Hatton flight of twenty-one locks is situated near Warwick on the Grand Union Canal. The locks were widened in the 1930s to take bigger boats and fight off the competition from roads and railways. When the new locks were completed, bands played and crowds gathered to watch the Duke of Kent cut the ribbon. Today Hatton Locks is a great location to learn about STEM and habitats. 

Workshops

KS1 & KS2 Hatton Locks Trail

Children take a guided walk along this stunning flight of locks, known as the Stairway to Heaven. It’s the perfect place to see how the canal has changed the landscape and engineers have solved the problem of moving boats up and down hills. Investigate how locks work, why bridges were built and why boats float.

KS1 & KS2 Build a Canal

This session helps children to understand how and why canals were built, how they changed Britain and how they are different to rivers. It provides an interactive way of discussing local industry and how the arrival of the canals shaped the landscape.

KS1 & KS2 Building Bridges

Have a go at building model canal bridges and find out why arches are such a good shape.

KS1 & KS2 Floating & Sinking

This workshop will help children develop a clearer understanding of the factors affecting whether something sinks or floats. Children take the challenge of loading cargo into the model boat, trying not to sink it!

KS1 & KS2 Canal People

Learning how families worked and lived on the canals is an important part of canal history. Children worked on the boats to support their family, often leading the horse or working the locks. Imagine life without school! Take part in our dressing up and guess the artefacts to see how they relate to family life aboard.

KS1 & KS2 Waterway Habitats

Many waterside creatures have made Hatton Locks their home, so spotting and identifying wildlife is a must here! Take the habitat challenge and find the answers to clues about what lives where and who eats who.

KS1 & KS2 Stay SAFE Near Water

All our visits include learning about water safety and how to respect the canal environment.

Heritage Boat Visits

On special occasions our Heritage Boats visit Hatton Locks to offer a unique opportunity for children to step on board and see inside the cabin where boating families lived. These are available on specific dates. Please enquire when booking.

Self-guided Trail

Our downloadable trail introduces children to the history and wildlife of Hatton Locks.

Learning Resources

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

Hatton Locks fact file

All About Canals

Life on the English Waterways topic pack

Canal & River Habitats Learning Bundle

Discover Wildlife Poster

Canal Art

Building & Carrying Topic Pack

Facilities

Practicalities include limited toilets at the café or in our office, pay & display parking for coaches, indoor workshop space for pre-booked visits and a canal-side café.

To ensure your visit runs smoothly and safely by water, we offer visits for one class per booking (roughly 30 children). Visits are 2 hours. If you need to bring two classes, then you could book a morning and afternoon slot e.g. 10am – 12noon and 1pm – 3pm.

Price

Workshops at Hatton Locks are FREE. Parking charges apply.