The Grand Union Canal is the UK’s longest canal. From London, this canal travels through Northamptonshire and Warwickshire into the suburbs of Birmingham. Heavily locked with 17 single locks along its short length, the Northampton arm of the Grand Union Canal was opened in 1815 linking the canal at Gayton Junction through the River Nene in the centre of Northampton to Peterborough and the Wash. It ends at Cotton End Wharf at Lock 17, on the southern edge of Northampton.