London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
Grand Union Canal
Short film looking at life up and down the Grand Union Canal, including several scenes shot in London canals and docks.
From the collection of:
Overview
This short film explores life on the Grand Union Canal, showing boats operating on the 300 miles of canal. The film explains that despite the introduction of trains and planes, canals remain the best way to transport material around the country, and shows raw materials being taken from London to towns as far as Nottingham, before manufactured goods return via the canal to London for sale or export. Includes footage of barge horses, London tunnels, cabins and London docks.
Related
Watch for free
British Paramount News No. 588 British Paramount News No. 588
Non-Fiction 1936 2 mins Silent Location: Victoria Park
Defiance is in the air in this evocative newsreel footage of anti-fascist solidarity rallies, after the Battle of Cable Street
Watch for free
East Sixteen East Sixteen
Documentary 1959 10 mins Location: Limehouse
Stylishly realised portrait of Chinese priest Peter Kao, who offers a Christian welcome to sailors from his homeland.
Watch for free
Floating Floating
Comedy 1991 41 mins Location: Limehouse
Deliciously dark psychodrama about a Docklands bus driver who turns his family home into a second Noah's ark.
Watch for free
London River London River
Travelogue 1930 4 mins Silent Location: Tower Br
Follow the Thames from Westminster to Limehouse, Covent Garden to Tower Bridge.
Watch for free
Dr Sin Fang: The Adventure of the Torture Cage Dr Sin Fang: The Adventure of the Torture Cage
Action and Adventure 1928 30 mins Silent Location: Limehouse
An evil criminal doctor entraps and tortures a greedy trader in this only surviving episode of silent adventure serial Dr Sin Fang.
Watch for free
Barging through London Barging through London
1924 11 mins Location: Limehouse
Part of Wonderful London, the BFI National Archive’s programme of restored London travelogues, filmed in the capital in the 1920s.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.