National Waterways Museum

We are supporting the national effort to keep everyone safe, and with this in mind, the museum is now temporarily closed. We will continue to monitor Government guidance, and will update the information on this page with reopening details at the earliest opportunity.

Sitting where the Shropshire Union Canal meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, volunteers, funders and Trust colleagues have transformed the old docks into a fantastic family day out.

Together with our sister museum in Gloucester Docks, and with your support, our National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port looks after one of the greatest collections of boats and objects in the world.

You can truly experience what it was like to live and work on our waterways over the last 200 years. Plus, discover how canals and rivers are still making life better by water today.  

By boat - follow the Shropshire Union Canal all the way to Ellesmere Port. We have some visitor moorings available in the docks

By road - follow brown signs for 'The Boat Museum'. And you'll find loads of free parking for cars, coaches and bikes. The coach drop off point is outside main entrance. And we have designated disabled parking spaces

By rail - Ellesmere Port station is a 15 minute walk. The local cabs should only charge £3 to drive you to the museum

By bike - the towpath alongside the Shropshire Union Canal runs right up to the museum. (And one of our favourite ways to travel, just remember to Share the space!)

By bus - Ellesmere Port bus station is 20 minutes walk. For information on bus and train travel call Traveline on 0871 200 2233

Getting about

Everyone deserves to get the best possible experience at the museum on a day out. Please refer to our access statement for more information before your visit. 

Local news and events