Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre, Cheshire

The Anderton Boat Lift will be out of commission for the 2025 season

Whilst our iconic lift is currently undergoing essential repairs, you can still admire this world-famous boat lift from on board the Edwin Clark Trip Boat where you can cruise along the Weaver Navigation with live commentary from our fabulous boat crew.

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.

Things to see and do

Book tickets online

We've recently introduced online booking - check out our boat trips and tours

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.

Make it possible, donate now

Planning your visit

Opening times
- Open every day (except Thursdays) : 9:30am - 4:30pm throughout spring and summer
- Boat trips are scheduled throughout the spring and summer seasons (as shown on the website) During the winter season (from 31 October 2025) the coffee shop, visitor centre, exhibition and grounds are open on weekends only
Prices
Our visitor centre and grounds are free to enter. There is a small cost for parking (£2 for 3 hours- £3 for the day) See our boat trips page for trip prices.
Facilities
Toilets (including baby changing facilities and disabled toilets) are inside the visitor centre. We also have toilets in the grounds and on the trip boat.
Address
Anderton Boat Lift, Lift Lane, Anderton, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 6FW
Contact info
Phone: 01606 786777 or email: [email protected]
Dogs
Friendly dogs welcome to Anderton, and on boat trips (at boat master's discretion) but please keep them on leads and off the furniture!

Richard Parry and Fran Littlewood at the Anderton appeal launch

Engineering the Future

Find out more about Anderton's vital refurbishing project

Accessibility for all

Everyone deserves to get the best possibly experience at Anderton. Here's how we're making it more accessible

Calendar 2025

Download our calendar for 2025

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.

Anderton boat lift

Discover our visitor centre

Find out how this amazing lift works and why it was so important

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.

Volunteer at Anderton