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List of canals in the United Kingdom

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

Canal Length Locks Max boat
length (ft)		 Width (ft) Where[1] Year opened Year abandoned Navigable status
Aire and Calder Navigation 34 mi (55 km) 12 200 20 NE 1704 Fully navigable
Andover Canal 22 mi (35 km) 24 65 8.5 S 1794 1859 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Arbury Canals 6 mi (10 km) 13 1786 1819, 1973
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal 22 mi (35 km) 0 72 7 M 1804 1918, 1966 Under restoration - part open, part under restoration
Ashton Canal 6 mi (10 km) 18 70 7 NW 1796 1961 Fully navigable - restored 1974
Barnsley Canal 14.5 mi (23 km) 15 84 14 NW 1799 1893, 1946 Abandoned - restoration plans on hiatus
Basingstoke Canal 32 mi (51 km) 29 68 13 S 1794 1910 Part navigable - Restored 1991, remainder of route lost
Baybridge Canal 3.5 mi (6 km) 2 1826 1875
Beaumont Cut 0.6 mi (1 km) 0 1832 1932 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Bentley Canal 3.4 mi (5 km) 10 1845 1953 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, stub in Wednesfield used for mooring
Beverley Beck 0.5 mi (1 km) 1 65 17.5 NE 1744 Fully navigable
Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal[2] 2.5 mi (4 km) 6 70 7 M 1844 Fully navigable
Birmingham Canal Navigations[3] 29.8 mi (48 km) 34 70 7 M 1772–1794
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal[4] 20.5 mi (33 km) 44 70 7 M 1789 Fully navigable
Black Bear Canal 8 mi (13 km) 1804 1965 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Blyth Navigation 7 mi (11 km) 6 50 14 EA 1761 1911 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Bradford Canal 3.5 mi (6 km) 10 1774 1922 Abandoned - restoration being investigated
Bridgewater Canal 40 mi (64 km) 0 72 14.75 NW 1761 Fully navigable bar short missing section at junction with Manchester Ship Canal
Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Somerset 14.5 mi (23 km) 6 50 9.83 SW 1827 1907 Fully navigable - Restored 1994
Bude Canal 35 mi (56 km) 2[5] 20 5.5 SW 1823 1891 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Caistor Canal 4 mi (6 km) 6 61.5 15.25 N 1793 1855 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Calder and Hebble Navigation 21.5 mi (35 km) 38 55 14 NE 1794 Fully navigable
Caldon Canal 18 mi (29 km) 17 72 7 NM 1779 Fully navigable
Cann Quarry Canal 2 mi (3 km) 1825 1839 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Car Dyke 85 mi (137 km) 0 120 (appr) 1200 (appr) Abandoned - line of canal in water
Chard Canal 13.5 mi (22 km) 4[5] 1842 1868 Abandoned - some of the line still traceable
Charnwood Forest Canal 6 mi (10 km) 1794 1808 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation 13.8 mi (22 km) 13 60 16 EA 1797 Fully navigable
Chesterfield Canal 45.5 mi (73 km),
now 31.5 mi (51 km)		 62 72 7 NE 1777 1907 (part) Under restoration - Less than 9 miles (14 km) of the original route remain to be restored to link the two navigable sections
Chichester Canal 4.5 mi (7 km) 3 85 18 S 1822 1906 Part navigable - remainder of route in water but unnavigable
Cinderford Canal 1.25 mi (2 km) 0 1797 1810 ? Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
City Canal 1 mi (2 km) 2 1805 1829 Abandoned - Route has been almost completely reconstructed to form the South Dock of the West India Docks
Coombe Hill Canal 2.75 mi (4 km) 1 1796 1876 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Coventry Canal 32.7 mi (53 km) 13 72 7 M 1769, 1788 Fully navigable
Cromford Canal 14.5 mi (23 km) 14 1794 1900 Under restoration
Croydon Canal 9.25 mi (15 km) 28 1809 1836 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Dearne and Dove Canal[6] 9.8 mi (16 km) 19 58 14.83 NE 1804 1961 Abandoned - restoration being investigated
Derby Canal 14 mi (23 km) 17 72 14 NE 1796 Abandoned - restoration being investigated
Derby and Sandiacre Canal 14.5 mi (23 km) 9 72 14 NE 1793 1964 Under restoration
Digbeth Branch Canal[4] 1.25 mi (2.0 km) 6 72 7 M 1799 Fully navigable
Donnington Wood Canal 5.5 mi (9 km) 1767 1904 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Driffield Navigation, East Yorkshire 11 mi (18 km) 6 61 14.5 NE 1767 1955 (part) Fully navigable
Droitwich Canal 7.3 mi (12 km) 15 71.5 7.08 M 1771, 1854 1939 Fully navigable - restored 2011
Dudley Canal[4] 10.3 mi (17 km) M 1770, 1792 1948 1973 (part) full restoration requires diversion to avoid unrepairable tunnel
Eardington Forge Canal 0.5 mi (1 km) 1 1782 1889
Erewash Canal[2] 11.8 mi (19 km) 14 78 12.5 NE 1779 1962 (part) Fully navigable - restored 1973
Exeter Ship Canal 5.2 mi (8 km) 2 122 26.25 SW 1563 Fully navigable
Fairbottom Branch Canal 1 mi (2 km) 0 NW 1792 1932 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Fletcher's Canal 1.5 mi (2 km) 2 1800 1952 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Foss Dyke 11.3 mi (18 km) 1 74.5 15.17 E 1121 Fully navigable
Galton's Canal 1.4 mi (2 km) 1 1822 1897 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Glastonbury Canal 14 mi (23 km) 2 1834 1854 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Glastonbury Canal (medieval) 1.1 mi (2 km) 0 10th C 14-16th C Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal 16.5 mi (27 km) 2 240 30 SW 1826 Fully navigable
Grand Junction Canal[2] 129.4 mi (208 km) 90 72 14.7 M 1800, 1805 Fully navigable
Grand Surrey Canal 4 mi (6 km) 1 1810 1940 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Grand Union Canal[7] 286.3 mi (461 km) 236 72 14 M 1927 Fully navigable (bar Buckingham Arm)
Grand Union Canal (old)[2] 24.3 mi (39 km) 17 72 7 EM 1814 Fully navigable
Grand Western Canal 10.5 mi (17 km) 0 SW 1838 Under restoration
Grantham Canal 33 mi (53 km) 18 75 14 EM 1797 1936 Under restoration
Grosvenor Canal 0.8 mi (1 km) 1 1825 1858, 1925 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Hackney Canal 0.6 mi (1 km) 1 1843 1928 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Hatherton Canal[4] 4 mi (6 km) 8 70 7 NM 1860 1955 Under restoration, but part of original route unsuitable for reopening so will be diverted.
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal 34 mi (55 km) 22 70 7 W 1798, 1845 1881 Under restoration
Hertford Union Canal[2] 1.3 mi (2 km) 3 78 14.5 SE 1830 Fully navigable
Hollinwood Branch Canal 4.5 mi (7 km) 4 70 7 NW 1792 1932 Under restoration
Hollingwood Common Canal 2 mi (3 km) 0 ? ? Abandoned
Horncastle Canal 11 mi (18 km) 12 1802 1889 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Huddersfield Broad Canal 3.8 mi (6 km) 9 57.5 14.17 NE 1780 Fully navigable
Huddersfield Narrow Canal 19.9 mi (32 km) 74 70 7 NE 1811 Fully navigable
Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation 15.9 mi (26 km) 15 55 14 EA 1793 1934 Under restoration
Islington Branch Canal 0.6 mi (1 km) 0 NW 1801 1952 Abandoned
Itchen Navigation 10 mi (16 km) 17 1710 1869 Under restoration
Kennet and Avon Canal 86.5 mi (139 km) 105 70 12.5 SW 1727, 1810 (1950)[8] Fully navigable - restored and reopened 1990
Kensington Canal 1.75 mi (3 km) 1 1828 1859, 1967 Abandoned - route now lost
Ketley Canal 1.5 mi (2 km) 1[5] 1788 1880 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some short sections in water
Lancaster Canal 60.9 mi (98 km) 14 72 14.5 NW 1797, 1825 1955 2002 (part) - Under ongoing restoration
Leeds and Liverpool Canal 142.6 mi (229 km) 105 62[9] 14 NE, NW 1816 Fully navigable
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal[2] 48 mi (77 km) 22 72 13 EM 1807 Fully navigable - part of Grand Union Canal
Leominster Canal 18 mi (29 km) 16 1794 1858 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Leven Canal 3.25 mi (5 km) 1 1805 1935 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Lichfield Canal[4] 7 mi (11 km) 30 70 7 M 1797 1955 Under restoration
Limehouse Cut 2 mi (3 km) 0 88 19 SE 1766[10] Fully navigable
Liskeard and Looe Union Canal 6 mi (10 km) 25 1828 1910 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Llangollen Canal 46.3 mi (75 km) 21 70’ 6.83 W 1808 Fully navigable
Louth Navigation 11.8 mi (19 km) 8 72 15 NE 1770 1924 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Lydney Canal 1 mi (2 km) 1 100 24 SW 1821 1977 2005 (part) - Under restoration
Macclesfield Canal 26.3 mi (42 km) 13 70 7 NW 1831 Fully navigable
Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal 12.9 mi (21 km) 17 68 14.17 NW 1797, 1808 1941, 1961 Under restoration
Manchester Ship Canal 37.4 mi (60 km) 5 600 65 NW 1894 Fully navigable
Market Weighton Canal 9.5 mi (15 km) 1 70 14.83 NE 1782 1971[11] Part navigable - remainder of route a mix of in water but unnavigable, and route lost
Melton Mowbray Navigation 11 mi (18 km) 12 EM 1797 1877 Under restoration
Middle Level Navigations 90 mi (145 km) 7 80 11 E 1608–1832 Fully navigable
Montgomery Canal 33 mi (53 km) 24 70 6.83 W 1821 1944 1996 (part) - Under restoration
Newcastle-under-Lyme Canal 3.75 mi (6 km) 0 1800 1935 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Newcastle-under-Lyme Junction Canal 1 mi (2 km) 0 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
New Junction Canal 5.5 mi (9 km) 1 215 22.5 NE 1905 Fully navigable
Newport Pagnell Canal 1.25 mi (2 km) 7 1817 1864 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
North Walsham and Dilham Canal 7.3 mi (12 km) 6 50 12.33 EA 1826 1927 (part) Part navigable - remainder of route in water but unnavigable
Nottingham Canal 14.7 mi (24 km)[12] 18 81 14.5 NE 1796 1937 (part) Part navigable - remainder of route partly in water but unnavigable, partly lost
Nutbrook Canal 4.5 mi (7 km) 13 1796 1895 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Oakham Canal 15.5 mi (25 km) 18 1802 1847 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Ouse Navigation 22 mi (35 km) 19 1812 1950 Fully navigable
Oxford Canal 78 mi (126 km) 43 70 6.83 M 1774, 1790 Fully navigable
Par Canal 2.25 mi (4 km) 3 1847 1873
Parnall's Canal 0.5 mi (1 km) 0 1720 1732
Peak Forest Canal 14.8 mi (24 km) 16 70 7 NW 1805 1960 Fully navigable - restored 1974
Petworth Canal 1.25 mi (2 km) 2 1795 1826 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water
Pidcock's Canal 1.5 mi (2 km) 3 1789 1845 Abandoned - line of canal in water
Pocklington Canal 9.5 mi (15 km) 9 57 14.25 NE 1818 1932 Under restoration - largely navigable
Portsmouth and Arundel Canal 28 mi (45 km) 6 1823 1847/1926 Abandoned - majority of the route now lost
Regent's Canal[2] 8.6 mi (14 km) 13 72 14.5 SE 1820 Fully navigable
Ribble Link 3 mi (5 km) 9 62 10.5 NW 2002 Fully navigable
Ripon Canal 2.5 mi (4 km) 3 57 14.25 NE 1773 1906 Fully navigable - restored 1996
River Soar Navigation[2] 21.9 mi (35 km) 18 72 13 EM 1794 Fully navigable
River Lee Navigation[13] 29.1 mi (47 km) 22 85 16 SE 1577, 1769 Fully navigable
Rochdale Canal 32 mi (51 km) 91 74 14.17 NW 1800 Fully navigable (bar some branches)
Rolle Canal[14] 6 mi (10 km) 2[15] 1827 1871 Under restoration
Royal Military Canal 19 mi (31 km) 0 SE 1804 Fully navigable
St Columb Canal 13 mi (21 km)
Salisbury and Southampton Canal 13 mi (21 km)[16] 16 1802 1808
Sankey Canal 15.2 mi (24 km) 11 72 13.83 NW 1757 1963
Selby Canal 6 mi (10 km) 2 78.5 16.5 NE 1776
Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation[17] 28 mi (45 km) 24 61.5 15.25 NE 1802
Shrewsbury Canal 17 mi (27 km) 34 81 7 W 1797 1944
Shropshire Canal 10.5 mi (17 km) 3[5] 1791 1912
Shropshire Union Canal 76.5 mi (123 km) 51 72[18] 7[19] NM 1835
Sir John Glynne's Canal 1 mi (2 km) 1768 1779
Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal 3 mi (5 km) 0 1776 1857
Sleaford Navigation 12.5 mi (20 km) 7 70 15 NE 1794 1940
Somerset Coal Canal 18 mi (29 km) SW 1802 1898[20] 1986 (part)[21]
Southwick Ship Canal 1.75 mi (2.8 km) 1 240 40 SE 1855
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal 46.1 mi (74 km) 43 70 7 NM 1772
Stamford Canal 6.5 mi (10 km) 10 1670 1863
Stainforth and Keadby Canal 14.9 mi (24 km) 3 61.67 17 NE 1802
Stockport Branch Canal 4.9 mi (8 km) 0 NW 1797 1962
Stort Navigation 13.8 mi (22 km) 15 86 13.25 SE 1769
Stourbridge Canal 7.8 mi (13 km) 21 70 7 M 1779
Stover Canal 1.7 mi (3 km) 5 1792 1943
Stratford-upon-Avon Canal 25.5 mi (41 km) 56 70 7 M 1802, 1816
Stroudwater Navigation 8 mi (13 km) 13 70 15.5 SW 1779
Tame Valley Canal[4] 8.5 mi (14 km) 13 72 7 M 1844
Tavistock Canal 4 mi (6 km) 2[5] 1803 1873
Thames and Medway Canal[22] 6.5 mi (10 km) 1 24.5 6.5 SE 1824 1935
Thames and Severn Canal 28.8 mi (46 km) 44 74 12.75 SW 1789 1933
Titchfield Canal
Tremadoc Canal 1.5 mi (2 km) 0 1815 1840
Trent and Mersey Canal 93.4 mi (150 km) 76 72 7[23] NE 1777
Ulverston Canal 1.5 mi (2 km) 1 112 65 [24] NW 1796 1944
Uttoxeter Canal 13 mi (21 km) 19 NM 1811 1849 2005 (part)
Walsall Canal[4] 9.6 mi (15 km) 16 72 7 M 1785–1841
Wardle Canal 0.1 mi (0.2 km) 1 NM 1829
Warwick and Napton Canal[2] 14.2 mi (23 km) 25 72 7[25] M 1794
Warwick and Birmingham Canal[2] 24.3 mi (39 km) 28 70 7[25] M 1794
Wednesbury Old Canal[4] 4.4 mi (7 km) 3 70 7 M 1769 1955 (part)
Westport Canal 3.3 mi (5 km) 1 1840 1875
Wey and Arun Junction Canal[26] 23 mi (37 km) 26 68 11.5 S 1816 1871 in progress[27]
Wey and Godalming Navigations 19.5 mi (31 km) 16 72 13.83 S 1651, 1760
Wilts and Berks Canal 52.5 mi (84 km) 42 72 7 SW 1810 1914 1995 (part)
Wombridge Canal 1.75 mi (3 km) 1[5] 1788 1921
Worcester and Birmingham Canal 30 mi (48 km) 58 71.5 7 M 1815
Wyrley and Essington Canal[4] 23.5 mi (38 km) 39 70 7 M 1797 1900 (part)

Canals in Northern Ireland

Lagan Navigational Canal (disused) at Broadwater, near Aghalee
Canal Length (miles) Locks Year opened Year abandoned Year restored
Broharris Canal 2 1820
Coalisland Canal[28] 7.2 7 1787 1954
Dukart's Canal 3[5] 1777 1787
Lagan Canal 27 27 1802 1958
Newry Canal 21 12 1742 1938
Shannon–Erne Waterway[29] 39 16 1780 1948 1994
Strabane Canal 4 2 1792 1962
Ulster Canal 46 26 1842 1931

Canals in Scotland

Canal Length (miles) Locks Max boat length (ft) Width (ft) Year opened Year abandoned Year restored
Aberdeenshire Canal 18 18 1805 1854
Buchan Canal
Caledonian Canal 62 29 150 35 1822
Carlingwark Lane Canal 1.5 0 1765 1840
Crinan Canal 9 15 86.75 19.65 1817
Dingwall Canal 1.1 0 1816 1840
Forth and Clyde Canal 35 38 68.58 19.75 1790 1963 2002
Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal 11 0 1811 1881
Inchfad Canal 0.25 0 19th century
Inverarnan Canal 0.33 0 1844 c. 1870
Monkland Canal 12.25 18[30] 71 14 1794 1942
Stevenston Canal 2.25 0 13 1772 1830
Union Canal[31] 31.5 3[32] 63 12.5 1822 1930 2000

Canals in Wales

Canal Length (miles) Locks Max boat length (ft) Width (ft) Year opened Year abandoned Year restored
Aberdare Canal 6.75 2 1812 1900
Cyfarthfa Canal 2 1770s 1830s
Glamorganshire Canal 25 52 1798 1898, 1942
Glan-y-wern Canal c. 1.5 by 1790 c. 1810
Kidwelly and Llanelly Canal 18 8[33] 1768, 1837 1865
Llangollen Canal 46.3 21 70 6.83 1808
Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal 35 48 63 9.17 1796 1962 1970
Montgomery Canal 33 24 70 6.83 1821 1944 1996 (part)
Neath and Tennant Canal 21.5 21 60 9 1795, 1824 1934 1990 (part)
Swansea Canal 16.5 36 65 7.5 1798 1931

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 1797, 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j now part of the Grand Union Canal
  3. ^ Main line, incl old main line and branches
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i part of Birmingham Canal Navigations
  5. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ Priestley, Joseph (2 February 2024). "Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain".
  25. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 24 August 2005. 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. ^ a b c d "Waterfront | Canal & River Trust". Archived from the original on 19 January 2022.
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