Map showing canals of the British Isles. Canals in orange, rivers in blue, streams in grey.
Map of the current, leisure oriented system.

The following list of canals in the United Kingdom, includes some systems that are navigable rivers with sections of canal (e.g. Aire and Calder Navigation) as well as "completely" artificial canals (e.g. Rochdale Canal).

Canals in England

CanalLengthLocksMax boat
length (ft)
Width (ft)Where[1]Year openedYear abandonedNavigable status
Aire and Calder Navigation34 mi (55 km)1220020NE1704Fully navigable
Andover Canal22 mi (35 km)24658.5S17941859Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Arbury Canals6 mi (10 km)1317861819, 1973
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal22 mi (35 km)0727M18041918, 1966Under restoration - part open, part under restoration
Ashton Canal6 mi (10 km)18707NW17961961Fully navigable - restored 1974
Barnsley Canal14.5 mi (23 km)158414NW17991893, 1946Abandoned - restoration plans on hiatus
Basingstoke Canal32 mi (51 km)296813S17941910Part navigable - Restored 1991, remainder of route lost
Baybridge Canal3.5 mi (6 km)218261875
Beaumont Cut0.6 mi (1 km)018321932Abandoned - line of canal in water
Bentley Canal3.4 mi (5 km)1018451953Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, stub in Wednesfield used for mooring
Beverley Beck0.5 mi (1 km)16517.5NE1744Fully navigable
Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal[2]2.5 mi (4 km)6707M1844Fully navigable
Birmingham Canal Navigations[3]29.8 mi (48 km)34707M1772–1794
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal[4]20.5 mi (33 km)44707M1789Fully navigable
Black Bear Canal8 mi (13 km)18041965Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Blyth Navigation7 mi (11 km)65014EA17611911Abandoned - line of canal in water
Bradford Canal3.5 mi (6 km)1017741922Abandoned - restoration being investigated
Bridgewater Canal40 mi (64 km)07214.75NW1761Fully navigable bar short missing section at junction with Manchester Ship Canal
Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Somerset14.5 mi (23 km)6509.83SW18271907Fully navigable - Restored 1994
Bude Canal35 mi (56 km)2[5]205.5SW18231891Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Caistor Canal4 mi (6 km)661.515.25N17931855Abandoned - line of canal in water
Calder and Hebble Navigation21.5 mi (35 km)385514NE1794Fully navigable
Caldon Canal18 mi (29 km)17727NM1779Fully navigable
Cann Quarry Canal2 mi (3 km)18251839Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Car Dyke85 mi (137 km)0120 (appr)1200 (appr)Abandoned - line of canal in water
Chard Canal13.5 mi (22 km)4[5]18421868Abandoned - some of the line still traceable
Charnwood Forest Canal6 mi (10 km)17941808Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation13.8 mi (22 km)136016EA1797Fully navigable
Chesterfield Canal45.5 mi (73 km),
now 31.5 mi (51 km)
62727NE17771907 (part)Under restoration - Less than 9 miles (14 km) of the original route remain to be restored to link the two navigable sections
Chichester Canal4.5 mi (7 km)38518S18221906Part navigable - remainder of route in water but unnavigable
Cinderford Canal1.25 mi (2 km)017971810 ?Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
City Canal1 mi (2 km)218051829Abandoned - Route has been almost completely reconstructed to form the South Dock of the West India Docks
Coombe Hill Canal2.75 mi (4 km)117961876Abandoned - line of canal in water
Coventry Canal32.7 mi (53 km)13727M1769, 1788Fully navigable
Cromford Canal14.5 mi (23 km)1417941900Under restoration
Croydon Canal9.25 mi (15 km)2818091836Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Dearne and Dove Canal[6]9.8 mi (16 km)195814.83NE18041961Abandoned - restoration being investigated
Derby Canal14 mi (23 km)177214NE1796Abandoned - restoration being investigated
Derby and Sandiacre Canal14.5 mi (23 km)97214NE17931964Under restoration
Digbeth Branch Canal[4]1.25 mi (2.0 km)6727M1799Fully navigable
Donnington Wood Canal5.5 mi (9 km)17671904Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Driffield Navigation, East Yorkshire11 mi (18 km)66114.5NE17671955 (part)Fully navigable
Droitwich Canal7.3 mi (12 km)1571.57.08M1771, 18541939Fully navigable - restored 2011
Dudley Canal[4]10.3 mi (17 km)M1770, 179219481973 (part) full restoration requires diversion to avoid unrepairable tunnel
Eardington Forge Canal0.5 mi (1 km)117821889
Erewash Canal[2]11.8 mi (19 km)147812.5NE17791962 (part)Fully navigable - restored 1973
Exeter Ship Canal5.2 mi (8 km)212226.25SW1563Fully navigable
Fairbottom Branch Canal1 mi (2 km)0NW17921932Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Fletcher's Canal1.5 mi (2 km)218001952Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Foss Dyke11.3 mi (18 km)174.515.17E1121Fully navigable
Galton's Canal1.4 mi (2 km)118221897Abandoned - line of canal in water
Glastonbury Canal14 mi (23 km)218341854Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Glastonbury Canal (medieval)1.1 mi (2 km)010th C14-16th CAbandoned - majority of the route now lost
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal16.5 mi (27 km)224030SW1826Fully navigable
Grand Junction Canal[2]129.4 mi (208 km)907214.7M1800, 1805Fully navigable
Grand Surrey Canal4 mi (6 km)118101940Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Grand Union Canal[7]286.3 mi (461 km)2367214M1927Fully navigable (bar Buckingham Arm)
Grand Union Canal (old)[2]24.3 mi (39 km)17727EM1814Fully navigable
Grand Western Canal10.5 mi (17 km)0SW1838Under restoration
Grantham Canal33 mi (53 km)187514EM17971936Under restoration
Grosvenor Canal0.8 mi (1 km)118251858, 1925Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Hackney Canal0.6 mi (1 km)118431928Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Hatherton Canal[4]4 mi (6 km)8707NM18601955Under restoration, but part of original route unsuitable for reopening so will be diverted.
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal34 mi (55 km)22707W1798, 18451881Under restoration
Hertford Union Canal[2]1.3 mi (2 km)37814.5SE1830Fully navigable
Hollinwood Branch Canal4.5 mi (7 km)4707NW17921932Under restoration
Hollingwood Common Canal2 mi (3 km)0 ? ?Abandoned
Horncastle Canal11 mi (18 km)1218021889Abandoned - line of canal in water
Huddersfield Broad Canal3.8 mi (6 km)957.514.17NE1780Fully navigable
Huddersfield Narrow Canal19.9 mi (32 km)74707NE1811Fully navigable
Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation15.9 mi (26 km)155514EA17931934Under restoration
Islington Branch Canal0.6 mi (1 km)0NW18011952Abandoned
Itchen Navigation10 mi (16 km)1717101869Under restoration
Kennet and Avon Canal86.5 mi (139 km)1057012.5SW1727, 1810(1950)[8]Fully navigable - restored and reopened 1990
Kensington Canal1.75 mi (3 km)118281859, 1967Abandoned - route now lost
Ketley Canal1.5 mi (2 km)1[5]17881880Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some short sections in water
Lancaster Canal60.9 mi (98 km)147214.5NW1797, 182519552002 (part) - Under ongoing restoration
Leeds and Liverpool Canal142.6 mi (229 km)10562[9]14NE, NW1816Fully navigable
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal[2]48 mi (77 km)227213EM1807Fully navigable - part of Grand Union Canal
Leominster Canal18 mi (29 km)1617941858Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Leven Canal3.25 mi (5 km)118051935Abandoned - line of canal in water
Lichfield Canal[4]7 mi (11 km)30707M17971955Under restoration
Limehouse Cut2 mi (3 km)08819SE1766[10]Fully navigable
Liskeard and Looe Union Canal6 mi (10 km)2518281910Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Llangollen Canal46.3 mi (75 km)2170’6.83W1808Fully navigable
Louth Navigation11.8 mi (19 km)87215NE17701924Abandoned - line of canal in water
Lydney Canal1 mi (2 km)110024SW182119772005 (part) - Under restoration
Macclesfield Canal26.3 mi (42 km)13707NW1831Fully navigable
Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal12.9 mi (21 km)176814.17NW1797, 18081941, 1961Under restoration
Manchester Ship Canal37.4 mi (60 km)560065NW1894Fully navigable
Market Weighton Canal9.5 mi (15 km)17014.83NE17821971[11]Part navigable - remainder of route a mix of in water but unnavigable, and route lost
Melton Mowbray Navigation11 mi (18 km)12EM17971877Under restoration
Middle Level Navigations90 mi (145 km)78011E1608–1832Fully navigable
Montgomery Canal33 mi (53 km)24706.83W182119441996 (part) - Under restoration
Newcastle-under-Lyme Canal3.75 mi (6 km)018001935Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Newcastle-under-Lyme Junction Canal1 mi (2 km)0Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
New Junction Canal5.5 mi (9 km)121522.5NE1905Fully navigable
Newport Pagnell Canal1.25 mi (2 km)718171864Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
North Walsham & Dilham Canal7.3 mi (12 km)65012.33EA18261927 (part)Part navigable - remainder of route in water but unnavigable
Nottingham Canal14.7 mi (24 km)[12]188114.5NE17961937 (part)Part navigable - remainder of route partly in water but unnavigable, partly lost
Nutbrook Canal4.5 mi (7 km)1317961895Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Oakham Canal15.5 mi (25 km)1818021847Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Ouse Navigation22 mi (35 km)1918121950Fully navigable
Oxford Canal78 mi (126 km)43706.83M1774, 1790Fully navigable
Par Canal2.25 mi (4 km)318471873
Parnall's Canal0.5 mi (1 km)017201732
Peak Forest Canal14.8 mi (24 km)16707NW18051960Fully navigable - restored 1974
Petworth Canal1.25 mi (2 km)217951826Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Pidcock's Canal1.5 mi (2 km)317891845Abandoned - line of canal in water
Pocklington Canal9.5 mi (15 km)95714.25NE18181932Under restoration - largely navigable
Portsmouth and Arundel Canal28 mi (45 km)618231847/1926Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Regent's Canal[2]8.6 mi (14 km)137214.5SE1820Fully navigable
Ribble Link3 mi (5 km)96210.5NW2002Fully navigable
Ripon Canal2.5 mi (4 km)35714.25NE17731906Fully navigable - restored 1996
River Soar Navigation[2]21.9 mi (35 km)187213EM1794Fully navigable
River Lee Navigation[13]29.1 mi (47 km)228516SE1577, 1769Fully navigable
Rochdale Canal32 mi (51 km)917414.17NW1800Fully navigable (bar some branches)
Rolle Canal[14]6 mi (10 km)2[15]18271871Under restoration
Royal Military Canal19 mi (31 km)0SE1804Fully navigable
St Columb Canal13 mi (21 km)
Salisbury and Southampton Canal13 mi (21 km)[16]1618021808
Sankey Canal15.2 mi (24 km)117213.83NW17571963
Selby Canal6 mi (10 km)278.516.5NE1776
Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation[17]28 mi (45 km)2461.515.25NE1802
Shrewsbury Canal25 mi (40 km)34817W17971944
Shropshire Canal10.5 mi (17 km)3[5]17911912
Shropshire Union Canal76.5 mi (123 km)5172[18]7[19]NM1835
Sir John Glynne's Canal1 mi (2 km)17681779
Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal3 mi (5 km)017761857
Sleaford Navigation12.5 mi (20 km)77015NE17941940
Somerset Coal Canal18 mi (29 km)SW18021898[20]1986 (part)[21]
Southwick Ship Canal1.75 mi (2.8 km)124040SE1855
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal46.1 mi (74 km)43707NM1772
Stamford Canal6.5 mi (10 km)1016701863
Stainforth and Keadby Canal14.9 mi (24 km)361.6717NE1802
Stockport Branch Canal4.9 mi (8 km)0NW17971962
Stort Navigation13.8 mi (22 km)158613.25SE1769
Stourbridge Canal7.8 mi (13 km)21707M1779
Stover Canal1.7 mi (3 km)517921943
Stratford-upon-Avon Canal25.5 mi (41 km)56707M1802, 1816
Stroudwater Navigation8 mi (13 km)137015.5SW1779
Tame Valley Canal[4]8.5 mi (14 km)13727M1844
Tavistock Canal4 mi (6 km)2[5]18031873
Thames and Medway Canal[22]6.5 mi (10 km)124.56.5SE18241935
Thames and Severn Canal28.8 mi (46 km)447412.75SW17891933
Titchfield Canal
Tremadoc Canal1.5 mi (2 km)018151840
Trent and Mersey Canal93.4 mi (150 km)76727[23]NE1777
Ulverston Canal1.5 mi (2 km)111265 [24]NW17961944
Uttoxeter Canal13 mi (21 km)19NM181118492005 (part)
Walsall Canal[4]9.6 mi (15 km)16727M1785–1841
Wardle Canal0.1 mi (0.2 km)1NM1829
Warwick and Napton Canal[2]14.2 mi (23 km)25727[25]M1794
Warwick and Birmingham Canal[2]24.3 mi (39 km)28707[25]M1794
Wednesbury Old Canal[4]4.4 mi (7 km)3707M17691955 (part)
Westport Canal3.3 mi (5 km)118401875
Wey and Arun Junction Canal[26]23 mi (37 km)266811.5S18161871in progress[27]
Wey and Godalming Navigations19.5 mi (31 km)167213.83S1651, 1760
Wilts and Berks Canal52.5 mi (84 km)42727SW181019141995 (part)
Wombridge Canal1.75 mi (3 km)1[5]17881921
Worcester and Birmingham Canal30 mi (48 km)5871.57M1815
Wyrley and Essington Canal[4]23.5 mi (38 km)39707M17971900 (part)

Canals in Northern Ireland

Lagan Navigational Canal (disused) at Broadwater, near Aghalee)
CanalLength (miles)LocksYear openedYear abandonedYear restored
Broharris Canal21820
Coalisland Canal[28]7.2717871954
Dukart's Canal3[5]17771787
Lagan Canal272718021958
Newry Canal211217421938
Shannon–Erne Waterway[29]3916178019481994
Strabane Canal4217921962
Ulster Canal462618421931

Canals in Scotland

CanalLength (miles)LocksMax boat length (ft)Width (ft)Year openedYear abandonedYear restored
Aberdeenshire Canal181818051854
Buchan Canal
Caledonian Canal6229150351822
Carlingwark Lane Canal1.5017651840
Crinan Canal91586.7519.651817
Dingwall Canal1.1018161840
Forth and Clyde Canal353868.5819.75179019632002
Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal11018111881
Inchfad Canal0.25019th century
Inverarnan Canal0.3301844c. 1870
Monkland Canal12.2518[30]711417941942
Stevenston Canal2.2501317721830
Union Canal[31]31.53[32]6312.5182219302000

Canals in Wales

CanalLength (miles)LocksMax boat length (ft)Width (ft)Year openedYear abandonedYear restored
Aberdare Canal6.75218121900
Cyfarthfa Canal21770s1830s
Glamorganshire Canal255217981898, 1942
Glan-y-wern Canalc. 1.5by 1790c. 1810
Kidwelly and Llanelly Canal188[33]1768, 18371865
Llangollen Canal46.321706.831808
Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal3548639.17179619621970
Montgomery Canal3324706.83182119441996 (part)
Neath and Tennant Canal21.5216091795, 182419341990 (part)
Swansea Canal16.536657.517981931

Proposed canal routes

Active projects

  • Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway: Connection from Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse near Bedford. This link will finally enable broad-beam boats to travel from the north to the south of the inland waterway network.[34]
  • Fens Waterways Link: The Fens Waterways Link comprises several new waterways and improvements to current routes. It will create new circular routes and in conjunction with the Milton Keynes and Bedford Waterway, it will be connected to the rest of the country's waterways via the Great Ouse.[35]
  • Maidenhead Waterways: Making the York Stream and other parts of the Maidenhead Waterways fully navigable for boats and linking to other nearby canals and navigable rivers.[36]

Proposals


Former proposals

  • Grand Contour Canal: First proposed in 1943, was intended to connect the major industrial centres of London, Bristol, Southampton, Coventry, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Chester, Manchester, Blackburn, Bradford, Hartlepool and Newcastle.[40]
  • London to Portsmouth canal: Also known as the Grand Southern Canal, and proposed on several occasions, this route would utilise existing canals and rivers, with new links constructed, to provide an overland route between the cities of London and Portsmouth, removing the need to enter the English Channel.[40]
  • Berks & Hants Canal, a proposed link from the terminus of the Basingstoke Canal at Basingstoke to the Kennet and Avon Canal, rejected twice by Parliament after landowner opposition.[40]
  • Polbrock Canal, approved by Parliament in the 1790s, this link between the north and south coasts of Cornwall would have joined the River Camel with the Fowey at Bodmin.[40]

See also

References

  1. M=midlands, EA=East Anglia, NE=North-East etc.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 now part of the Grand Union Canal
  3. Main line, incl old main line and branches
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 part of Birmingham Canal Navigations
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 inclined planes
  6. South Yorkshire
  7. Total holdings 1929
  8. never officially closed but unusable till reopened
  9. 72 from Liverpool to Wigan incl Leigh branch
  10. connection to Limehouse Basin 1968
  11. but passage still possible
  12. only 1.1m remains open making 3.7m total including the Beeston cut
  13. includes Bow Back rivers
  14. Also known as the Torrington Canal
  15. included an inclined plane
  16. only part of this was built
  17. the river section from Bramwith to Rotherham takes boats 229’8" long and 20’ wide
  18. The Middlewich branch is 70’
  19. The old Chester canal from Nantwich to Ellesmere Port is 9’
  20. The Radstock arm closed in 1898
  21. About 0.5m only, for moorings on the Kennet and Avon canal
  22. also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal
  23. Preston brook to Croxton Aqueduct is 9’ wide
  24. "Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain".
  25. 1 2 Increased to 13' in 1933
  26. includes Arun Navigation
  27. "About the Wey and Arun Canal". Wey and Arun Canal Trust.
  28. also known as Tyrone Navigation
  29. Originally the Ballyconnell and Ballinamore Canals
  30. an inclined plane was later used
  31. originally known as "Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal"
  32. includes the Falkirk Wheel
  33. includes 3 inclined planes
  34. "Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway". Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  35. "The Fens Waterways Link". Environment Agency Waterways Team. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  36. "The Maidenhead River Project". Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  37. "IWAAC Inland Waterway review 2006" (PDF). Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 22 July 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  38. "Upper Avon Extension (Proposed)". Inland Waterways Association. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  39. Ludgate, Martin (9 April 2014). "Far and wide?". Canal Boat. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  40. 1 2 3 4 "Waterfront | Canal & River Trust".
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