How to get there - Take the A 312 south from Greenford. After the A 4020 round-a-bout look for the left turn at a round-a-bout to the Bull's Bridge superstore car park. (map)
Suggested Launch Site - Tesco allow 3 hours free parking. Park as near the canal as you can and near the shop. Portage to the canal and launch. The bank is lowest near the old dry dock.
General
Description - Launch and turn right opposite the Paddington Arm bridge. Soon there are house boats on the right and then an old crane. There is a road to the east of the canal and this provides alternative access points.
There are houses and light industrial sites, parks and sites for new flats. Usually there is a screen of trees/shrubs. There is at least one pub. One old narrow cut to a factory is now lined with houseboats, but a very low footbridge blocks access half way along.
There are two locks, Norwood Top Lock and Hanwell Lock. Then comes three Bridges. Windmill Lane crosses over the canal where the canal passes over a single track local railway line.
Soon then is the Hanwell flight of 6 locks beside St Bernard's Hospital. This is a good place to turn round.
If you like portaging below the flight is the junction with the River Brent, or you can carry on to the River Thames.
The return trip to the top of the Hanwell Flight and back is about 6 miles with two locks to portage each way. (route)
