Canal boat trips through the Islington tunnel

Enjoy a boat trip through London's Islington tunnel on The Regent's Canal, opened in 1820, and around three quarters of a mile in length.

When it first opened boats had to be pushed through by a process of "legging" where men lay on the boat and pushed against the walls with their legs. Our trips are more easily achieved on board one of London's community narrowboats. A guide from the museum offers you a commentary on the history of the tunnel as you cruise through it.

The dates in 2022 are:

Second and fourth Sundays of the month until October 23rd

Selected Thursdays and Fridays until late September

Departure times from the museum: 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

There will be no re-entry to museum after the 1600 trip. The 1600 trip is usually a one-way trip to Islington (Graham Street) including passage through a lock, not returning to the museum. On certain dates (provisionally 26/6, 10/7, 28/8) however the 1600 trip will be a return trip to King's Cross. Customers will be able to walk back from Islington in about 20 minutes or catch a local bus, or go to Angel Tube station which is close by.

The return trip takes just under one hour.The boat is covered so you will still enjoy the trip in bad weather. Most of the trip will however be in the tunnel. A guide will normally travel with you and he or she will tell you about the history of the tunnel and the canal as you travel.