Grand Union Canal – Brentford Stretch

The Grand Union Canal – Brentford Stretch runs from Clitheroe Lock No. 99 near Boston Manor Park down to Thames Lock No. 101 near Dock Road, Brentford. It’s a short urban canal stretch, not a lake complex, and sits on the Waterway Wanderers scheme. A handy option for a proper bit of towpath angling, with plenty to think about before you even clip up.

• 1 lake: Grand Union Canal – Brentford Stretch
• Fish: carp, bream
• Tickets from: Adult Waterway Wanderers permit (from 1 April 2026) — £28
• Find it: Brentford · TW8 8HP

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

The Grand Union Canal – Brentford Stretch runs from Clitheroe Lock No. 99 near Boston Manor Park down to Thames Lock No. 101 near Dock Road, Brentford. It’s a short urban canal stretch, not a lake complex, and sits on the Waterway Wanderers scheme. A handy option for a proper bit of towpath angling, with plenty to think about before you even clip up.

This one works on a 12-month Waterway Wanderers permit rather than a separate day ticket. The current adult permit is £28, concessionary is £18 and junior is £7, with those prices applying to permits bought from 1 April 2026 onwards. The permit runs for 12 months from purchase, covers the listed non-leased stretches including Brentford, and allows a maximum of two rods. You’ll also need a rod licence.

The checked listing reports carp, bream and general coarse fish. That gives you a decent all-round target list, but canal fishing here is about reading the swim and adapting. Roach, perch, pike, tench, chub and other coarse species may occur in the wider canal, although they are not specifically confirmed for this stretch. Bring a sensible spread of gear rather than building the whole session around one species.

On a first look, take your time. Walk the stretch, watch the margins and check out quieter-looking water before picking a peg. Bridges, lock areas and changes in the canal can all look tempting, but several structures have no-fishing zones. Fishing is prohibited in lock chambers, within 25 metres of a lock approach, water point, swing or lifting bridge, and under or near overhead power lines. It’s worth checking the rules before setting up, not after.

The Brentford end is tidal or semi-tidal towards Thames Lock, so water-level conditions need factoring in. If you’re planning a session, check the local situation before travelling and be ready to adjust your approach once you arrive. Keep the first drop-in simple, watch how the water is behaving, and let the swim tell you whether to fish tight to the margins or explore further out. No need to overcomplicate it or carry half the tackle shop.

Night fishing is allowed on Waterway Wanderers stretches, but nearby residents must be treated considerately. Bivvies are only allowed where the towpath is wide enough and public access isn’t obstructed. There are no listed toilets, parking, tackle-shop facilities or on-site booking facilities, so plan your kit and access before heading off. Permits can be bought online, by telephone or by post. Keepnets must be pegged sensibly, native fish must not be removed, and non-native species such as zander must not be returned. Keep it tidy, follow the restrictions and this could be a cracking urban canal session.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “A short, urban Grand Union Canal stretch running between Clitheroe Lock No. 99 and Thames Lock No. 101. It is covered by the Waterway Wanderers permit, with carp, bream and general coarse fishing in the mix.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.