Canal-Side Campervanning: The Top 10 Best Towpath Views in the UK

VanLife.uk
Apr 25
7 min read

There’s something delightfully soothing about parking up by a canal. Maybe it’s the gentle bob of passing narrowboats, the plop of a moorhen diving for breakfast, or just the smug satisfaction of finding a park-up spot that screams, "I am at one with the countryside." For those of us living the van life, canal-side campervanning is an underrated slice of British brilliance.

Whether you're a towpath tea-sipper, a sunset Instagrammer, or just someone who really likes ducks, here are the Top 10 Best Towpath Views in the UK for canal-side campervan enthusiasts. Kettles on, doors open, let’s dive in.

1. Llangollen Canal – Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wales

If this view doesn’t make you weep with joy and maybe a bit of vertigo, are you even trying? The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (pronounced roughly like someone sneezing while saying "ponts-uh-sil-tee") is a soaring, UNESCO-listed structure that carries the Llangollen Canal high above the River Dee.

Park up at one of the nearby lay-bys or the canal-side car park and prepare to gawp. The view from your van is sensational, but the real magic happens when the mist rolls in during early morning. It’s like waking up inside a Victorian oil painting.

Van life tip: Arrive early – this is one of the most popular canal spots in the UK. Bonus points if you can boil a kettle while balancing emotionally on the aqueduct.

2. Kennet & Avon Canal – Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

Bradford-on-Avon is like Bath’s eccentric cousin who lives in a chocolate box and has a thing for antique shops. The canal-side here is stunning – honey-coloured cottages, ancient bridges, and the kind of views that make you say, "We could just stay here forever, couldn’t we?"

There’s a designated campervan parking area at the top of town, with a short walk down to the towpath. Or if you’re lucky, snag a spot right along the water by the lock.

Van life tip: Grab a takeaway coffee from the canal-side cafe and wave regally at kayakers. It’s the law.

3. Forth & Clyde Canal – The Kelpies, Falkirk

Nothing quite prepares you for the moment two 30-metre-tall horse heads rise out of the landscape like some sort of Caledonian kaiju. The Kelpies are a staggering piece of engineering art, and the adjacent canal is wonderfully peaceful.

The Helix Park area offers parking (with overnight options if you're cheeky but respectful), and you can wander the towpaths as the sun sets behind these metallic beasts.

Van life tip: Charge your camera. Then charge your backup camera. You’re going to need it.

4. Grand Union Canal – Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire

Stoke Bruerne is what happens when a village falls in love with its canal and builds its entire personality around it. And rightly so. This is one of the most picturesque stretches of the Grand Union Canal, complete with vintage boats, a cracking little canal museum, and ducks that have seen it all.

Overnight parking is available nearby, and the canal-side pubs are dangerously good. There’s nothing like a pint with a view of your own van reflected in the water.

Van life tip: Say hello to every single dog you pass. It’s expected here.

5. Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal – Llangattock, Wales

Set deep in the Brecon Beacons, this canal-side spot is a slice of van life serenity. You’ll find mountain views, wooded glades, and a towpath that feels like it was made for slow strolls with steaming mugs of something warm.

Free parking can be found along the canal, and there are plenty of secluded spots if you're into the "wild but legal" school of overnighting.

Van life tip: Bring waterproofs. And more waterproofs. Then a kayak.

6. Regent’s Canal – Little Venice, London

Yes, London. Yes, canal-side van life. It’s a miracle, we know. Little Venice is a charming pocket of the capital, where colourful narrowboats and leafy reflections rule the day.

Overnight parking is tricky, but doable with a bit of planning (and perhaps a friendly local). Use it as a rare chance to blend urban van life with serious waterside aesthetics.

Van life tip: Don’t expect silence. Expect cool people, canal-side cafes, and the best people-watching of your life.

7. Caledonian Canal – Neptune’s Staircase, Fort William

This is not your average canal. This is the Scottish Highlands in full engineering glory. Neptune’s Staircase is a series of eight locks lifting boats up (or down) like a canal-based slow-motion water rollercoaster.

The views of Ben Nevis are worth the journey alone, and parking is possible nearby, especially out of peak season.

Van life tip: Try not to hum the Outlander theme tune out loud. Or do. Loudly. No one will mind.

8. Oxford Canal – Thrupp, Oxfordshire

Thrupp sounds made up, like something from The Wind in the Willows, and to be honest, it sort of looks that way too. Think leafy bends, stone cottages, and water so still it acts as a perfect mirror.

A popular mooring spot for boaters, Thrupp is also surprisingly welcoming to van lifers – just be sure to respect the peace and avoid blocking gates.

Van life tip: The pub garden here overlooks the canal. Need we say more?

9. Lancaster Canal – Tewitfield, Lancashire

One of the less shouty canals, the Lancaster quietly winds its way through gorgeous Northern countryside. Tewitfield is near the northern limit of the canal, with dramatic rural views and very few people.

Perfect for those who want to disappear for a while with a flask of tea and a really good book.

Van life tip: No shops nearby. Bring everything. Including biscuits.

10. Ashby Canal – Market Bosworth, Leicestershire

A lesser-known gem, the Ashby Canal is famously lock-free (which makes it very boat-friendly), and the area around Market Bosworth offers the kind of gentle rolling hills and historic charm that begs for a lazy afternoon nap.

Plenty of towpath access, lovely wildlife, and just a short walk into town for supplies.

Van life tip: This is a great one for hammock stringing. Trees aplenty.

Canal-Side Cooking: The Towpath Chef’s Survival Guide

Canal-side cooking is an art. There’s something deeply satisfying about frying up a bacon butty with mist rising off the water and a heron judging you from a nearby reed.

Top Tips for Towpath Tuck:

Embrace the one-pan wonder: Space is tight, and washing up is for landlubbers. Invest in a quality skillet and make it your best friend.
Go local: Canal-side towns often have cracking farm shops or honesty boxes. Support the local economy while munching on fresh veg and eggs with actual flavour.
Weather-proof meals: Always have a backup plan (and a backup-backer-upper plan). Rain will happen. So will wind. And that time your gas runs out just before the kettle boils.
Smell etiquette: That canal boat next door? They might not want to smell your experimental garlic-chilli-mackerel stew. Ventilation is your friend.

Van-Friendly Canal Etiquette

Canal culture is sacred. It’s like Hogwarts for grown-ups in wellies. So here’s how not to be that van:

Park respectfully: Don’t block towpaths, gates or boat moorings. If in doubt, move along.
Say hello: A simple nod or cheery “Morning!” goes a long way. Especially to boaters. Bonus karma if you help with lock gates.
No dumping: Dispose of your waste properly. That includes grey water, rubbish and bad vibes.
Keep it down: Late-night karaoke might be your thing, but canal folks like a bit of peace.
Dogs on leads, kids in sight, ducks not fed bread: Self-explanatory.

Bonus UK canals to Explore

Can’t get enough of towpath tranquillity? Here are a few extra gems to stick a pin in:

- Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

Shakespeare, swans, and sarnies by the water. It’s practically a British rite of passage.

- Birmingham & Fazeley Canal

Urban grit meets tranquil bits. Surprisingly scenic, with some cracking graffiti along the way.

- Macclesfield Canal

Cheshire charm, stone bridges, and barely another soul in sight. Perfect peace.

- Union Canal, Edinburgh

Yes, Edinburgh has a canal. And it’s gorgeous. Park up nearby and enjoy a bracing Scottish stroll followed by whisky-fuelled recovery.

Bonus: Scenic Canal Loops for Morning Walks or Cycles

Some canal spots are more than just a pretty parking place—they’re the starting point for brilliant little loops that take you through locks, woodland, villages, and back again in time for elevenses.

- Aylesbury Arm Loop, Grand Union Canal

Start from the end of the Aylesbury Arm and loop through farmland and hedgerows before re-joining the main canal. Peaceful, pretty, and plenty of benches for tea breaks.

- Newbury Canal Circular, Kennet & Avon

This route takes you from the heart of town into tranquil stretches flanked by meadows and back through historic bridges. Great for bikes and spotting narrowboats negotiating the locks.

- Sowerby Bridge Loop, Calder & Hebble Navigation

Yorkshire views, rugged charm, and a loop that includes cobbled streets and hearty pubs. Start and end with a proper brew.

Bonus: Haunted Canal Tales for the Campfire

What's a night by the towpath without a good ghost story? Here are a few canal-side chills to share over a mug of hot chocolate (or something stronger).

- The Ghost of Blisworth Tunnel, Northamptonshire

Said to be haunted by a drowned navvy, this stretch of the Grand Union has given more than one boater the shivers. Locals report strange voices echoing through the tunnel on misty nights.

- The Spectre of the Cut, Birmingham Canal Navigations

A ghostly figure in Victorian garb is said to wander the towpath between Gas Street Basin and Smethwick Locks, vanishing when approached. Urban myth—or something more?

- Little Venice’s Lady in White

Several boaters claim to have seen a woman in white drifting silently along the Regent’s Canal near Paddington at twilight. Some say she’s searching for her lost love… others say she’s just trying to find a decent Wi-Fi signal.

Thanks for taking this canal-side campervanning journey with us. Whether you’re out there chasing misty mornings or toasting ghost tales by the towpath, we hope this guide brings a little extra magic to your van life adventures.

Safe travels, and see you down the cut!