Canals · South East England
Wilts & Berks Canal
In or near Wroughton.
Wilts & Berks Canal — canal in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Nearest railway station
- Swindon · 2.3 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Wilts & Berks Canal, the nearest railway station is Swindon, located 2.3 km away. The postcode for the canal is SN1 7DP, and entry is free.
About
Wilts & Berks Canal is a canal in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1810. Wikidata describes it as: "canal in the United Kingdom". Coordinates: 51.5490°, -1.8050°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2026
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
The Wilts & Berks Canal is a restoration project aimed at revitalizing 70 miles of canal and towpath for community, wildlife, and leisure activities. Visitors can enjoy walking along the towpaths, exploring the rich history of the canal, and participating in various events and volunteer opportunities.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Cotswolds
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: North Wessex Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
The Wilts and Berks Canal is a canal in the historic counties of Wiltshire and Berkshire, England, linking the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington near Melksham, to the River Thames at Abingdon. The North Wilts Canal merged with it to become a branch to the Thames and Severn Canal at Latton near Cricklade. Among professional trades boatmen, the canal was nicknamed the Ippey Cut, possibly short for Chippenham. The 52-mile (84 km) canal was opened in 1810, but abandoned in 1914 – a fate hastened by a breach at Stanley aqueduct in 1901. Much of the canal subsequently became unnavigable: many of the structures were deliberately damaged by army demolition exercises; parts of the route were filled in and in some cases built over. In 1977 the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group was formed with a view to full restoration of the canal. Several locks and bridges have since been restored, and over 8 miles (13 km) of the canal have been rewatered.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
| repeal_date = 8 June 1821 | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = Repealed | original_text = https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OPkIekjA89oC&pg=PA191 | collapsed = yes }} | repeal_date = 8 June 1821 | amends = Wilts and Berks Canal Act 1795 | amendments = Wilts and Berks Canal Act 1810 | repealing_legislation = Wilts and Berks Canal Navigation Act 1821 | related_legislation = | status = Repealed | original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo3/41/68/contents/enacted | collapsed = yes }} The idea for the Wilts and Berks Canal grew from a proposal to construct a canal between Lechlade on the Thames and Severn Canal and Abingdon-on-Thames on the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.5490, -1.8050
- District
- Swindon
- Parish
- Wroughton
- Postcode
- SN1 7DP
- Parliamentary constituency
- East Wiltshire
- Established
- 1810
- Nearest railway station
- Swindon — 2.3 km
- Official site
- www.wbct.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q2936042 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Wilts and Berks Canal (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Wilts-and-Berks-Canal-Swindon.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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📷 5Frequently asked questions
- Where is Wilts & Berks Canal?
- Wilts & Berks Canal is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode SN1 7DP), in the parish of Wroughton.
- What is Wilts & Berks Canal?
- Wilts & Berks Canal — canal in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Wilts & Berks Canal?
- The nearest railway station is Swindon, about 2.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode SN1 7DP.
- When was Wilts & Berks Canal built?
- Built or established in 1810.
- Is Wilts & Berks Canal a protected site?
- Yes — Wilts & Berks Canal is part of the Cotswolds National Landscape (AONB) and the North Wessex Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Wilts & Berks Canal free to visit?
- Yes, Wilts & Berks Canal is free to enter.
- How do I get to Wilts & Berks Canal?
- The nearest railway station is Swindon, about 2.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SN1 7DP.