List of canals of the United Kingdom

Canals of the United Kingdom; see also Canals of the United Kingdom.

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

The following list 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 abandonedYear restored
Aire and Calder Navigation34 mi (55 km)1220020NE1704
Andover Canal22 mi (35 km)24658.5S17941859
Arbury Canals6 mi (10 km)1317861819, 1973
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal22 mi (35 km)0727M18041918, 1966part open, part under restoration
Ashton Canal6 mi (10 km)18707NW179619611974
Barnsley Canal14.5 mi (23 km)158414NW17991893, 1946in process
Basingstoke Canal32 mi (51 km)296813S179419101991
Baybridge Canal3.5 mi (6 km)218261875
Beaumont Cut0.6 mi (1 km)018321932
Bentley Canal3.4 mi (5 km)1018451953
Beverley Beck0.5 mi (1 km)16517.5NE1744
Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal[2]2.5 mi (4 km)6707M1844
Birmingham Canal Navigations[3]29.8 mi (48 km)34707M1772–1794
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal[4]20.5 mi (33 km)44707M1789
Black Bear Canal8 mi (13 km)18041965
Blyth Navigation7 mi (11 km)65014EA17611911
Bradford Canal3.5 mi (6 km)1017741922
Bridgewater Canal40 mi (64 km)07214.75NW1761
Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Somerset14.5 mi (23 km)6509.83SW182719071994
Bude Canal35 mi (56 km)2[5]205.5SW18231891
Caistor Canal4 mi (6 km)661.515.25N17931855
Calder and Hebble Navigation21.5 mi (35 km)385514NE1794
Caldon Canal18 mi (29 km)17727NM1779
Cann Quarry Canal2 mi (3 km)18251839
Car Dyke85 mi (137 km)0120 (appr)1200 (appr)
Chard Canal13.5 mi (22 km)4[5]18421868
Charnwood Forest Canal6 mi (10 km)17941808
Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation13.8 mi (22 km)136016EA1797
Chesterfield Canal45.5 mi (73 km),
now 31.5 mi (51 km)
62727NE17771907 (part)
Chichester Canal4.5 mi (7 km)38518S18221906
Cinderford Canal1.25 mi (2 km)017971810 ?
City Canal1 mi (2 km)218051829
Coombe Hill Canal2.75 mi (4 km)117961876
Coventry Canal32.7 mi (53 km)13727M1769, 1788
Cromford Canal14.5 mi (23 km)1417941900
Croydon Canal9.25 mi (15 km)2818091836
Dearne and Dove Canal[6]9.8 mi (16 km)195814.83NE18041961
Derby Canal14 mi (23 km)177214NE1796
Derby and Sandiacre Canal14.5 mi (23 km)97214NE17931964
Digbeth Branch Canal[4]1.25 mi (2.0 km)6727M1799
Donnington Wood Canal5.5 mi (9 km)17671904
Driffield Navigation, East Yorkshire11 mi (18 km)66114.5NE17671955 (part)
Droitwich Canal7.3 mi (12 km)1571.57.08M1771, 185419392011
Dudley Canal[4]10.3 mi (17 km)M1770, 179219481973 (part)
Eardington Forge Canal0.5 mi (1 km)117821889
Erewash Canal[2]11.8 mi (19 km)147812.5NE17791962 (part)
Exeter Canal5.2 mi (8 km)212226.25SW1563
Fairbottom Branch Canal1 mi (2 km)0NW17921932
Fletcher's Canal1.5 mi (2 km)218001952
Foss Dyke11.3 mi (18 km)174.515.17E1121
Galton's Canal1.4 mi (2 km)118221897
Glastonbury Canal14 mi (23 km)218341854
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal16.5 mi (27 km)224030SW1826
Grand Junction Canal[2]129.4 mi (208 km)907214.7M1800, 1805
Grand Surrey Canal4 mi (6 km)118101940
Grand Union Canal[7]286.3 mi (461 km)2367214M1927
Grand Union Canal (old)[2]24.3 mi (39 km)17727EM1814
Grand Western Canal10.5 mi (17 km)0SW1838
Grantham Canal33 mi (53 km)187514EM17971936
Grosvenor Canal0.8 mi (1 km)118251858, 1925
Hackney Canal0.6 mi (1 km)118431928
Hatherton Canal[4]4 mi (6 km)8707NM18601955
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal34 mi (55 km)22707W1798, 18451881
Hertford Union Canal[2]1.3 mi (2 km)37814.5SE1830
Hollinwood Branch Canal4.5 mi (7 km)4707NW17921932
Hollingwood Common Canal2 mi (3 km)0??
Horncastle Canal11 mi (18 km)1218021889
Huddersfield Broad Canal3.8 mi (6 km)957.514.17NE1780
Huddersfield Narrow Canal19.9 mi (32 km)74707NE1811
Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation15.9 mi (26 km)155514EA17931934
Islington Branch Canal0.6 mi (1 km)0NW18011952
Itchen Navigation10 mi (16 km)1717101869
Kennet and Avon Canal86.5 mi (139 km)1057012.5SW1727, 1810(1950)[8]1990
Kensington Canal1.75 mi (3 km)118281859, 1967
Ketley Canal1.5 mi (2 km)1[5]17881880
Lancaster Canal60.9 mi (98 km)147214.5NW1797, 182519552002 (part)
Leeds and Liverpool Canal142.6 mi (229 km)10562[9]14NE, NW1816
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal[2]48 mi (77 km)227213EM1807
Leominster Canal18 mi (29 km)1617941858
Leven Canal3.25 mi (5 km)118051935
Lichfield Canal[4]7 mi (11 km)30707M17971955
Limehouse Cut2 mi (3 km)08819SE1766[10]
Liskeard and Looe Union Canal6 mi (10 km)2518281910
Llangollen Canal46.3 mi (75 km)2170’6.83W1808
Louth Navigation11.8 mi (19 km)87215NE17701924
Lydney Canal1 mi (2 km)110024SW182119772005 (part)
Macclesfield Canal26.3 mi (42 km)13707NW1831
Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal12.9 mi (21 km)176814.17NW1797, 18081941, 1961
Manchester Ship Canal37.4 mi (60 km)560065NW1894
Market Weighton Canal9.5 mi (15 km)17014.83NE17821971[11]
Melton Mowbray Navigation11 mi (18 km)12EM17971877
Middle Level Navigations90 mi (145 km)78011E1608–1832
Montgomery Canal33 mi (53 km)24706.83W182119441996 (part)
Newcastle-under-Lyme Canal3.75 mi (6 km)018001935
New Junction Canal5.5 mi (9 km)121522.5NE1905
Newport Pagnell Canal1.25 mi (2 km)718171864
North Walsham & Dilham Canal7.3 mi (12 km)45012.33EA18261927 (part)
Nottingham Canal14.7 mi (24 km)[12]188114.5NE17961937 (part)
Nutbrook Canal4.5 mi (7 km)1317961895
Oakham Canal15.5 mi (25 km)1818021847
Ouse Navigation22 mi (35 km)1918121950
Oxford Canal78 mi (126 km)43706.83M1774, 1790
Par Canal2.25 mi (4 km)318471873
Parnall's Canal0.5 mi (1 km)017201732
Peak Forest Canal14.8 mi (24 km)16707NW180519601974
Petworth Canal1.25 mi (2 km)217951826
Pidcock's Canal1.5 mi (2 km)317891845
Pocklington Canal9.5 mi (15 km)95714.25NE18181932
Portsmouth and Arundel Canal28 mi (45 km)618231847/1926
Regent's Canal[2]8.6 mi (14 km)137214.5SE1820
Ribble Link3 mi (5 km)96210.5NW2002
Ripon Canal2.5 mi (4 km)35714.25NE177319061996
River Soar Navigation[2]21.9 mi (35 km)187213EM1794
River Lee Navigation[13]29.1 mi (47 km)228516SE1577, 1769
Rochdale Canal32 mi (51 km)917414.17NW1800
Rolle Canal[14]6 mi (10 km)2[15]18271871
Royal Military Canal19 mi (31 km)0SE1804
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)117961944
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[24]M1794
Warwick and Birmingham Canal[2]24.3 mi (39 km)28707[24]M1794
Wednesbury Old Canal[4]4.4 mi (7 km)3707M17691955 (part)
Westport Canal3.3 mi (5 km)118401875
Wey and Arun Junction Canal[25]23 mi (37 km)266811.5S18161871in progress[26]
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[27]7.2717871954
Dukart's Canal3[5]17771787
Lagan Canal272718021958
Newry Canal211217421938
Shannon–Erne Waterway[28]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[29]711417941942
Stevenston Canal2.2501317721830
Union Canal[30]31.53[31]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[32]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 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.[39]
  • 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.[41]
  • 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.[42]

See also

References

  1. M=midlands, EA=East Anglia, NE=North-East etc.
  2. now part of the Grand Union Canal
  3. Main line, incl old main line and branches
  4. part of Birmingham Canal Navigations
  5. 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. Increased to 13' in 1933
  25. includes Arun Navigation
  26. "About the Wey and Arun Canal". Wey and Arun Canal Trust.
  27. also known as Tyrone Navigation
  28. Originally the Ballyconnell andl Ballinamore Canals
  29. an inclined plane was later used
  30. originally known as "Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal"
  31. includes the Falkirk Wheel
  32. includes 3 inclined planes
  33. "Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway". Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  34. "The Fens Waterways Link". Environment Agency Waterways Team. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  35. "IWAAC Inland Waterway review 2006" (PDF). Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 22 July 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  36. "The Maidenhead River Project". Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  37. "Upper Avon Extension (Proposed)". Inland Waterways Association. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  38. https://www.canalboat.co.uk/waterways/canal-network/far-and-wide-1-3538049
  39. https://canalrivertrustwaterfront.org.uk/heritage/feature-pos3-imagined-canals/
  40. https://canalrivertrustwaterfront.org.uk/heritage/feature-pos3-imagined-canals/
  41. https://canalrivertrustwaterfront.org.uk/heritage/feature-pos3-imagined-canals/
  42. https://canalrivertrustwaterfront.org.uk/heritage/feature-pos3-imagined-canals/
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