Grand Union Canal

Drought forces canal network into emergency mode

by

Web Editor

–

August 27, 2026

AS large swathes of England and all of Wales were declared in drought following weeks of exceptionally dry weather, the Canal & River Trust activated its highest level of operational response to keep boaters moving as much as possible. THE combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures has seen reservoir levels, river levels and…
Continue reading »
Discover a summer of family fun, wildlife and heritage at Foxton Locks

by

Web Editor

–

August 13, 2026

The Canal & River Trust is inviting visitors to make the most of the summer holidays by joining a programme of free and low-cost events at Foxton Locks, one of Leicestershire’s most unique historic destinations. The charity’s summer programme offers something for all ages, from wildlife-themed activities and nature discovery sessions to hands-on workshops and…
Continue reading »
From 1802 to 2026: reservoir’s embankments get a modern fix

by

Web Editor

–

August 3, 2026

A £7 million project to strengthen the 200-year-old embankments at Wilstone Reservoir, Hertfordshire, is complete. THE 14-month programme of statutory safety works at the reservoir near Tring, required under the Reservoir Act, included driving 1400 steel piles into the structure’s 1350m-long embankments to strengthen them. Built in 1802 to supply water to the Grand Union…
Continue reading »
New accessible canal bollard could transform mooring for disabled boaters

by

Web Editor

–

July 27, 2026

An innovative canal mooring bollard which makes tying up easier for boaters, especially those with disabilities, has been installed at a pilot site on the Grand Union Canal near Milton Keynes. The project – a partnership between Canal & River Trust, MK Canals, Birmingham City University and the Accessible Waterways Association – will gather data…
Continue reading »
Chip pan fire on the Grand Union

by

Web Editor

–

July 14, 2026

River Canal Rescue was recently called out to the Grand Union canal, Wolverton area, to raise what was left of a narrowboat, following a chip pan fire. During the re-float, a witness to the incident told RCR engineers he went to help the owner, who was unhurt. No pets were onboard. RCR managing director, Stephanie…
Continue reading »
Rapid response reopens Lock 5 at Camp Hill Locks in Birmingham

by

Web Editor

–

July 6, 2026

Waterways charity, Canal & River Trust, has been able to quickly restore navigation at Lock 5 on the Camp Hill Locks, part of the Grand Union Canal in Birmingham, after a damaged lock gate temporarily brought boat movements to a halt. The issue was reported when a lock gate became dislodged after the lock gate…
Continue reading »
Milton Keynes clean-up collects seven tonnes of rubbish

by

Web Editor

–

June 15, 2026

THE IWA’s Milton Keynes branch held its annual Canal Clean-up across the 10-mile stretch through Milton Keynes from Fenny Stratford to Cosgrove on April 10/11. The usual mix of discarded items were found, including several supermarket trolleys, six tyres, four electric hire scooters, three bicycles, an outboard motor, a plastic barrel, a motor bike frame,…
Continue reading »
Cosgrove Canal Festival and Crafts Fair returns this July

by

Web Editor

–

May 22, 2026

The annual Cosgrove Canal Festival and Crafts Fair will this year be held over the weekend of the weekend or 18th-19th July 2026. This event is organised by the Buckingham Canal Society to raise awareness and funding for the restoration of the Buckingham Arm or the Grand Union canal. There will be trading and historic display…
Continue reading »
£1.3m canal repairs see hand-built lock gates installed on Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire

by

Web Editor

–

April 2, 2026

Major Canal & River Trust works are under way in Leicestershire to replace ageing lock gates and protect historic waterways from climate pressures. Leicestershire’s waterways are undergoing major maintenance and preservation work to keep them navigable as part of a £1.3 million repairs and restoration programme. The Canal & River Trust is replacing lock gates…
Continue reading »
£220k project to restore historic water-saving canal engineering at Hanwell

by

Web Editor

–

February 20, 2026

Work underway on a Historic England-funded project to restore 200-year-old side ponds at the Hanwell Flight of Locks in West London. The initiative follows a year of navigation closures caused by drought and climate change and focuses on locks 94 and 95. The scheme is supported by Historic England, the Inland Waterways Association and the…
Continue reading »
RESTORATION WORK DONE on historic lifting bridge

by

Web Editor

–

August 27, 2025

A LIFTING bridge designed by Robert Stephenson and built in 1834 to carry a railway line over the Grand Union Canal has been restored. Robin Jones reports… The bridge is one of the few remaining examples of Victorian engineer Stephenson’s early work near the dawn of the steam age so is of immense historic importance.…
Continue reading »
REPAIRS MADE: To bank washed away in floods

by

Web Editor

–

November 9, 2024

Lucy Wood reports… MAJOR repairs to a section of canal bank that was washed away by winter floods in Leicester have been completed. The Canal & River Trust has repaired and strengthened a 100-metre section of the Grand Union Canal bank, which was severely damaged when floodwater from the non-navigable River Soar, which runs parallel,…
Continue reading »
CHARITY WALK: 100 miles along the Grand Union!

by

Mark Lancaster

–

August 27, 2024

The 100-mile Grand Union Ramble is in aid of two great charities and will take place from the 19th to the 22nd of September. One of the walkers, George Kelly, told Towpath Talk: “After last year’s success with “The Great Commute”, we’re taking to The Grand Union Canal for 2024’s 100+ miler. Going from Braunston…
Continue reading »
‘More fun than going to the gym’

by

Scootering Web Editor

–

May 20, 2024

By Janet Richardson A FAMILIAR sight at the Braunston Historic Boat Rally in late June, the iconic pair Nuneaton and Brighton are still at work. They are owned and operated by the Narrow Boat Trust, a volunteer-led charity whose objective is to maintain the historic boats and demonstrate how they were operated commercially together in…
Continue reading »

Grand Union Canal

Latest Issue

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags