National Waterways Museum

National Waterways Museum A 200-year-old historic dock, we tell the story of the canals and the people who lived on them. Canals are havens for wildlife.
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With its stunning location on the banks of the Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, extensive in-door displays, boat trips and historic buildings, the museum makes a great family day out in Cheshire, where time slows down and history comes to life. There's so much to explore from the handsome Victorian buildings, which house the museum's Quality Assured Visitor Attraction Logodisplays, to the loc

ks and moorings vibrant with historic and visiting narrow boats. Designed by Thomas Telford under the direction of William Jessop, the docks at Ellesmere Port were still in use as late as the 1950s. They were a marvellously self-contained world and when you visit the museum today you can still walk round its locks, docks and warehouses and visit its forge, stables and workers cottages. Look and listen out for the many birds that live here or travel through - pied wagtails, swans, coots, ducks, cormorants, moor hens - you may even catch sight of a kingfisher or even hear a sky lark! Our page will keep you updated with the latest news and events. Don't forget to share your pictures with us!

๐Ÿ“ขOur seasonal opening hours are now Tuesday - Sunday (10am - 4pm), with a FREE Heritage Open Day on Saturday 12 Septembe...
03/09/2026

๐Ÿ“ขOur seasonal opening hours are now Tuesday - Sunday (10am - 4pm), with a FREE Heritage Open Day on Saturday 12 September
๐ŸŽƒOpen 7 days for our Halloween half term activities: 26 October โ€“ 1 November
๐ŸŽ…Festive Boat Trips & Santa's Grotto will return on 5/6, 12/13, 19/20 & 21, 22, 23 & 24 December (bookings open soon - watch this space ๐Ÿ‘€)

Ever wondered what it would be like to volunteer with us? Come and speak to some of our lovely team and find out more at...
27/08/2026

Ever wondered what it would be like to volunteer with us? Come and speak to some of our lovely team and find out more at our Volunteer Recruitment Day on Saturday 12 September (10am - 4pm). All kinds of fun and varied roles are available (with training provided):
๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธTour guides
๐Ÿ‘‹๐ŸฝEvent day support
๐Ÿ›ŸTrip boat crew
๐ŸชดGrounds maintenance

Plus FREE entry to explore the museum on this day. Whether youโ€™re retired, returning to work, or just have time to give, thereโ€™s a role for you. All roles are flexible and shaped around your interests. No previous experience is needed. To help you settle in, we offer a โ€˜drop-inโ€™ role for your first six weeks giving you the chance to try out different opportunities and explore the museum at your own pace.
Cheshire West Voluntary Action Ellesmere Port Social

Why not round off your summer holiday just chilling by the water... enjoying views of our beautiful boats, historic lock...
26/08/2026

Why not round off your summer holiday just chilling by the water... enjoying views of our beautiful boats, historic locks and docks.
๐ŸฆBank Holiday Canal Town: Sunday (30 August, 10am - 4pm).
๐Ÿšข Boat trips on the Diana Margaret (book on arrival).
๐Ÿ› ๏ธVolunteer-led lock and engine demonstrations
๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธFree guided tours & Island Warehouse Open Store tours
All activities are included with your museum day ticket or annual pass (except boat trips)*

We're delighted to share that the National Waterways Archive has recently been awarded Archive Service Accreditation. Aw...
25/08/2026

We're delighted to share that the National Waterways Archive has recently been awarded Archive Service Accreditation. Awarded by The National Archives, this accreditation is the UK quality standard for archive services. It recognizes our team's adherence to national standards in collections management, preservation and public accessibility to the fascinating collection held at Ellesmere Port.

Our archive holds an extensive, unique collection tracing 250 years of Britain's canals and inland waterways with over 50,000 items including original manuscripts, photographs, oral histories and featuring records of canal pioneers Thomas Telford, William Jessop and James Brindley.

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this accomplishment which highlights the dedication of our archivists, volunteers and partners in safeguarding this vital transport and social heritage for future generations.

๐Ÿ“–For more information https://ow.ly/gIWy50ZF8bj
๐Ÿ“ธ1964 Mrs M A Smith and daughter Violet on Gifford on the Birmingham Canal Navigations, courtesy of National Waterways Archive, Canal & River Trust.

25/08/2026

Weโ€™re looking forward to being part of the Ellesmere Port community day in the revamped Flea Market this Sunday (30 August) โ€ฆand very chuffed to see Gifford featured in the new murals celebrating our waterways heritage. Exciting times. Ellesmere Port Market Cheshire West and Chester Council

๐‚๐š๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐“๐จ๐ฐ๐ง: ๐’๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ž๐ซ ๐’๐ฎ๐ง๐๐š๐ฒ ๐š๐ญ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐–๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐Œ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฎ๐ฆ โš“Step back in time this Sunday, 23rd August, at Canal Town Summer...
21/08/2026

๐‚๐š๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐“๐จ๐ฐ๐ง: ๐’๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ž๐ซ ๐’๐ฎ๐ง๐๐š๐ฒ ๐š๐ญ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐–๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐Œ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฎ๐ฆ โš“

Step back in time this Sunday, 23rd August, at Canal Town Summer Sundays at Ellesmere Port's National Waterways Museum!

โ›…๏ธ Experience life as it was in a bustling canal town with costumed guides, fascinating lock and engine demonstrations, themed activities and live entertainment. From horse boating and traditional music to family-friendly experiences across the historic docks, there's something for everyone.

โ›…๏ธ Explore the fascinating museum, wander the seven-acre waterside site and enjoy a memorable day out where Cheshire's rich waterways heritage comes to life. It's the perfect summer outing for families, history lovers and anyone looking to try something a little different.

๐Ÿชข 23 August: Hands-on Heritage Canal Town - See canal crafts and heritage skills in action, with demonstrations and drop...
19/08/2026

๐Ÿชข 23 August: Hands-on Heritage Canal Town - See canal crafts and heritage skills in action, with demonstrations and drop-in activities throughout the day. Have a go at some of the traditional skills that shaped the lives of the original canal workers - from rope making and rag rugging to lock operation. Included in your day ticket or annual pass:
๐ŸงตDrop in craft and skills activities
โš™๏ธ Volunteer-led lock and Power Hall engine demonstrations
โžก๏ธ FREE guided tours ๐Ÿ›ถ Island Warehouse Open Store tours
๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ Young Explorer's Folding Detective trail, brass rubbings and paper crafts

PLUS! (additional charge):
๐Ÿ›ฅ๏ธ Boat trips on the Diana Margaret (please book on arrival)
๐Ÿคฒ Have your hands cast in wax with 'Wax Hands'
๐ŸŽฏVintage Amusement Arcade using real old pennies
๐Ÿ“… Sunday 23 August | 10amโ€“4pm
๐Ÿ“ National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port

A massive thank you to everyone who helped make our Horse Boating Canal Town so much fun yesterday. Special thanks to ou...
17/08/2026

A massive thank you to everyone who helped make our Horse Boating Canal Town so much fun yesterday. Special thanks to our stars of the show - Flower (with David and family). To Kevin and Rosie for bringing their lovely Leonberger dogs and carts and our fantastic performers Wombat & Muttley and The 64 Nโ€™Ukes who had everyone singing along. Also big thanks to all our wonderful volunteers for boat trips on the Diana Margaret, lock demos, tours and Power Hall engine demos. What a team. What a day!
We're already looking forward to next week's 'Hands On Heritage' Canal Town (23 August) when we'll be showcasing traditional canal skills and crafts from roping to rag-rugging.
Norbury Wharf Ltd Saturn Flyboat

๐Ÿด join us tomorrow (16 August) for Horse Boating demos, Leonberger dogs, live music and boat trips! ๐ŸŽถ
15/08/2026

๐Ÿด join us tomorrow (16 August) for Horse Boating demos, Leonberger dogs, live music and boat trips! ๐ŸŽถ

What an exciting morning weโ€™ve had welcoming back our trip boat, the Diana Margaret, after major refurbishments, made po...
13/08/2026

What an exciting morning weโ€™ve had welcoming back our trip boat, the Diana Margaret, after major refurbishments, made possible thanks to a generous legacy donation from our much-loved volunteer, Di Skilbeck. ๐Ÿฉต

A huge thank you to Bob Hegenbarth Boat Painter for the incredible attention to detail, including the beautiful forget-me-nots incorporated into the paintwork and to Northwich Drydock Company for all their fantastic work. Weโ€™re all delighted to see such a beautiful end result and are sure Di would have been too.

โ›ด๏ธ Boat trips start again tomorrow โ€“ Friday 14 August
๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธ11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ ยฃ5 per trip โ€“ book and pay on the day at reception

Address

South Pier Road
Ellesmere Port
CH654FW

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