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! It finally opened 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.

Sefton

Guided Walks

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

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.

Workshops

KS1 KS2 Habitats: Waterways Mini-beasts (spring and summer only).

Find out what lies beneath the surface of our waterways. Discover the rich variety of mini-beasts that make canals and rivers their home. Activities include identifying and classifying animals and investigating food chains. This activity is available in selected locations along the canal in Sefton.

Stanley Dock Lock Flight

This system of four locks was completed in 1848, finally connecting the canal to Liverpool's dock system for the first time since its opening in 1774. The locks were designed by Jesse Hartley, who also built Stanley Dock and Albert Dock.  

Workshops

KS1 KS2 How does a lock work?

Our volunteers will demonstrate one of the locks and explain how it works. If you're lucky you might even see a boat going through the lock! 

Guided Trail - Stanley Locks 

Learn about local history on a guided walk around Stanley Dock Lock Flight.  

KS1 KS2 Habitats: Waterways Mini-beasts (spring and summer only).

Find out what lies beneath the surface of our waterways. Discover the rich variety of mini-beasts that make canals and rivers their home. Activities include identifying and classifying animals and investigating food chains – all in a safe setting.

KS1 KS2 Build a Canal

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

Learning Resources

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

All About Canals

All About the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Canal & River Habitats Learning Bundle

Facilities

Facilities for teachers include pre-visits and example risk assessments. There is on-street parking on site.

Price

All visits to Sefton and Stanley Dock Lock Flight are FREE!