An Opinionated Guide To London Canals by Emmy Watts

A unique and brilliant way into London: explore the capital via its hidden waterways.

Once used for transporting goods to keep the capital's industry chugging along, London's canals now form a maze of delightful walking, biking and boating routes. The city has swapped barges and towpaths for engines and roads, and in its place life has sprouted from the canal banks, transforming these waterways into hives of cultural activity. Amble through the quaint beauty of Paddington's Little Venice, cycle along the River Lea to the marshy expanse of Walthamstow Wetlands or take a waterside table in one of Hackney Wick's bustling bars and watch the world (and the narrowboats) go by.

This is part of a growing series of opinionated guides which offer straight-talking insider's advice on what to do and see in London