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!

Donโ€™t miss our new exhibition opening this weekend from the 13 June ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธMaking our Museum tells the story of the people, b...
10/06/2026

Donโ€™t miss our new exhibition opening this weekend from the 13 June ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ

Making our Museum tells the story of the people, boats and buildings that make up our museum from first opening our doors as The Boat Museum in 1976 to present day ๐Ÿ›Ÿ

Come and see brand new interpretation, rare photographs and fascinating objects that relate to the history of our museum ๐Ÿ’™

10/06/2026
Just four sleeps to go! Are you excited for our 50th Anniversary celebrations at our Ellesmere Port site?Donโ€™t forget we...
09/06/2026

Just four sleeps to go! Are you excited for our 50th Anniversary celebrations at our Ellesmere Port site?

Donโ€™t forget we are offering special day ticket prices of Adults at ยฃ1.95 and Child/Concession at ยฃ1.50 ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ

Join us for two days of living history, lock demonstrations, retro activities, traditional craft skills, a meet and greet with canal artist Phil Speight and much more!

This summer, watch as our Ellesmere Port site comes alive with living history characters and live demonstrations! ๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธOur ...
08/06/2026

This summer, watch as our Ellesmere Port site comes alive with living history characters and live demonstrations! ๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธ

Our Canal Town Living History events start with our 50th Anniversary Celebrations on 13-14 June ๐Ÿฅณ

Then look out for our Summer Sundays throughout July and August for even more costumed interpretation, lock demonstrations and special themed events ๐Ÿ›Ÿ

08/06/2026

Great news! I'm pleased to inform you that Gifford at Spring Time has won photo of the month of May in the People's Choice category of the National Historic Ships UK photographic competition. This means that I'll go forward to the final, competing with the winners from June, July and August. I'd like to thank you all for your generous support and for ensuring I got the most votes. Many thanks indeed! ๐Ÿ˜



Canal & River Trust
National Waterways Museum
Historic Narrow Boat Club
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Meet master canal artist Phil Speight in the Island Warehouse exhibition gallery at 11.30am and 2pm on Saturday 13 and S...
08/06/2026

Meet master canal artist Phil Speight in the Island Warehouse exhibition gallery at 11.30am and 2pm on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations

Phil will be chatting with visitors and answering questions about traditional canal art and techniques ๐ŸŽจ

Last year we were excited to welcome TV and radio personality Craig Hughes to film a number of videos about our fascinat...
08/06/2026

Last year we were excited to welcome TV and radio personality Craig Hughes to film a number of videos about our fascinating museum collection and some the many projects. Craig will be known to audiences of Salvage Hunters as a master of upholstery restoration ๐ŸŽฅ

In this video he talks to our former Manager of the National Collection, Steve, in discussion over conservation versus restoration. Steve also highlights two amazing objects from the collection The Starvationer and the Anderton Boat Lift Model ๐Ÿ›Ÿ

If you enjoyed the video please leave a comment and consider subscribing to the Canal & River Trust You Tube channel for more content ๐Ÿ’™

Huge thanks to Welton Media Ltd for all their support creating this series ๐ŸŽฌ

Join Craig Highes as he learns more about the importance of preserv...

Weโ€™re turning the clocks back to 1976! โฐ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ For one weekend only we will be offering these 1970s day ticket prices;ยฃ1.95 ...
07/06/2026

Weโ€™re turning the clocks back to 1976! โฐ

๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ For one weekend only we will be offering these 1970s day ticket prices;
ยฃ1.95 adults
ยฃ1.50 children / concessions

Come join us for our special 50th anniversary celebrations on 13-14 June at our Ellesmere Port site

What can you expect to see?

๐Ÿ“ธ Brand new exhibition with rare photos and objects
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŒพ Living history across the site, including our Porters Row cottages
๐Ÿ›Ÿ Lock demonstrations with a historic narrowboat
๐ŸŽจ Meet and greet with Phil Speight, master canal artist
๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™‚๏ธ Tours, trails and retro 1970s activities
๐Ÿงถ Traditional crafts and skills such as needlework, roping and lacing

06/06/2026
We love this stunning photo from Kev Maslin of Gifford at the Easter Historic Boat Gathering which has been selected as ...
04/06/2026

We love this stunning photo from Kev Maslin of Gifford at the Easter Historic Boat Gathering which has been selected as a finalist in a very prestigious photography competition with National Historic Ships UK ๐Ÿ“ธ ๐Ÿ’™

Details about the competition and how to vote can be found below ๐Ÿ‘‡

Address

South Pier Road
Ellesmere Port
CH654FW

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