Skip to main content
Canal & River Trust Explorers Logo Canal & River Trust Explorers Logo
Canal & River Trust Explorers Logo Canal & River Trust Explorers Logo
Explorers animals
Gloucester Waterways Museum

National Waterways Museum, Gloucester

National Waterways Museum Gloucester, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EH.

The National Waterways Museum and docks gives schools a unique first-hand experience of Victorian docks. It provides an excellent location to study the local area, wildlife and learn more about the history of the waterways.

The National Waterways Museum Gloucester is part of Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester, built in 1873. The warehouse would have been used for timber, grain and alcohol. The building was converted to the museum in 1987 and now tells the story of Gloucester Docks and the historic trade routes from Birmingham to the sea.

A school visit typically lasts between 10am and 2pm and features a choice of workshops and self led activities.

Educational visits to National Waterways Museum, Gloucester

  • Workshops

    KS1 Local History: Build a Canal

    This workshop looks at how and why the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal was built over 200 years ago and the main cargoes that were carried by boat. Helping children to understand why new engineered transport links were demanded by the Industrial Revolution.

    KS1 STEM: Floating and Sinking

    Children discover properties in objects that help them to float and what causes something to sink. Plus, whose boat can hold the most cargo?

    KS2: Unravelling Rivers

    A focus on local history and geography. Using maps to create the journey of the River Severn with rope and learn its features, towns and importance of trade.

    KS2 STEM: Canal Maintenance and Water Quality Testing

    A canal demonstration showing what causes banks to erode and investigate protection and maintenance methods.

    Children investigate water quality using pH testing and why it is important for our environment.

    KS2 STEM: Build a Crane

    Understand how mechanical advantage helped dock workers move heavy cargo. Combining maths and physics in a hands-on, interactive activity for small teams.

  • Learning Resources

    All About Canals

  • Facilities

    Facilities

    Free facilities for teachers include pre-visits, entry for teachers (and carers), lesson planning and outreach visits to schools when you can't make it to us.

    Practicalities include: indoor or outdoor picnic area, toilets including disabled access, shop, café, bag/coat storage, coach parking, goodie bags available to book in advance.

  • Price

    Price

    Child museum admission: £4.50 - supporting adults go free.

    All volunteer led activities and workshops are included in the price of admission.

LOTC Quality Badge Logo