I'd like to live beside a canal

[Rushingfool]

Can anyone recommend anywhere? We currently live in the South East but in a tiny 2 up 2 down terrace and can't afford to buy anything bigger down here. Thinking we're going to have to move away, and was hoping to find somewhere beside a canal/backing in to one for me and my kayak in my old age...

Two words

Canada geese

Another two words....
Flood Insurance 🙂

www.newsnow.co.uk/classifieds/houses-flats-for-sale/houses-for-sale-with-canal-mooring.html

here you go. Although some are actually boats not houses. Seems the estate agents get a bit confused between them.

The flood risk, whether real or perceived, is a possible barrier, requiring lots of insurance.

There are a lot of new canalside developments in the Stroud valleys if you’re considering Gloucestershire.

Hebden bridge

Rats.

I don't think canals flood really as the levels can be managed more easily than rivers.

Try chirk or the surrounding area

Canals link up cities and towns. The rural parts of canals run alongside train lines.

Aylesbury

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126314657?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

not next to the canal but close enough

I live not far from the Kennet and Avon canal . It floods over the locks most winters.

Budget? Here is one
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122596652?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Along the royal military canal from hythe to romney marsh in Kent. Not a lot else going on but you can kayak on it

I live in a newish build around 5 years old and the canal is about 2 ft from the door. It doesn't flood due to the locks that control it, there is no issue with rats even with a wood and fields directly opposite but we do get a large amount of bugs the flying kind in summer and silver fish all year round.

It is gorgeous in the summer as we have lots of canal boats and other water users plus wildlife up and down, it is very peaceful and mostly just hear the wildlife at night. In the winter the canal can freeze over and it looks beautiful.

I wouldn’t, they stink and attract weirdos.

Lots of houses run near the Ashby canal - check it out 🛶

Another two words. Dead bodies! We lived in a flat right by a river and had a few bodies pulled out right in front of our flat. It was grim and very sad when it happened.

We live near a canal, not on it, about 2 houses back. Prepare for mosquitoes and silverfish. The houses next to the canal also have rats and have boggy gardens Sept - May. This is a canal with lock gates.

Canals can and do flood. - sawley cut and parts of canalised river sections around Nottingham and Loughborough flood fairly regularly. Canals are also increasingly susceptible to flooding via breeching the banks due to failed /blocked culverts, there are also several instances (middlewich branch line) were canals fail and the entire section of canal between locks ends up in someone’s house/garden/field/road etc. The reservoirs also can flood - Whaley bridge a couple of years ago for instance.
Its largely due to a lack of linesmen inspecting them and failure to do in time repairs - which are all outsourced at great expense.
People do not realise as it’s rarely reported in the news, even in the locality the incident occurs.

Sell your house and get a narrow boat.
No risk of flooding and a change of scenery whenever you want.

I live along the Leeds Liverpool canal between saltaire and Skipton. Lived in this area all my life and never seen / heard of a flood! We have no problems at all from the canal but we are a street away. Not sure About the houses directly on the canal bank. I love living near the canal!

There are a lot of illegal traveller sites along the canal where we live.

I live behind a canal. Behind a lock, to be precise.

In the South East (a three bed semi and will be selling up in two years)

Have been here 12 years:
There is NO flood risk.
There are no weirdos (well no more than elsewhere…)
There are no dead bodies
There are however a myriad of dog walkers, joggers and cyclists on the tow path.
There are anglers, kayakers, paddle boarders (in fact last year Damon Hill paddle boarded past as part of a charity event)
we get frequent canal boats come through the lock in summer.

It’s lovely 😊

Here’s another two

water rats

We lived near one as a child - the houses right on it did have problems with the water (I can’t quite remember what).