Promotions and Information

London's canals, rivers and docks offer a variety of opportunities for leisure and recreation both on and by the water.

Our promotions and publications are designed to appeal to a mixture of visitors who wish to engage in leisure activities. Visitors range from groups on a day out to families taking a Sunday stroll.

We work closely with all the tourism businesses on our waterway network to develop and promote the quality and diverse experience that they offer. The waterside businesses in London include 30 tourism boats such as cafés and boat trips, 94 waterside pubs and 37 waterside attractions. Each of them receives the British Waterways London Tourism Afloat newsletter with information and new business opportunities, and is invited to attend an annual forum to discuss and develop tourism initiatives.

In 2006 - 2007 we are continuing to focus on walking as a key reason to visit the capital's canals and have produced a series of self-guided linear and circular walks at key waterway destinations.
These walks are available in leaflet format or on line at www.waterscape.com/London/walking.

We also produce general leaflets and publications containing guides to key destinations, maps of the region, ideas for days out and special offers.

With all promotional activity, value for money is a priority so PR underpins a lot of our work. Regional, local and lifestyle press and listing magazines are regularly targeted to get our message across.

As well as working with the tourism and leisure businesses along the network to produce enticing offers and quality events, British Waterways London is a member of Visit London, Tour East London and Ukinbound. Working together with these organisations we can maximise the reach and inpact of our messages.

There are ten waterside festivals that take place throughout the summer months which attract large numbers of visitors from the local community and further afield. In the 2005 summer season 100,000 people attended our waterside events which were organised and supported by local groups and businesses. In addition we attend festivals run by other organisations to promote London's canals and rivers to their visitors.

The travel trade and group travel are also important targets for our promotions. Every year we produce a guide to the region aimed at this market (see the groups and travel trade chapter in this website) and attend day out fairs in the south east.