Making life better by water
Specialist teams
Find out how our expert teams work together to make life better by water
Work for us
We have vacancies across all of our waterways and in the offices, museums and attractions that support them. We're one of the UK's biggest charities and we take pride in everything we do
Contact us
If you're thinking of getting in touch then please take a moment to look through these pages as we probably have the answer on our website
Summer safety by the water
As the weather is warming up we want everyone to be able to enjoy our canals and rivers in the safest possible way
Stoppages and notices
We're continually carrying out work to improve our canals and rivers. Find out if we're working along your route before you set off on a boat trip
10 reasons to take up canoeing
It's a great way to get fit and explore our waterways at the same time
Share the Space
Take a look at our common sense guide to sharing the towpath
Winter open days
Our open days offer a different perspective of our waterways, a behind-the-scenes look at the great work we do. A free day out for all the family.
Find a place to fish
From reservoirs to club-managed canals and river stretches - find your nearest place to fish
Get your free guide
Download your free guide today and start exploring the waterway nature near you
Download your free guides
You've nine free days out guides to choose from - where will you go first?
Find a walk near you
Are you ready to ramble? Find a waterside stroll or a satisfying hike along our beautiful canals and rivers
Wellbeing with Well-B
Discover how you can recharge when spending time by water
Art Events
Take a look at our upcoming events here.
Something for everyone
Help us make a difference and have fun along the way. Find your perfect volunteer role today
Join our team
Could you join your local Towpath Taskforce team and help us to keep our canals looking lovely?
Volunteering in partnership
Want to make a real difference to your community? You could join over 400 groups who volunteer with us every year
Donate today
100% of your donation will be used to make life better by water
Canals are better with Friends
Becoming a Friend by making a monthly donation is one of the most effective ways to support our work
Leave a gift in your Will
Will you leave a gift in your Will to keep the canals and rivers you care about alive?
Give in memory
Celebrate the life of a loved one by giving a gift in their memory
Give in celebration
Got a favourite place in mind? Dedicate it in celebration of a loved one today
Corporate giving
Make a difference to the wellbeing of your community
We care for our supporters
We are caring and open and aim to put our supporters at the heart of everything we do
Use My Location
4 July 2022
Walking your worries away by water is good for anyone, of any age. But this month we’re launching a new campaign encouraging young people in particular, to find their happy place by their local canal. Sadly, government statistics suggest young people still have a low sense of mental wellbeing after the pandemic. And while many young people have yet to discover the tranquility of their local canal, 23-year-old David McEntee has explored everything the Grand Union Canal has to offer.
Posted by: Waterfront
Every Sunday throughout the summer, Canal Town is coming to the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port and we’d love to welcome all our Friends to come along for a fantastic, free day out. Through canal boats and costumes, music and machinery, and with plenty of fun, games and treats for the children, (and your dog), Canal Town takes you back in time to when trade and shipping boomed, where canals and the mighty Mersey meet. Waterfront paid a visit to find out more.
To mark our 10-year anniversary, our very own finance director, Steve Dainty, kindly agreed to share some of his reflections on our changing canals. Born and raised in Tipton in the Black Country, the way he enjoys life by water today is very different from his early memories of canals.
30 May 2022
Because we believe life is better by water, we do everything we can to ensure our canals and rivers are open and accessible to everyone. That’s why we welcome people living with disabilities to our waterways and towpaths and make sure our activities and opportunities are open to all.
As the warm summer months beckon, we encourage everyone to enjoy our canals and rivers safely. They are wonderful places to spend time and we want everyone to come back time and time again. That’s why this summer sees the launch of a new #RespectTheWater campaign, run by the National Water Safety Forum, of which we are a member. Waterfront spoke to water safety campaigns manager, Claire Gauci to find out how we can all play our part in stopping deaths from drowning.
22 April 2022
A big part of maintaining more than 2,000 miles of towpaths across our network is cutting the grass along the banks of our canals and rivers. However, we’re now starting to mow less as we try to help nature bloom and improve the biodiversity of wildlife found by our canals. It’s a delicate balance, as on the one hand, we want to improve and revive valuable natural habitats; but on the other, we still need to keep towpaths safe and accessible to everyone.
1 April 2022
In June 2021 Darren decided to take on the first-ever solo canoe navigation of the Avon Ring to raise funds for the Canal & River Trust. He set a record of four days and ten hours, travelling 109 miles and negotiating 129 locks. This is his story.
Every winter our charity spends millions of pounds repairing, restoring and maintaining waterways, so our canals, locks, bridges and tunnels stay open and working each summer. Around £7m a year is spent on one of the most crucial tasks; dredging the bottom and edges of canals to clear them of silt. But why do we need to do it and how does it all work? To find out, Waterfront filmed our dredging teams at work on the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, near Stockport.
You're reading Waterfront, the online home of our supporter magazine.
