Canal series: the Oxford Canal (south section) heads through Banbury - a mid-sized town made famous in the nursery rhyme "Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross" which dates back possibly to 1725. I always find canal journeys through towns and cities fascinating, the mix of old and new is always interesting and glimpses of our industrial heritage are always illuminating. A few dozen metres from this lock is the old boating workshop "Tooleys Boatyard" which has a very significant history in the maintenance and development of the canal. More details here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooley%27s_Boatyard
Navigating through towns also provides opportunities for "gongoozlers" - ordinary townsfolk who often gather at the locks or other key points to watch the goings-on.
@haskar That's a good question. The length of the boat is limited by the length of the locks. For most of the canals this is 70ft (c 21m), although some are shorter at around 56-60ft. There are "winding holes" provided along the canal to allow boats to turn - these are like passing places on narrow roads. Also the boats can turn at junctions and marinas.
