Much of this route is shared with cyclists and joggers and the canal paths may be narrow in places with open waterfronts. Be alert for other users, especially those approaching from behind.
[1] At St Mark’s Gate continue into Victoria Park. At crossroads continue straight on and shortly at tennis courts turn left towards boating pool. At One O’Clock Club bear right . Shortly you come to a large children’s play area with paddling pools on the left and formal garden with seats on right.
Victoria Park, named after Queen Victoria, was laid out between 1842 and 1846. At the time it was built, there was great concern about overcrowding and industrialisation in East London. It became known as the ‘People’s Park’ and was an essential amenity for the East End working classes as well as a centre for political meetings and rallies.
[2] Continuing straight on, at main path crossroads, turn left and immediately right to head alongside lake, with lake on left. Turn left at end of lake to continue alongside lake. At next lake corner turn right and shortly turn left towards the Drinking Fountain (A) (photo).
Clean drinking water was scarce in London in the mid nineteenth century so public drinking fountains were constructed throughout the city. In 1861 Baroness Burdett-Coutts (of the Coutts Bank family) gave Victoria Park an ornate, sculpted drinking fountain (designed by H A Darbyshire). (Grade II listed) It is said to have cost £6000, a fortune in those days.
[3] At fountain, bear left and take second left path, effectively going straight across, towards the periphery of the park. Turn left at main path, heading for main park gates. Use zebra crossing at the Royal Gates to cross into the west section of the park. Shortly at children’s playground turn left towards lake and Pavilion Cafe and Toilets.
[4] Go behind Cafe and turn right following the lakeside. Towards end of lake, opposite Pagoda, (B) turn left up, slope towards the Regents Canal. Leave Park at Rose Gate and immediately turn right to go along the Regent's Canal (C) for perhaps 45 minutes.
The Regent's Canal (1820) starts from the River Thames at Limehouse. It passes through Kentish Town and Regent's Park and joins the Grand Junction Canal at Paddington, with connections to Brimingham and the North.
[5] The canal leaves the park and in a while passes under Mare Street Bridge (single file). and then a railway bridge.
On the far side of the canal you can see the old Victorian Gas Holders. These were once a common sight in every town across the UK. They were originally used to store coal gas that was used in lighting London’s streets. Some were converted to natural gas in the 1960’s and some are still in use today
[6] Go under Broadway Market Bridge and then past lock.
Dating back to the 1890s the Saturday Market (E) is a general market with some 80 stalls including fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, bread and cakes, fashion and collectables.
The redeveloped area on the left (F) was for 120 years the site of the Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company's gas works, with a large canal basin. The coal was shipped from North East England to the Regent Dock and then bought by barge along the Canal. The gas works escaped continual bombing during World War II until gas production abruptly stopped in 1944 following a direct hit from a V2 rocket. After the war the southern part of the site was redeveloped as a park and opened as Haggerston Park in 1958.
[7] Continue on under Queensbridge Road and Haggerston Road we pass on the left the Bridge Academy (G) and on the right the partly empty Samuel House (H) with a series of photos over the windows.
The award winning Bridge Academy opened in 2009 cost over £33 million, has no corridors and maximises space on the tight site. By 2013 it will cater for 1,150 students, including a sixth form for 250 students. Specialising in music and mathematics the Academy teaches a broad and rich curriculum and includes a 450 seat performance hall, sports hall and recording suites.
Samuel House is scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt and the flats are gradually being emptied. In 2007 the empty flats were boarded up with orange boards. Local Artists, themselves residents of the estate decided to create an art work called 'I am Here' with pictures of current and former residents of the estate, as a reminder of the human aspects of redevelopment. (see http://www.iamhere.org.uk/background/ for more information
[8] Continuing under a railway bridge and then Kingland Road Bridge we come to a small basin on the right - Kingsland Basin (I)
Kingsland Basin, some 240 yards long dates from 1822. The charity CHUG founded in 1983 manages the moorings and claims to be 'the country's only independently run community marina, providing sustainable affordable moorings in central London. 'With ten ducks too.' It also has an allotment barge.
[9] Continue for some 15-20 minutes along canal going under Witmore Road,Southgate Road and New North Road. Go past Union Wharf lock and under bridge (Paddington Square) and then Wharf Road Bridge. Just before lock, on the right hand side is the City Road Basin (J) (information board).
This area is being redeveloped. Originally the Basin served many wharves and factories. Pickford’s Wharf at the southern end of the Basin was the biggest on the canal and, in 1840, it had a fleet of 120 boats and stables for over 100 horses. It had a reputation for speed and introduced non-stop or ‘fly’ boats, pulled at a trot by pairs of horses in relay - covering the usual four day trip to Birmingham in two and a half days.
[10] Go past lock and under Danbury Street Bridge. We then come to the Islington Tunnel (K) and need to climb up through the streets of Islington before rejoining the canal in a while at (L ).
The Islington Tunnel is 996 yards long and took 3 years to construct between 1815 and 1818.
[11] Follow path uphill to the right to leave the gardens and use the zebra crossing to continue straight on into Duncan Street. Continue straight on until you reach busy Upper Street.
To finish the walk here at the Angel Underground Station, turn left and you will find the station entrance about 2 mins along the road on the left hand side.
[12] To continue to Kings Cross, turn right, by Jack Wills' store and then use the pedestrian lights to cross Upper Street. On far side turn left and then shortly using steps or ramp to fork right into the N1 shopping precinct. Go through shopping precinct and at far end, by Igloo Flowers, turn right along Liverpool Road.
[13] At traffic lights, turn left using two sets of traffic lights to go along right hand side of Tolpuddle Street. Go past Culpeper Park and at cross roads , use pedestrian lights to cross and turn right along Barnsbury Road. Turn left into Eckford Street and continue straight on along estate path. At path junction note plate in ground, showing the line of the Islington Tunnel and turn right.
[14] Go through barriers and at end continue straight on along left hand side of Carnegie Street. Turn right into Muriel Street crossing to the right hand side. Shortly you will come to a small park and the Regent’s Canal. Turn right and use the ramp or steps to descend to canal towpath where we continue our journey alongside the Canal to Kings Cross.
[15] Go under Caledonian Road Bridge and past small park (information board). In a while,on the left hand side you will see an old basin which has been redeveloped and now houses the Canal Museum. (M) At next bridge opposite cow sculpture fork right to leave canal by ramp or steps and turn left along main York Way.
[16] Shortly by number 90, use pedestrian lights to turn right and go straight on over railway lines and across side turning. Shortly turn left along a new boulevard - King's Boulevard. Both sides of the road are currently building sites but the hoarding contain interesting information about the regeneration of the area.
[17] At the end you will find the western entrance to King's Cross Station and underground on the left and St Pancras Station entrance directly ahead.