Nottingham and Beeston Canal

Nottingham and Beeston Canal is a cracking bit of canal water just west of Nottingham city centre. The fishery runs for approximately five miles overall and is managed for angling by Nottingham Anglers Association on the relevant stretch. With more than 150 fishing pegs described by the association, there is plenty of water to explore rather than just one or two obvious spots.

• 1 lake: Nottingham and Beeston Canal
• Fish: roach, bream, chub, carp, perch
• Tickets from: Annual full membership for new members, 2025/2026 — £65, including a £20 joining fee
• Find it: Nottingham · NG9 1NG

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

Nottingham and Beeston Canal is a cracking bit of canal water just west of Nottingham city centre. The fishery runs for approximately five miles overall and is managed for angling by Nottingham Anglers Association on the relevant stretch. With more than 150 fishing pegs described by the association, there is plenty of water to explore rather than just one or two obvious spots.

The canal connects with the River Trent at both ends, which helps river species move into the water. Roach and bream are among the predominant fish, so float fishing, punch, maggot and feeder work all fit the venue nicely. Chub are present as well, including larger specimens, giving you another reason to keep an eye on the margins and any likely-looking cover.

Perch are in the canal too, while carp turn up occasionally. The water may also contain other species found in the River Trent, so a new peg could always throw up a cheeky surprise. On a first visit, it makes sense to travel light, watch the water for a bit and have a couple of options ready rather than charging straight in with one fixed plan.

Access is one of the fishery’s big plus points. Towpaths provide access along much of the canal, with many access points around Beeston, Thane Road and Lenton. There is access near Canal Side and Beeston Lock, plus routes around Lenton Lane, Willow Road and the footpath by the River Leen. Some sections are described as suitable for anglers with limited mobility, so it is worth checking the exact area before setting off if that matters to your session.

It is navigable water, so boats are part of the deal. Keep the swim tidy, watch where your line is going and be ready to pause or adjust when a boat comes through. A sensible canal kit is the order of the day: compact tackle, a landing net, unhooking gear and a few bait options, with enough to adapt if the fish show in a different part of the peg. Asking the tackle shop or bailiff about the best access, current day-ticket arrangements and any local guidance is a bob-on bit of preparation.

Day tickets are available through listed local tackle shops, and annual membership is another route into the association’s waters. A rod licence is also required in England. The canal is open for angling throughout the year, with no closed season stated for this water, but night fishing is not allowed. So, plan for a daylight session, pick a comfortable peg, and give this long, well-connected canal a proper look.

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 — “Nottingham and Beeston Canal is a proper urban canal venue west of Nottingham, with roughly five miles of club-managed water, more than 150 pegs and a useful mix of canal and Trent species. Roach and bream lead the way, with chub, perch and the occasional carp adding a bit of spice.”

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.