About National Waterways Museum
Explore Britain's canal heritage through interactive exhibits and historic boats at this accessible waterside museum featuring an onsite restaurant, parking and picnic-friendly grounds.
What's nearby
- MD Motorcare 200m away
- Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port - Cheshire Oaks by IHG 200m away
- J.R. Webster & Co Ltd 200m away
- B&M Home Store with Garden Centre 350m away
- Cemex Ellesmere Port Concrete Plant 400m away
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Parking
- ✓Free car park
- ✓Free street
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible toilet
- ✓Accessible seating
Payment
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the attraction before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What visitors say
A well presented and enjoyable visit. Lots of interesting things to look at, listen to and enjoy. The Porters’ cottages are one of my favourite features. A rank of cottages each presented in a different era of the canals lifetime. There are numerous exhibits ranging from big floating boats, narrow boats artefacts and niknaks to do with all things ‘Canal’ Things to see include boats, buildings, books and blacksmiths’ workshop. A power room has various water related engines, some big, some small. Lots of friendly helpful staff / volunteers. The museum has a cafe with sitting both inside and out. And a gift shop plus a second handbook shop. The cafe is open to those not wishing to pay to enter the museum itself
· via Google
Absolutely loved it here! Great day out for families AND dog friendly (must be kept on a lead). There is a cafe, reasonably priced & food & coffee were good. Service was a little slow, but it was quite busy. It has a 5* food hygiene rating. There are plenty of picnic benches if you wish to take a picnic. The museum itself is very interesting, has lots of exhibits you can interact with. Plenty of toilets, which were clean, tidy and well equipped. Staff were pleasant, polite and helpful. Large free car park, with disabled spaces. The museum and cafe are wheelchair friendly. Gift shop with good choice of merchandise, but a little expensive. There are boat rides available, but they were sold out when we arrived (they had a special offer on for free admission with a lottery ticket). Highly recommended day out if you're into history or boats!
· via Google
Fascinating place to visit. Shows lots of displays and objects relating to canal boats and canals. There are several interactive displays around the site. Lots to do for all ages and.the whole site is disabled friendly
· via Google
A weekend visit, and quite a success. The museum is truly well-organized, with numerous artifacts and information not only about the history of inland navigation but also about the entire Wirral region. It's an ideal place to learn about the region's history. In summer, the canal itself is certainly bustling with life, and you can watch the barges passing by. I definitely recommend visiting the museum on a sunny day. Outside, there's a large playground and benches, indicating that after the education, it's time for fun and relaxation.
· via Google
People say this museum offers a fascinating and informative look into canal history, featuring numerous boats, interactive displays, and historical buildings. They also highlight the reasonably priced cafe with good food and drinks, along with the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Visitors appreciate the ample free parking and the museum's accessibility for all, including dog-friendly areas.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- South Pier Road, Cheshire, Ellesmere Port, CH65 4FW Get directions
- Category
- Museums & Galleries
- Guest rating
- 4.6 / 5 (2,055 reviews)
- Suitable for
- Ages 0-12
- Setting
- Indoor & outdoor
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Ellesmere Port