Morning in Camden, London, pt1

A wander along the Camden Lock.

The Regent's Canal curves through Camden Town, where it transforms from a quiet waterway into the heart of one of London's busiest markets. The former industrial canal, built in 1820, once served the area's warehouses and factories. Today, these Victorian buildings house Camden Market's shops, food stalls and music venues.

Camden Lock, technically Hampstead Road Locks, marks where the canal's character changes. East towards Islington, it's a peaceful towpath used by cyclists and joggers. West towards Regent's Park, houseboats line the water's edge. But at Camden Lock itself, the waterway becomes pure theatre - tourists crowd the bridges to watch narrow boats navigate the twin locks, while market-goers spill out onto the cobbled yards of the former horse stables.

The canalside warehouses, once used for timber and ice storage, now form Camden Lock Market's maze of shops and food stalls. On summer weekends, the air fills with food smells from the West Yard's global street food market, while gongoozlers (canal watchers) lean on the lock's black railings, watching boats rise and fall in the lock chamber.Read more