nice and easy, dog friendly, and only 4-5 miles long.

If you would like to check out Regents Park (which I recommend you do), you could do a lovely walk around the flower gardens. Or something I would recommend more, is to walk up to Primrose Hill for some of the best views of London.

If you would like to do the full Regents Canal route, then check out my Regents Canal walk guide. Or, if you fancy something with more of a city vibe, then head over to the City of London.

To explore the River Thames, you can read my guide on walks along the London Thames Path.

If you would like more info on Little Venice and things to do there, you can find that on the Visit London website. Or if you would like more Camden info check out the Camden Market website.

Other canal or river walks in South East England

Just outside London, in Guildford, you could try out this walk along the River Wey. It is the first river in England to be made navigable.

Slightly further out I would suggest trying out Rye to Camber Sands. First off, you get to see Rye which is always a win. You then make your way along the river to reach the English Channel and a sandy beach.