Regent's Canal Water Bus
The scenic slow boat across north London — Little Venice to Camden Lock, run by two independent narrowboat operators on the Regent's Canal.
Operators
Piers & key points
- 1. Little VeniceW2 — Tube: Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo)
The triangular pool where Regent's Canal meets the Grand Union Paddington Arm — main western terminus.
- 2. Maida Hill TunnelW9
249-metre tunnel with no towpath. Boats drift through on engine power only.
- 3. London Zoo (ZSL)NW1
Private canal-side landing exclusive to combined waterbus + zoo tickets.
- 4. Cumberland BasinNW1
The tight curve past the Feng Shang Princess restaurant before Camden.
- 5. Camden LockNW1 — Tube: Camden Town (Northern)
Main eastern terminus, beside Camden Market and the twin lock chambers.
Timetable & tickets
Both operators run roughly hourly between 10:00 and 16:30 in summer (April–October), with reduced weekend-only service in March and November. Trips are not part of TfL — pay the operator directly on board, at the Little Venice booth, or online. Combined waterbus + ZSL London Zoo tickets are available from both operators and include canal entry to the zoo.
Onboard
Open bow seating plus a covered saloon. The boats negotiate the 249-metre Maida Hill Tunnel (no towpath, lit only by the boat's headlamp) and the tight Cumberland Basin curve before reaching Camden Lock. Live commentary from the skipper covers the canal's industrial history and the architecture around Regent's Park.
FAQs
Who operates the Regent's Canal water bus?
Two independent operators: the London Waterbus Company and Jason's Trip. Both run the same Little Venice ↔ Camden Lock route on Regent's Canal.
Is the Regent's Canal water bus part of TfL?
No — neither operator is part of Transport for London. Tickets are sold direct on board or online and are not covered by Oyster, contactless caps or Travelcards.
Can I get to London Zoo by water bus?
Yes. Both operators sell combined waterbus + ZSL London Zoo tickets that include canal entry directly into the zoo, bypassing the main gate.
Does the canal water bus run in winter?
Limited. Both operators run a full daily timetable April to October. In March and November service is weekends only. December to February is generally closed except for occasional charter trips.