Regent's Canal (Islington section) including Battle Bridge Basin and City Road Basin ⁹⁴³³

Brief Description

Regent’s Canal is now an important visitor attraction in Islington with the facilities of boating, fishing and cycling. It is also a popular venue for festivals and environmental educational trips. The Islington Boat Club now uses the main City Road Basin of the Canal. In 1992, the London Canal Museum was set up in a former ice warehouse on New Wharf Road as an educational resource. Regent’s Canal forms an important wildlife corridor, where plants rare for London are found. It is a breeding ground for numerous fish and birds, and among those that thrive here are waterfowl such as coot, moorhen, mallard and tufted ducks.

History

The stretch of the Regent's Canal running from Regent’s Park across the heart of Islington was completed in 1820. The canals were used to transfer goods all around the country, and took cargo from sea-faring vessels to canal barges. The importance of the canals as a commercial route declined by the 1960s as a result of the increased popularity of rail and road.

Visitor Facilities