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!

04/06/2026

What could be more satisfying than watching this 1924 Bolinder engine? 💙

The team in the Power Hall have been working hard to get this Single Cylinder 7hp Bolinder up and running recently and I think you’ll agree it looks and sounds splendid! 💥

Thanks to our volunteer Chris for sending in the video 🎥

It’s National Volunteers’ Week! So we had a huge celebration to say thank you to the many hours of work our volunteers p...
04/06/2026

It’s National Volunteers’ Week! So we had a huge celebration to say thank you to the many hours of work our volunteers put in to make the museum a wonderful place to visit

Whether it’s giving guided tours, maintenance around the site or meeting and greeting people in our cafe and gift shop - we couldn’t do it without them!

Have you ever thought about joining our wonderful team of volunteers? We’re always looking for people to take on opportunities such as;

🙋‍♂️ Tour Guides
☕️ Cafe & Gift Shop
🛟 Trip Boat Crew
🪴 Grounds Maintenance
🛠️ Site Maintenance

If you are looking for a new challenge and think this could be right for you then reach out to us at [email protected] or drop in to talk to one of our friendly team 💙

04/06/2026
We’re turning the clocks back to 1976! ⏰🎟️ For one weekend only we will be offering these 1970s day ticket prices;£1.95 ...
04/06/2026

We’re turning the clocks back to 1976! ⏰

🎟️ For one weekend only we will be offering these 1970s day ticket prices;
£1.95 adults
£1.50 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?

📸 Brand new exhibition with rare photos and objects
👩‍🌾 Living history across the site, including our Porters Row cottages
🛟 Lock demonstrations with a historic narrowboat
🎨 Meet and greet with Phil Speight, master canal artist
🙋‍♂️ Tours, trails and retro 1970s activities
🧶 Traditional crafts and skills such as needlework, roping and lacing

04/06/2026

The Canal & River Trust’s National Waterways Museum, in Ellesmere Port, will celebrate its 50th anniversary weekend on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June by ...

Meet master canal artist Phil Speight in the Island Warehouse exhibition gallery at 11.30am and 2pm on Saturday 13 and S...
03/06/2026

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 🎨

Don’t miss our 50th Anniversary celebrations on 13-14 June - we will be offering a very special discount with day ticket...
03/06/2026

Don’t miss our 50th Anniversary celebrations on 13-14 June - we will be offering a very special discount with day tickets at our 1970s prices of £1.95 per adult and £1.50 for children/concessions 🎟️

THE National Waterway Museum will celebrate 50 years next month.

🥳🥳🥳
02/06/2026

🥳🥳🥳

02/06/2026

Volunteer Mike Turpin, one of the attendees of the first work parties back in 1976, talks about the role the museum has played over the last 50 years 🛟

Come and celebrate our 50th Anniversary on 13-14 June with the new Making of the Museum exhibition, which helps tell the story of the buildings, boats and people that make up our museum 💙

It’s National Volunteers’ Week! And we’re proud to celebrate because we have the most amazing team of volunteers who giv...
02/06/2026

It’s National Volunteers’ Week! And we’re proud to celebrate because we have the most amazing team of volunteers who give up their time to help make the museum an amazing place. 🥳

Whether it’s giving guided tours, maintenance around the site or meeting and greeting people in our cafe and gift shop - we couldn’t do it without them!

Have you ever thought about joining our wonderful team of volunteers? We’re always looking for people to take on opportunities such as;

🙋‍♂️ Tour Guides
☕️ Cafe & Gift Shop
🛟 Trip Boat Crew
🪴 Grounds Maintenance
🛠️ Site Maintenance

If you are looking for a new challenge and think this could be right for you then reach out to us at [email protected] or drop in to talk to one of our friendly team 💙

Address

South Pier Road
Ellesmere Port
CH654FW

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