Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre

The Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre and coffee shop are open every day (except Thursdays), 9:30am - 4:30pm, throughout the spring and summer seasons.

Come and enjoy our beautiful grounds, immersive exhibition and children’s play area, where you can explore our unique maze created from the lift’s original counterweights.

Please note: While the site and exhibition are very much open, the lift itself remains closed to the public while we carry out essential work on the caisson gates. Please rest assured we are working hard to have it ready to reopen for the 2027 season.

Things to see and do

Enjoy spectacular views of the mighty ‘Cathedral of the Canals’ from the Edwin Clark trip boat, where your relaxing river cruise begins at the foot of the historic lift before cruising along the River Weaver towards Northwich. Once a busy commercial waterway, the Weaver Navigation is now a peaceful retreat for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Cruises are dog-friendly (at the boat crew’s discretion).

Located next to Anderton Nature Park in Cheshire, our grounds are a haven for wildlife and provide the perfect setting for a picnic, a family get-together, or simply a quiet afternoon with a book and an ice cream.

A walk on the wild side

Next to Anderton Boat Lift and visitor centre, you'll find a wildlife haven and beautiful wildflowers. Look out for bats, bug hotels, ducks, swans, moorhens, rare orchids and, if you're lucky, a white-tailed eagle. If cycling is more your thing, don't miss the Heritage Cycle Trail, which will take you from Anderton Boat Lift to Northwich and the Weaver Hall Museum.

It takes time and funding to keep Anderton and the canal alive for everyone. Your support makes it possible.

Planning your visit

Anderton's history

The Anderton Boat Lift is one of only two working boat lifts in the UK and is affectionately known as the Cathedral of the Canals.

Designed by Edwin Clark in 1875 to transfer boats and barges between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal across a height of 50 feet. It was in operation for over 100 years until it closed in 1983 due to corrosion. However, it opened to the public again in 2002 after a huge renovation project began in 2001.

Impressive engineering

You will understand the impressive engineering that has gone into this well-designed infrastructure during your visit to us. The science behind it, however, is actually relatively straightforward. Two huge water tanks, each possessing watertight sealable doors, work as counterbalances to transport the boats up and down.

Where does the water come from?

Anderton Boat Lift connects the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver Navigation. The boat lift brings water from the River Weaver up to the Trent & Mersey Canal and vice versa. The water from the Trent & Mersey Canal at Anderton come from the east. Reservoirs on the edge of the Peak District supply the canal via the Maccesfield, Peak Forest and Caldon Canals. The nearest is Bosely, 18 miles away or 34 miles by canal which holds 1,347 litres of water.

Pause for a chat with our friendly volunteers, they’ll tell you more about the canal, the area and the work they do to make Anderton Boat Lift special.