London's first canal taxi service starts this weekend.

A fleet of 10 paddle-powered vessels have been licensed by British Waterways to operate on the Regent's Canal and Grand Union Canal.

But with a top speed of just 4mph the boats are perhaps more suitable for a leisurely outing than a viable alternative for commuters.

The service can take passengers anywhere from Lisson Grove to Camden Lock, Victoria Park to Hackney Wick, or Little Venice to Hayes in Middlesex.

A passenger can book the water taxis online and will get either a two-seater canoe or kayak. Prices will be about £50 an hour and the kayak-taxi offers short paddle-powered journeys and longer tours. They will run seven days a week from April to October.

Thames River Adventures director Danny Gillard said: "The canal system is a real hidden gem, there's fantastic architecture, wildlife and unusual views of the city.

"Our guides are British Canoe Union qualified instructors and if passengers want to have a go themselves, we are happy to teach them. We have plans to design our very own gondola for the inland waterways." Louise Fishleigh, leisure development manager for British Waterways London, added: "Rickshaws have proved extremely popular in the West End and there's no reason why this waterway equivalent can't be just as successful.

"There are lots of ways of enjoying London's waterways and we hope that this scheme will add a new dimension.

"The service offers an alternative method of getting from A to B, especially if you have some time to spare and prefer to see things a little differently."

British Waterways London looks after 100 miles of canals and rivers in and around the capital including Grand Union and Regent's canals, the rivers Lee and Stort, and the docks on the Isle of Dogs.

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