It's a canal crawl!

Karen Dacre goes on an Olympic mission to drink her way from West to East
1 August 2012

When the travel chaos sets in next week, I plan on taking to the pub. But not just any old boozer, rather one that’s near a canal. Should you, like me, be dreading the journey home during Olympic season, the canal holds the answers to your prayers. Its winding, murky towpaths the route of the long trek home.

Yes, while colleagues on pilgrimages to the east squeeze onto packed tube carriages and attempt to navigate the spaghetti-shaped chaos that is Boris’s cycle superhighways and Olympic lanes, those of us with nowhere to go quickly will be moseying down the canal on Boris bikes. Our motivation? An epic pub crawl dreamt up to take us home from west to east with our sanity intact. Here’s some of the finest stop off points. See you at the bar.

The Bridge House, W2

Begin your journey east at this “posh gastro”. It serves a compendium of ales, spirits and wines. It’s roast dinners are to die for. (thebridgehouselittlevenice.co.uk)

Grand Union, Notting Hill, W2

Make a quick second stop-off at this West End institution which has some pretty well thought-out al fresco boozing facilities. (grandunionbars.com)

Stick to the pavement, NW1

This isn’t the name of a place but rather an instruction. On arrival in Camden avoid the many overcrowded riverside pubs and bars and instead opt for a quiet drink by the canal. Many of the stable market eateries offer take-out facilities.

Canal 125, N1

The most tranquil of all canal side-stop offs, this pub is one from which to watch the world go by. Opt for a cool glass of white. (canal125.co.uk)

The Narrow Boat, N1

This stunning north London boozer is a water lover’s dream. Stop for a pint here and you’ll struggle to get on your bike again. (thenarrowboatpub.com)

The Waterline, N1

Located next to the legendary Towpath cafe (home of the best cheese and onion toasties in the world) this airy East end hotspot is the perfect place to watch the sun go down. (waterlinebar.com)

The Market Cafe, E8

This recently opened Broadway market establishment has mozzarella to die for and Prosecco on tap. (market-cafe.co.uk)

Top o’ the Morning, E3

If a standard old man’s pub is your thing, make this cosy Irish pub the final stop on your journey home. As well as offering a wide selection of ales, Top of the Morning will be showing the Olympics live on TV. Note: go any further and you’ll be in a designated “Games zone”. (020 8985 9917)

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