Angel to Canary Wharf Short Walk

Introduction

This route is free to use for all walkers and is an urban walk in north and east London. For the most part, it follows the Regent’s Canal towpath with a pleasant excursion into Victoria Park and a final section along the Thames Path into Docklands. Allow at least 3½ hours to do the full walk or about 2½ hours if you intend to leave the walk at Mile End.

Some advisory notes

• Victoria Park hosts various festivals (e.g. All Points East) where large swathes of the park are fenced off. Walking in the park is NOT recommended during these events.
• Victoria Park also hosts a Farmers Market every Sunday between 10 am and 4 pm which Sunday day walkers may find of interest.
• The Park traditionally closed its gates at dusk, but this appears to be relaxed of late.
• Tower Hamlets who manage the park provide a map HERE
• Unruly cyclists can be troublesome on the first section of the towpath

Directions

Angel to Victoria Park

Leave the Angel tube Station ticket hall by the north facing side entrance with the RBS bank on your right and proceed along Islington High Street for about 200 metres to The York pub. Turn right down Duncan Street here. In 150 metres cross Duncan Terrace (where the New River used to flow), Then cross Colebrook Row using the pedestrian crossing and immediately pass between two brick pillars to join the Regents Canal towpath. Looking back, you can see the Canal tunnel entrance where it passes under Islington.
Ahead are the “Hanging gardens of Islington” and then the ever changing vistas of North and East London. Google maps have captured a "Canal View" for the first part of the walk if you want a taster. Look out for artwork as you walk including the sharks
After about 5 km the towpath kisses the edge of Victoria Park. The walk leaves the canal here to enter the Park though the Canal Gate. If it’s dark stay on the canal towpath and jump the next section.

Victoria Park to the Regents Canal

In 20 metres turn right at a blue finger post to join the wide Park Boundary Avenue. In a further 250 metres cross the Nightwalk Avenue (where the Sunday Farmers Market is held). Here The Dogs of Alcibiades can be seen on your left as you cross to the next section of the park.  Continue in the same direction passing the Chinese Pagoda and Lake on your left and in 250 metres follow the avenue to the left as it passes the Pavilion Cafe. (Park toilets may be found on the right after 20 metres). In 250 metres at an avenue junction turn right to exit the west park through the magnificent West Royal Gate.

Cross Grove road at a pedestrian crossing . Enter the eastern section of the park through the East Royal Gate to the right of the Royal Inn on the Park and continue in the same direction down the broad tree lined avenue in the park.

 After 200 metres turn right onto a path. (You will see the Burdett Coutts  Memorial Drinking Fountain on your right). Where the path forks take the right hand path and continue with the East Lake to your left. In a further 180 metres ignore the fork to the left and continue to a small road with the Hub Cafe ahead. Turn right onto this road.  and continue for 140 metres ignoring  all ways off until you reach the second right hand path that has a green sign labelled “Old English Garden” 

Enter the Old English Garden here continuing in the same direction.  Cross the Garden to leave on a path to enter a planted orchard area. After 50 metres at a path junction you may find a bench dedicated to Stephen Backes (who posted for SWC as Bridie) at ///flips.sugars.petty   In a further 100 metres ignoring all ways off and at a pond, turn left. Walk alongside the pond for 30 metres and take the left fork walk where the path splits. Ignore all ways off and in 60 metres merge with another path. In a further 200 metres cross the park’s main peripheral avenue to head for the Lock House Gate and in 10 metres turn right through an easily missed open door following a path to the Hertford Union Canal towpath.
Continue in the same direction (240 degrees) for 1.3km where this canal joins the Regents Canal. 

Regents Canal to Limehouse

Turn right at the end of Pevers Way, then sharp left to join the Regents Canal towpath through a gap in a tubular steel barrier.  The Blu Ivy Café can be found  to your left here. Turn left after passing through this barrier your direction south easterly.

If you are intending to leave the walk at Mile End, you may wish to visit the quirky Palm Tree pub 200 metres along the towpath and to your left. Please note it is CASH ONLY at this establishment.

After a further 300 metres the canal approaches Mile End Lock. Leave the canal towpath here branching left on a footpath towards the Guardian Angels Church. 

If you wish to leave the walk here, you may catch a District or Central Line tube at Mile End Station 200 metres away. To do this, you will need to bear left off the main path and head for the bus turnaround point. Turn right here and at the road junction cross Grove Road towards the “Rise and Roast" takeaway and then cross Mile End Road, Turn left to find the Tube station entrance in about 50 metres.

Otherwise continue by climbing the path which traverses Mile End Road via the Green Bridge ( complete with trees and flora) extending the Mile End Park over the busy A11 trunk road. As the path descends, rejoin the towpath.

The towpath continues, passing the Ragged School Museum, if you are walking during the day the Forno Ragged Café serves light meals, pastries,coffee and tea. In a further 200 metres the walk passes an unusually tall brick built chimney which despite its classic Victorian design simply once served as a sewer vent. 

In 2km the towpath reaches Limehouse Basin and the Thames.  Here you may leave the walk by turning right to cross the canal on a metal footbridge.  Continue for 100 metres to catch a DLR from Limehouse station.

Limehouse to Docklands

Otherwise climb the steps to the left of the footbridge and join Basin Approach continuing in the same direction. In 120 metres at the Limehouse Gallery & Bronze Age studios,  turn right down a path next to a river basin. Follow the path as it turns left and then turn right across a footbridge to enter the park at Ropemakers field. Continue in the same direction until you reach Narrow Street. Turn left here and in a few metres turn right at Dunbar Wharf on a path which crosses a basin on a footbridge. Follow the Thames to the Promenade at Canary Wharf. Here you may catch a Thames Clipper The skyline along the Thames riverside section is spectacular at night.

To continue to Canary Wharf Stations (DLR and Jubilee tube Line), climb the steps to the left at the Promenade and cross Westferry Circus roundabout continuing on West India Avenue. Take the right fork at Cabot Square and look for the signs for the DLR station. The DLR is above the road and traverses it north/south. To catch a Jubilee line tube, walk under the DLR bridge and in 60 metres turn right to continue down some steps where you will see the entrance to the Canary Wharf tube station to your left.

Eateries

If you wish to eat, take the left fork at Cabot Square and follow the road round to the right. In 25 metres turn left on a broad paved area and descend to the North Dock Footbridge. Cross this footbridge to West India Quays where you will find a selection of restaurants ahead. There is also a J.D. Wetherspoon’s Pub The Ledger  150 metres to your left

Some other Walks nearby

• Cannon Street to Canary Wharf  (SWC)
• Blackheath to Canary Wharf (SWC)
• Olympic Park to Canary Wharf (LWUG)
• Annual Canary Wharf Winter Lights (Canary Wharf Estate)

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