Once used for transporting goods to keep the capitals industry chugging along, London's canals now form a maze of delightful walking, biking and boating routes. The city has swapped barges and towpaths for engines and roads, and its place life has sprouted from the canal banks, transforming these waterways into hives of cultural activity. Amble through the quaint beautty of Paddington's Little Venice, cycle along the River Lea to the marshy expanse of Walthamstow Wetlands or take a waterside table in one of Hackney Wick's bustling bars and watch the world (and the narrow boats) go by.