Connecting the cities of Liverpool and Leeds together, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is the longest canal in Britain built as a single waterway. 

In 1768 James Brindley, the famous canal engineer, surveyed the route
of the proposed Leeds & Liverpool Canal. The canal took 46 years to complete and it cost five times more than the original budget, finally opening in 1816.

A visit to your local canal is an ideal topic for delivering the new national curriculum requirements for Geography fieldwork and a local area history study. 

Our Local Studies pack provides an introduction to studying your local area, around the classroom and nearby canals and rivers, and supports the History and Geography curriculum.

Guided Walks in Burnley

Learn about the local history and spot the surprisingly wide variety of water birds on a guided canal walk in Burnley.

Our Explorers team love researching and planning walks in new locations. There’s always a fascinating local story to tell so please contact us if you would like a guided walk near your school. If you are concerned about safety – don’t worry – our volunteers are always willing to give a water safety assembly in your school before your walk, and we always teach the children how to be safe near water before we set off.

Learning Resources

Use the following resources to support learning on your trip and back in the classroom:

All About Canals

Life on the English Waterways

Canal & River Habitats Learning Bundle

Find out more about Burnley.

Facilities

Pre-visits and example risk assessments are available for teachers.

Price

School trips to Burnley are FREE!