Little Venice boat service celebrates 50 years

Passengers are picked up from the Little Venice Pool, at the junction of the Regent's Canal and the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal, to Camden, via London Zoo.

Maggie French, of the London Waterbus Company, said: "This year we've been celebrating 50 years of the London Waterbus, and despite the challenges of the economy and unpredictable weather, we've had a very good year.

"Tourists climb aboard our boats from all over the world, as well as many visitors from the UK and even locals who choose to view their city from a different perspective.

"The enduring appeal of the Waterbus is its simplicity - we offer visitors the chance to travel on a traditional boat, slow down to the canal pace of no more than 4mph, relax and take in the views.

"Our boats let visitors experience how it felt to be on a traditional working craft. You sit below the water line, so it feels like a completely different experience to any other boat."

The company operates a fleet of four converted traditional working narrowboats along the route. It is the only mode of transport to stop directly inside London Zoo.

The trip also passes through the Maida Hill Tunnel and along a section of canal which is steeped in architectural heritage, as well as enabling visitors to get close to waterway wildlife.

Simon Bamford, general manager of British Waterways London, which looks after the canals, added: "The Waterbus is a real feature of the canal system in London, adding colour and character to the waterways.

"Over the years, the Waterbus has been managed by both British Waterways and the London Waterbus Company, but the service has remained the same, offering visitors a scenic way to travel between some of London's most interesting neighbourhoods."