Thames River Guide: Grand Union Canal

Architectural Treasures

Immerse yourself in the 17th century at the Jacobean Boston Manor House. Built in 1623, the house is set in parkland and surrounded by cedar trees. Some of the magnificent rooms are open to the public, free of charge.

Renowned architect Robert Adam was commissioned in 1761 to transform Osterley House into a Neoclassical villa. The spectacular Adam interiors have survived and, with acres of landscaped park, a farm shop, ornamental lakes and galleries, there is plenty to see.

Portobello Road - Fashionista's Paradise

Head to Portobello Road on a Saturday to browse clothes, records, antiques and bric-a-brac. A certain amount of haggling goes a long way here. Serious bargain-hunters should come armed with cash. There are only a couple of ATMs on Portobello Road, and withdrawing cash at peak times can involve a lot of queuing and just as much patience.

Heaven is a Half Pipe

A skater's paradise, the Bay Sixty 6 Skate Park has a vert ramp, midi ramps and a huge streetcourse. Between tricks, skaters can hook up to plasma screens and play the latest Xbox games. Although open seven days a week, the park is often used for filming and competitions. Telephone ahead to check the day's events. There are also special times for BMXers.

Bric-a-brac Jumble

Golborne Road is known for its specialist second-hand furniture shops, where shabby chic sells for a fraction of the cost at Chelsea's more exclusive dealers. Les Couilles du Chien specialise in an eclectic mishmash of styles, including art deco and art nouveau.

As well as antiques, Golborne Road is full of the sights and sounds of north Africa. Work up an appetite looking at Moroccan lamps, shoes and leather floor cushions. Then enjoy an authentic tagine at one of the eateries, followed by a refreshing cup of peppermint tea.

Matinee Idol

The Electric, one of the UK's oldest working cinemas, is halfway along Portobello Road. It shows art-house and mainstream films and promises a luxurious cinematic experience, with leather armchairs, two-seater love-bug sofas and side tables for food and drink. Its brasserie next door is great for cocktails and fresh seafood ­ and is usually buzzing with high-flying media types.

Art Deco Spa

The Brits aren't renowned for their communal bathing tendencies, which is why the Porchester Spa is quite simply one of London's gems. Dating back to 1929, it's a quirky affair where art deco grandeur meets locker-room chic. There's a choice of steam rooms and there are mixed (couples only), male, and female sessions. Call ahead to check for opening times.

Pulling the Strings

Beneath a yellow-and-red-striped canopy lies a magical place of costume, drama and marionettes. Since 1982, the Puppet Theatre Barge has been breathing life into Coleridge, Shakespeare, Byron and Aesop's fables and has earned itself critical acclaim along the way. The barge anchors at Little Venice for the winter and plies its tales up and down the Thames, from Henley to Richmond, in summer.

Eating, Drinking and Sleeping

This stretch of the canal is dotted with excellent pubs, restaurants and eateries. Waterside Café comes highly recommended, as does The Waterway ­ a superb waterside gastropub rightly popular among locals. Café Laville always gets a good write up. So too does The Grand Union, which has a great selection of home-made pies and traditional English nosh.

Offering all the comforts of home, and more, The Colonnade is a luxurious, traditional town house hotel. Close to the waterways, pubs and eateries of Little Venice, the hotel also offers guests treatments, such as massages and facials, in the comfort of their own room - or suite. Bliss!

Getting There

Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue are the nearest Tube stations to Little Venice.

Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove stations are the nearest to Portobello Market and Golborne Road. See our travel section to plan your journey.