Recent large-scale experiments in the UK Flood Channel Facility concerning equilibrium sand channels are described. The experiments involved free-formed channels and straight sediment channels with fixed banks, using a uniform sand With a d(50) of around 0.8 mm. Inbank, bankfull and overbank flows were investigated, and an overview of the experimental procedures, results and implications for practitioners is given. Some of the operational difficulties, successes and lessons learnt from these novel experiments are also reviewed. Some practical lessons are drawn concerning the application of rational regime theories to alluvial channels, channel morphology and sediment transport rates.