10 things you didn't know about Britain's canals

There are more boats on Britain’s canals now than at the height of the industrial revolution, and – yes, it’s true – Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice
Britain’s canals were built to make money. It is a happy accident that these relics of our industrial past now make beautiful places to float, fish, ride or walk. But not just an accident. Without the work of the Canal & River Trust, which runs around two-thirds of the network and depends on thousand