Anderton Boat Lift
Travelers Choice 2022
Planning your visit
Address: Anderton Boat Lift, Lift Lane, Anderton, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 6FW View on Google map
Phone: 01606 786777
Email: info@andertonboatlift.co.uk
Opening Times: Our visitor centre is open for you to visit everyday from 9.30am to 4:30pm including exhibition, grounds, gift shop & coffee shop*. Boat trips are available and can be booked in advance, please call 01606 786777. We look forward to seeing you soon. Our boat trip sails 7 days a week-The exceptions are the following dates: July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6 *Coffee shop closes at 4:00pm Please note: the Visitor Centre will open at 1pm on 17th July
Price: Our visitor centre and grounds are free to enter, but there's a small cost for parking
Toilets: Inside the visitor centre
Road Closure: If travelling to us by car, please follow the directions highlighted below in the 'Getting to Us' section.
The attraction, including boat trips, will be closed on the following Thursdays: 7 July, 14 August, 1 September and 6 October 2022
Due to hosting the Queens Baton Relay on 17 July, the Visitor Centre and trip boat will remain closed to the public until 1pm
Looking for the perfect day out in Cheshire? Visit Anderton Boat Lift, a giant three-storey-high iron edifice on the banks of the River Weaver Navigation.
Winner of experience of the year 2019, The Anderton Boat Lift has earned its nickname of Cathedral of the Canals for a very good reason. Not only does it still do the job it was designed to do of lifting boats and barges the 50 feet from the River Weaver Navigation to the Trent & Mersey Canal, but it does it with the most ingenious and endearing character of any structure on the canal system.
The mighty Anderton Boat Lift is one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Waterways' and together with its visitor centre, coffee shop, play area and nearby Northwich Woodlands, it makes for a great day out.
Anderton is pleased to be welcoming the Queens Baton Relay on Sunday 17 July, as it travels on it's route around the UK.
The visitor centre and trip boat will be closed until 1pm.
Things to do and see in Cheshire
Places to eat:
- Anderton Boat Lift Takeaway Shop
- The Moorings Restaurant (Anderton Marina) Please check in advance
Boat trips:
- The Edwin Clark
- Our boat trips return on Friday 1 April for our 2022 season! They will run seven days a week until October 31 2022 (please see the boat trip page for exceptions) For more infomation and to book, please call 01606 786 777.
Picnic spot:
You'll find loads of benches around our garden - most with views of the lift. There's even a maze and our new Let's Play! area.
Trails:
- Inspector's Trail
- Heritage cycle trail
- Anderton Boat Lift canal walk
Wildlife spotting:
The Anderton Nature Park is right next to our visitor centre along the path beside the River Weaver. Well worth a walk with our nature spotter's guide to see the swans, moorhens and rare orchids.
Getting here
From 5 January 2022, there is a road closure located at Soot Hill in the village of Anderton, due to a road breach. If travelling to us by car, please arrive via the M56, J10 and follow the brown tourist signs from the A559. Please continue to follow the road closure signs at Gibb Hill, as the closure is directly AFTER the Anderton Boat Lift.
This closure is likely to remain in place until Dec 2022, so please do allow additional time when planning your journey to us.
View diversion map here
By car - the car park is managed by Cheshire West & Chester Council. Postcode CW9 6FW.
1 April to 30 September 9:00 - 20:00
1 November to 31 March 9:00 - 17:00
There's a charge, and you can pay both by cash and card:
- £2 for up to three hours
- £3 all day
- Free for coaches - please call 01606 786777 to book your coach in advance to make sure parking is available
By train - Northwich Station is the nearest at a 15-minute taxi ride away. Visit National Rail enquiries for train timetable details and prices
By bus - regular buses run to and from Northwich. Call Cheshire West & Chester Council Travel Line on 0871 200 22 33 for timetable and fare details
By bike - download the heritage cycle trail leaflet and map
Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in our grounds, coffee shop and visitor centre with you.
