Building Britain's Canals

The Grand Union Canal from Birmingham to London began its history more than 200 years ago, and challenged the greatest industrial engineering minds of the time. Now it has found new life as a leisure destination for thousands of holidaymakers.

Experimental for the time, this canal rises 500ft above sea level, scales the steep Pennines and turned Liverpool into the busiest port in the world.

Dan examines the creation of arguably the prettiest of the country's waterways, the Kennet and Avon Canal. It came into being thanks to the genius of a young engineer named John Rennie, whose inspiration and innovations created a canal that linked Bristol and London.