Transport for London.

The Jubilee Greenway. Section 2 of 10.

Little Venice to Camden.

Section distance: 2.3 miles (3.7 kilometres).

Introduction. This section of the route runs along the Regent's Canal, past Regent's Park and ZSL London Zoo, through a variety of areas - residential, business and recreational, and finally to Camden Town. It is one of the most soothing and attractive sections of the Jubilee Greenway, packed with interest, changing tone from one bridge to the next, and leading the walker, cyclist or traveller by boat from the smart residential area of Little Venice to the exciting atmosphere of the famed Camden Lock Market. Look out for the Jubilee Greenway discs in the pavement as you go round.

Section start: Little Venice.

Nearest stations to start:

Paddington , Warwick Avenue .

Section finish: Camden Lock.

Nearest stations to finish:

Camden Town , Camden Road .

Much of the Jubilee Greenway passes along the towpath of the Regent's Canal. This is joined at Little Venice and followed to Victoria Park, where the Regent's Canal joins the Hertford Union Canal, and spurs into the Mile End section of the canal, continuing down to the Limehouse Basin and the Thames.

Directions.

From Warwick Avenue Tube station walk down Warwick Avenue to join Blomfield Road. Turn right to get to the very start of this section, at Little Venice, or if already passed, turn left along Blomfield Road with the canal on the right. From Paddington station walk along the canal to Little Venice.

If starting this section at Little Venice / Westbourne Terrace, walk over the footbridge section of Westbourne Terrace Bridge and back down onto the towpath via the ramp on the far side. Follow the towpath, which bends left between a boat and some shrubs, until a section of private moorings is reached. Here come off the canal via a few shallow steps and a gate, turning right onto Blomfield Road.

This is a one-way street and therefore no entry for cyclists. Instead, go onto the carriageway at Westbourne Terrace Bridge, turn left onto Blomfield Road and take the second turning on the right into Clifton Villas. Follow this road down to the mini roundabout, go straight over and then turn immediately right into Warwick Avenue, then turn left onto Blomfield Road to rejoin the route.

On Blomfield Road to the right, moored on the canal, there is the Cascade Art Gallery (opposite number 41), Lady Rose and Puppet Theatre Barge.

Continue along Blomfield Road past the junction with Warwick Avenue. To the immediate right are the Rembrandt Gardens (below Warwick Avenue) and toilets. Carry straight ahead. Remain in Blomfield Road, with the Regent's Canal on the right, but watch out for the narrow pavements and uneven path caused by trees and their roots.

Continue eastwards along Blomfield Road with its handsome cream Victorian villas. From Little Venice all along here, the towpath of the Regent's Canal is inaccessible to pedestrians because it serves as a private area for a number of residential barges.

On the right, on the other side of the canal, observe the Catholic Apostolic Church in Maida Avenue.Further along on the far side of the Regent's Canal, at 30 Maida Avenue, is a blue plaque denoting the residence of the poet John Masefield. At 2 Maida Avenue is a blue plaque marking the fact that the Dad's Army actor Arthur Lowe lived here in a flat.

At the end of Blomfield Road, the canal goes into the long Maida Hill Tunnel, at the start of which sits the Cafe Laville. Because there is no pedestrian route under Maida Hill Tunnel, follow Blomfield Road as it slopes upwards towards the Edgware Road. Cross Edgware Road in front of the Cafe Laville and continue in the same direction as before on Aberdeen Place, slightly uphill.

Keep going up Aberdeen Place, passing Lyons Place on the right, until there is a right-angled bend to the left (where the road becomes Cunningham Place). At this point, look for an alleyway with a signpost pointing towards Regent's Canal, next to the red brick wall of an electricity substation. Rejoin Regent's Canal here by going down the steps to the towpath.

Did you know?The Regent's Canal provides a link from the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal, to the Limehouse Basin and the River Thames in east London. The canal is 8.6 miles (13.8 kilometres) long.

To avoid the steps here, turn right down Lyons Place off Aberdeen Place before you reach this point. Take the second turning left into Orchardson Street and follow the road to the end, where it bends around to the right and becomes Capland Street. Turn left into Frampton Street next to Gateway Primary School and use the pelican crossing to cross Lisson Grove. On the other side of the road, go through a gateway and down a ramp to the canal. Now on the opposite side of the canal to the walking route here, but after a short distance (and some metal barriers to be negotiated) pass over a bridge and down a ramp, back onto the left-hand side of the canal.

Pass under the first bridge, after about 100m, known as Lisson Grove. Lord's Cricket Ground is about 150m away to the north of the canal towpath.

Did you know?Lord's, often referred to as 'The Home of Cricket' is named after its founder, Thomas Lord. It is actually the third of three grounds Lord established - the second being abandoned to make way for the Regent's Canal. It is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and home to Middlesex County Cricket Club, with a current capacity of 28,000 spectators.

You will pass under a number of rail and underground line bridges; the rumble of the trains overhead contrasts with the tranquillity of the water and the cooing of pigeons nesting under the bridge.

Emerge into the well-kept area on the north side of Regent's Park. This is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of waterway in England.

Did you know?Regent's Park (officially called The Regent's Park after The Prince Regent, later George IV) is a 487-acre park with a wide range of activities within it. It was landscaped by John Nash and completed in 1838.

Pass under an aqueduct bridge which used to carry the River Tyburn over the canal and then under the Macclesfield Bridge. Beyond this bridge, on the left, is The Snowdon Aviary.

ZSL London Zoo is on the right-hand side and this is a stop on the boat trips.

Shortly afterwards is the red Feng Shang Princess Floating Chinese Restaurant, in the Cumberland Basin. Here turn sharply left following the towpath under the Prince Albert Road bridge.

Continue under the Regent's Park Road bridge, Gloucester Avenue bridge, and a rail bridge. In front, on the right, is the Pirate Castle, home of the Pirate Club.

Pass under Oval Road bridge and you reach Camden Lock, where this section ends. This area is adjacent to a canal basin and holds Camden Lock Market, one of the group of markets often called collectively Camden Market.

Cyclists must dismount through the market area at Camden Lock.

Did you know?There was a street market in Inverness Street, Camden Town, for some years, but Camden Lock Market began to appear in 1974. There were negotiations to build an urban motorway across the site, and therefore until 1976 (when the plans were dropped), no building was possible. Market stalls sprang up, creating a temporary market. This specialised in clothes and crafts, and it soon became so popular that the new market absorbed the earlier street market.

For section three, Camden Town to Victoria Park, continue along the towpath which crosses over a bridge and goes past the lock.