Great video. I lived in a house that backed onto the canal, from 1949 to 1970. The house was on the right hand side of your walk, between Mile End Road bridge and Roman Road bridge, just east of the public house (the Palm Tree) that appears very briefly in the video - all the original properties on the canal side of Grove Road, have now been demolished, apart from a short section of terraced houses in Haverfield Road and a short section of shops in Grove Road. I do recall horse-drawn barges in the 1950s but the horses were finally replaced by small blue tractors. The commercial barges would moor outside my home, because there was a huge woodyard on the opposite bank and there were regular deliveries of timber of various sizes, particularly large planks. It seemed quite precarious, the men unloading the planks on their shoulders whilst bouncing on the wooden gangplanks - but I never saw anyone fall in. For schooling, I went to Olga Street primary school (now luxury apartments) and then Coopers' Company school (a guild school, founded by the Worshipful Guild of Coopers under the guidance of Nicholas Gibson) - surprise, surprise, now luxury apartments. Bernard Bresslaw was a former pupil.

You are a rare and remarkable human, hats off to your research and clear love of the world. I've watched many of your sojourns and those attest to your craft. Yin was yet another right royal adventure through an ancient city, on this occasion beside water. Lang may yer lumb reek! If you ever find time, head north if you will, bring your you and enlighten us on your take on Telford's most northerly canal, plenty fresh air and the odd pub too. Thanks again for your gentle manner, happy travels.

That was really an emotional walk for me John, thank you so much. I grew up in N1 and went to Chapel market at least twice a week from 1946 - 1974, the canal at Islington or kings cross was great to see again and the surrounding areas. I remember the Barnsbury Estate being built and the Prefab's and old Georgian terrace houses that were left after the war finally being removed. I lived in Malvern terrace and had friends and relatives who lived on the Barnsbury Estate, sadly many are no longer with us. Emotional but lovely to see the old Manzes even though it closed down. Most of the children of the costermongers of Chap went to the same primary school as me and the girls onto Barnsbury Central girls school with me. The memories... I can remember what the area looked like before and now its all spruced up. Thank you 💕🇦🇺

The murder victim mentioned was Nasra Ismail. She was 27 and a mother of two. People who knew her called her gentle and sweet natured. RIP.

I'm so glad you made this video. I used to work on Graham Street, the road running parallel to the canal between City Road Basin and the tunnel. It was in the early 1980s. In those days it was still local communities and industrial. Graham Street was the home to Greenpeace, and just around the corner were Friends of the Earth and CND, so it was also the heart of the environmental and peace movement in those days. I've looked at Graham Street on Google Maps and it's utterly transformed. The old factories and timberyards where Greenpeace were based is now expensive looking housing. The lovely old Prince of Wales pub is now a cajun cuisine bar called the Plaquemine Lock. The entrance to the tunnel on Vincent Terrace has particularly sad memories for me as a friend took her life there in 1984, slipping into the canal after taking pills and whisky. I think these places are filled with such stories and histories as your experience showed. A great video that has brought back many more happy memories than the one tragedy. Once again you've transported me back to London.

John, in Limehouse again, missed you again, probably your best walk to date, more vital escapism on a Sunday

My first job in 1963 was at Johnson & Belfar LTd in Wharf Rd. We made packing cases for big companies like Stafford Allen, and Burroughs Welcome who were manufacturing chemists in the area. All those factories are now apartments. We had our timber delivered by barge in City Road Basin just before the Islington Tunnel. You mentioned "The Narrowboat Pub". by the bridge that separates St. Peters St. from Wharf Rd. In my day it was "The Star" a right spit `n sawdust place, but beer was only 1/3d a pint. It was changed into a trendy pub after the gentrification of the area, and the Ok` Ya` brigade taking over. I enjoy your videos as I spent the first 50 years of my life in Walthamstow, and East Ham before escaping to South Devon 23 years ago.

I love your longer walking films, John. So immersive. One can get nicely involved in them. Lost in them, too. You have reawakened the desire to walk down the Regent's Canal, well at least a stretch. Perfect for one such as myself, with mobility issues - nice and flat.

that was epic John. the fact that little bits of this canal evoke many memories at points in your life and I imagine most people who have lived in London at one time or another but to walk the whole length joins up the dots. I once joined at Paddington and cycled all the ay to Ealing / Alfeton - it was most boring going westwrds, but have had so many little strolls with ex partners along the old ford section, and to Limehouse, lunch in that cafe over the Maida Vale tunnel, jogging along the kings cross section under Cali road, and spending boozy mornings after leaving the Bagley's night club in Kings Cross goods yard at 6am and heading to Camden lock in the sun armed with beers from the local Sainsburys to sit for the entire next day, and sitting at my best friends flat in Gainsborough Studios bbqing on the balcony watching the hoards of hipsters commuting from Haggerston to Hoxton.... what a fantastic piece of infrastructure for stringing London together

A very enjoyable video to watch on a Sunday evening.

Epic walk along a magnificent waterway, with a delightful interview along the towpath. Well done. Thank you.

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Thanks Malcolm

That was wonderful! A great end to my weekend to have a lovely stroll along the water, see the people out enjoying their day and hearing the history of this grand canal. Thank you for taking us there!

My great grandfather and great uncle were the lock keepers at Victoria park/Old Ford rd lock..... George Monksfield

I was informed by one of the captains that operates a narrow boat tour on the Regent’s canal that the horses didn’t actually travel through the tunnels, they were harnessed up with rope at one end and pulled the boats through. There are wear marks by the entrances of the tunnels where the ropes used to rub against the brickwork.

@mzSmith

13 күн бұрын

That captain was drunk or fibbing, the horses walked up over the tunnels and the boats were legged through. Very dangerous work legging, many people were killed doing it.

Blimey, watching this excellent - as usual - video has made me terribly nostalgic for home, East London. I used to live in the western block of Robin Hood Gardens in Poplar, a fine brutalist block that is no longer there, and the London Marathon used to pass by one end of it by Poplar High Street, so I’m very familiar with the Regents canal.

You’ve really taken me down memory lane on this one. From Islington, where I was born and grew up, through Camden and Regents Park where I spent so many days and nights having fun in my teens and twenties - to Merchant Square, where I once used to work and would often get coffee from the places there. This is also in my top ten John Rogers walks now!

Magnificent, informative walk! I've walked the canal from Little Venice to Camden Town many times and it is indeed bucolic, with magnificent mansions and the tranquillity of water. Thank you for sharing your excursions, John. Much appreciated!

I love how the green door to the right of Alpino’s looks like it might be the original door from 1800-something.

Absolutely one of your ten best ! I learn so much about London from your walks. Keep them coming & Thank you.☺

Great video! I used to walk the canal frequently from Islington to Edgware Road. The blue trunking at the entrance of the Maida Hill tunnel is carrying the electricity cables to that huge power sub station you mentioned at Aberdeen Place. The cables run under the towpath and use the canal water in the cooler dampened soil to help keep them cool! So, it's not only the railways that have a connection with the canal. The canal has more modern but hidden uses too!

Walking on the shore,❤really lovable,really excellent and nice walk,everythings look like picture images ,Jacob on the boat sometimes its feel peaceful ✌, after pandemic everywhere poverty is taking place,you show us canal,River and locks and boats and cruises sometimes its feel mysterious ❤riverside flat construction is very beautiful I think it will be very nice to see it in evening time,everything is like fairy tale ❤😊from past 100 -200 years it seems very popular Port love ❤ this walk Heidi Ma'am is always right ✅ please listen to him 😀 thanks 💖 for a wonderful journey 😊 swan is floating 😀 very beautifully London Great Britain 🇬🇧 amazing ❤london is always in my dream ❤love this country so much ❤😊And yes meadows song of your father🎵 is so so good like listening childhood stories memorable 😀 😊 ❤

Walked the section from Coal Drops Yard to Regents Park a few years ago in the February, still busy with the public even on a cold sunny week day.I have a keen eye for the layers of architecture both industrial and housing, as you say some of the Regency mansion houses are superb especially with rounded turrets. 👍

Great walk John. One of the best.. You may be interested to know City Road Basin is one of just two points in London where the electricity feed from the National Grid joins the local network. If you look at the paving slabs on the towpath you'll have seen some marked CEGB and various warnings of high voltage electricity. That's because someone had the brilliant idea the canal formed a great pathway through the urban area, easy to access and out of the way of most. An added bonus was they could draw water from the canal to cool the cables that run in the trench they laid under the footpath. The water is pumped back into the canal further downstream. The canal authority was paid a fee for the use of their water, which means paradoxically they earned money by allowing someone to expend energy on their product, then giving it back to them..

Went to many a warehouse party around Kings Cross area when it was all abandoned warehouses…

So cute - your daddy's melody for the end of the day...

That was a fantastic walk! I used to cycle along the canal from Little Venice to Camden quite often (and boat there along with a friend who lived on a narrow boat and take his canoe out along there) and that section brought back great memories. You'd scarcely believe it but the land around Paddington basin was empty and windblown then (but it was thirty years ago)

Really enjoyed this one John. It’s one of my favourite walks in London too….never get tired of it when I visit. The transformation of the area behind Kings Cross is something else. Keep on walking..Barrie

@JohnRogersWalks

22 күн бұрын

Great stuff Barrie!

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I was born and raised in Maida Avenue overlooking the canal. And of course as a youngster you don't appreciate your surroundings, I left there at the age of 22 when I was married. I heard many horror stories of leggers offering to take the boats through the Maida Hill tunnel and stop half way through to rob them. The restaurant spanning that tunnel was once a greengrocers where my late Brother had a Saturday job back in the 60's

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Great stories- thanks for sharing

I remember when the Georgian house (now just a facade I believe) next to the gasometers at Cambridge Heath was the premises of Empire Coaches. While Empire were still there the house was used as a setting in the 2011 film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Thank you for doing one of my favourite walks ever. I’ve enjoyed it so much! ❤

There's a wonderful lore around Crocker's Folly- the legend goes that it was built where Crocker believed the Grand Central railway terminus was to be built, which of course it wasn't! Such a wonderful walk to do!

I mean, there’s never a bad walk. The walk is the walk, right? But this has been a brilliant walk. Thanks John.

@JohnRogersWalks

19 күн бұрын

Spot on Bill

Wonderfully informative walk! I like your idea of making a day of this walk…so much to do. Thanks!

Absolutely loved this one. Brought back memories of my last visit when I stayed on the corner of Barnsbury Avenue and Copenhagen Street and followed the canal for a while on my first day, sitting on that very astroturf smoking a cigarette, barely able to realise I was in London again, 25 years later, and in a world that had so permanently changed.

Hi John, A superb and very informative video as always. Many thanks for sharing, have a great week!!!

I love this walk and walk a lot in the summertime. It took me 4 hours to walk from Little Venice to Poplar, where I live.

Oh wow… had no idea Snowdon’s aviary had been given over to the monkeys! I remember walking along the canal circa 1969 with my proud father who worked for the company who built it ( Mowlems). He didn’t help build it… he was a wages clerk but still proud enough to walk his children past ❤

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Oh I could be wrong about that - I was going by Google maps

@user-ex7vm7hh5u

24 күн бұрын

No You are correct because I was so surprised I looked it up. It’s been ages since I’ve been back to London… must remedy that soon x

Oh how fantastic. I was wondering if you’d walk the Regent’s Canal. Thanks John great video.

We were just there, off Primrose hill, a few months ago. Thank you for the wonderful vlog…

Really loved this walk. It brought back memories of my early childhood when our family lived near a canal. I remember walks along it, looking into the barges used as dwellings & also seeing transport barges. Regents Canal is a beautiful walk, thank you.

We did it this week, Friday. It has changed immeasurably since we did it last time, 10 years ago. So many aggressive cyclists and insane joggers made it more stressful than it needed to be. With all the new builds I can’t see that improving much.

very enjoyable John, loved the Camden part, ....great to see the Greenery as Summer beckons....up and down the City rd.... in and out the Eagle this is the way the money goes, pop goes the weasel. loving the new Cricket season any chance of a walk around the Oval and the Kennington area, the river Effra....I lived for a short time on Effra road Wimbledon...Surrey cricket Supporter.

@sianwarwick633

20 күн бұрын

Captain Moonlight

Brilliant video, John. Thank you. Greetings from Bodmin Moor - the remote bit!

I'm so glad your videos popped up in my feed again.

Great to see Indian Veg on Chapel Market still going & not falling to gentrification, remember it well from the 80s.

My neighbours used to run that cafe over the canal. Cafe La Ville. They built the balcony

Absolutely fine video one of your best , wonderful to have your company for over an hour, thank you , growing up in the fifties and sixties meant i didn't see much of the canal , as mostly it was heavily industrial environment and highly polluted, also very run down and dilapidated especially the tow path , the only bit I remember seeing is the part near London Zoo , in fact there used to be an entrance to the Zoo directly off the canal especially for the passengers of the river boat ,I also remember seeing the Chinese floating restaurant which I thought very exotic, nice to see how the whole canal has become such a vibrant , social environment, thank goodness it's been preserved , sorry to see that a lot of narrowboat residents are being pushed out by increasing costs and changing laws , the changes around Kings Cross especially are incredible , I knew it as a huge area of railway tracks and yards , very run down and dangerous , all the best John see you soon 🌈

If you'd just panned the camera to the right when you mentioned the gainsborough studios, its now a mix of flats/gym/cafe, no suprise! Borders the north of shoredtich park

Me and my Partner have a game ,we slug a big swig of Malbec everytime you say the words "Beguiling" or "Confluence" ...we've been smashed a good few times 😁😁

I lived in London between 1996 - 2016 and used to walk along the canal from Camden to Maida Vale late at night after leaving the pub. I eventually got mugged in Little Venice for £20. Great video!

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Sorry to hear that Shaun

Generally I've preferred the city to the river walks, however, that was a wonderful video. There is something endearing about the back of all those buildings and all the history they hide, married with the modernisation, which seemed rather tasteful compared to the some of the carbuncles sprouting up. Thank you for an enjoyable hour!

One word: Enchanting.

Super walk!!!Thank you to share it!Cheers from Buenos Aires!!!!

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Cheers Marta!!

Done more than once, but a friend of mine did all the way to greenford, what a guy.

Loved this. Lived in Barnsbury (Offord Road) for 40 years. Did a project on the Kings Cross cut of the Regents Canal for my A-level archaeology so was familiar with that area before all the amazing developments. The canal museum is really worth a visit. Was the ice warehouse of Carlo Gatti ice cream. entrepreneur (check out the excavated ice well inside). This was a real trip down memory lane. Thank you.

Wonderful as ever,when the canal was built I wonder how many villages and Hamlets were cut off from each other.sunday is now complete.thank you John.

One of my favourite London walks, haven’t done it for a while, must do it again soon! Great video as always ❤

Super video, as always. The shot at 50:54 is awesome!

@JohnRogersWalks

23 күн бұрын

Thanks Stuart

At 14:00 when you talked about the railways competing with the canals. Reminded me of reading Alexander Cordell's amazing trilogy of books about three generations of Welsh Bargees, "R--e of the Fair Country". Very difficult to find his books now.

That canal museum is a great little museum. Took my youngest there last year and he loved it…

It's very pleasing to hear you pronounce Marylebone that way, John. I refuse to call it Marlee-bone. And, equally contentious; this video is a beautiful homage to the graffiti of London.

I did this a couple of weeks ago, what a gorgeous walk through inner London

What a walk, John. I think that so far is one of my favourites of yours. Then again, just as I think that, you will go and amaze me the next following week. Many thanks Steve.

Macclesfield Bridge a bit of info for you. When the bridge was blown-up, they put the support columns back facing the opposite way, they figured the rope ware on the columns would even the ware out. So if you look the rope cutting are away from the water side...Great video John !!!!

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Brilliant bit of info thanks

I wondered why some people had given this video 14 thumbs down and then I saw a bagpiper playing bagpipes and it all made sense.😆

I was visiting the fascinating Royston Cave while you were doing this walk last Sunday. A fascinating place in Hertfordshire linked to the Knights Templar.

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

That sounds fascinating Mark

@radicalcartoons2766

17 күн бұрын

Literally the only interesting thing about Royston! My husband grew up there, enough said! 😂

Thanks John. This was great. It was an emotional one for me too. Your video made me realise that by happenstance I have moved from East to West along the Regents Canal over the past 24 years: Haggerston, Chapel Market, Primrose Hill, and then back east a little to Kentish Town.

they run a marathon you walk a marathon lol i was hoping jacob was going to give you a look around his barge that would have been really interesting i can relate to the peace and quite aspect john another great walk thank you very much indeed all the best steve

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Cheers Steve - I didn’t want to intrude by asking for a look inside Jacob’s barge, I was grateful for him taking the time to talk. Such a great walk - already looking forward to doing it again

What a treat. Gongoozling with John Rogers. Love it, many thanks

We just watched this walk on the TV as it was so epic. I remember my Dad taking me on a row boat on the Regent's Canal back in the 1960's, you could hire them from the zoo. Thanks for this video.

There is still at least one boat supplying gas, Diesel fuel and coal to boaters. I believe the large chimney between Limehouse and Mile End was a sewer vent. The film studios was originally the power station for the Great Northern & City Railway, the line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate which used to be part of the Northern Line until taken over any BR in 1976.

I did a boat trip in the mid 90s from Camden to Bow Locks and back again.

Great walk that John. Done bits of it but never the whole thing so that’s inspired me to go for it one day. Cheers bud!👍

My early Monday morning ASMR fix - another great video John, thank you (*_*)

for the second time, i need to go back and re-watch all over your videos, john - see you on the other side 😊

Another wonderful walk, John, and one that you'd never done before! Just goes to show, you can live almost a lifetime in London, but STILL not walk all it's pathways or uncover all it's secrets :)

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Many thanks- walking London’s a life’s work

I really enjoy your videos! Keep up the great work, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.👍👍

Thanks for another wonderful walk!

A perfect end to the weekend, thanks John, a splendid walk 😊

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Cheers Helene - glad you enjoyed it

Seen, and booked in for later. Happy days, cheers John!

I went to Ben Johnson school between 1969 and 1972. The playground actually overlooked the canal.

Another beauty John. Pretty sure Arthur Lowe lived in one of those grand expensive houses at 49:00

I actually think that video is now in my TOP THREE FAVOURITE videos of yours John! Thoroughly enjoyed it 😊 And...I say that as a born and bred South East Londoner, who rarely ventures into the evil that-IS...NORTH OF THE RIVER! 😂

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Brilliant thanks Chris!

You promised and you delivered. A most excellent walk, thoroughly enjoyed sitting here and travelling along with you. Used to live next to the Kennet and Avon canal in my Devizes days, walked and cycled many a mile up and down on that one (generally in search of a pub it must be said). My wife has an irrational dislike of canals (boring school lessons apparently) but I love them. Still not found the hat? PS. Thanks for the heads up on your maps from Hooksmith Press by the way, visited Russell and got the set of 5, very nice.

Another epic walk. Thanks so much. Perhaps walking the marathon route would be another epic walk?

Ugh! We chose that Saturday to go to st. James Park. It was a nightmare.

Lovely stuff. Brings back good memories. My brother was the landlord of the Narrow Boat pub some decades ago. Ive walked along the canal to Regents Park from there but never in the other direction. Must come back and do the walk towards Limehouse someday. Thanks man.

Love the haircut John. That must feel good.

A wonderful walk, love this one ❤ I had a meal in the Chinese pagoda restaurant, in 2011, with my ex. Delightful experience. My favourite book is called In Camden Town by David Thomson. It mentions 'Blow up bridge' and is a wonderful social history of the area. It's probably a book you would like John, in a "Sinclairian" way! I bought that book in the second hand bookshop at Camden Lock, for two pounds, and I love it.

As you explained how your plans were disrupted by the London Marathon, it reminded me of the old saying, if you want to make God laugh, make a plan. Good video, thanks.

The canal museum is well worth a visit

A nice inclusion of live events😃

grew up next to queen Mary university , used to fish that canal as a kid

One of the best I've seen of yours I think. I've walked most of it when I lived in Hackney in the 90's but never the whole thing out to Paddington.

BRILLIANT .... cheers from Newquay John.

Brilliant. You crossed so many places I knew. Can't wait for you to do the New River :)

We did exactly that walk a few months ago. Lots of interesting places along the way, places to have a snack, nooks and crannies, bits of interesting history, backs of places, not too many people apart from Camden where you can't avoid them ...... a thoroughly good day.

Love watching your video's John. Such a calming, soothing, educational, experience, everytime

@JohnRogersWalks

24 күн бұрын

Wonderful thanks

I often walk from Camden Lock to the Thames footpath and from there walk to the Borough Market.

That brought back some wonderful memories. I walked the Camden to Paddington stretch with my to be wife over 30 years ago. The next time we are back in the UK we will do the Camden Limehouse section. Thank you for another wonderful video 😊