2. Places to visit

Stoke Bruerne

Planning your visit

History & Heritage

Things to do or see

Getting here

Local events

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visitor guides

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Planning your visit

Address: The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne Bridge Road, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, NN12 7SE View on Google map

Phone: 01604 862229

Email: stokebruerne@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Opening Times: The canal museum, gift shop & café is currently closed. The canal side towpath is open - wrap up warm - come along and enjoy being by the water.

Price: The Canal Museum will be reopening in spring with free admission.

Toilets: Toilets available during opening hours.

Explorers at Stoke Bruerne

Get involved with our museums and attractions

The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne is currently closed

Following the Government’s announcement on 4 January 2021 of a national lockdown in England all boating should be limited to essential use only. Our towpaths remain open for local use but please follow Government guidance, staying local, observing social distancing at all times and avoiding sections with moored boats where possible. You can find out more in our coronavirus and boating FAQs.

The Canal Museum is currently closed for refurbishment. We're looking forward to welcoming you back in the spring of 2021.

Although our museum, café & gift shop are closed for now, it's a beautiful place for exploring the outdoors, with historic locks and a woodland walk.

Please note car parking charges will apply but admission to the site is free.

Free canal activity guides

Download your free 'Family activities' and 'All about ducks' guides here

Things to do and see at Stoke Bruerne

  • Canal Museum (currently closed for refurbishment). Come back and see us in spring and you'll find the story of Britain's canals and the people who lived and worked on them.  Discover the engineering feats, the challenges and how canals fuelled the industrial revolution.
  • Sculptor - spot our historic boat moored up outside the museum.
  • Blisworth Tunnel - stroll up the towpath to see the resident blacksmith.
  • Woodland walk - you'll find the entrance along the towpath, towards the Blisworth Tunnel.
  • Stoke Bruerne Brick Pits Nature Reserve - walk south along the towpath and you'll find a grassland reserve.
  • Boat trips - run by the Stoke Bruerne Boat Co. and The Boat Inn.
  • Dog walking
  • Cycling
  • Pond dipping
  • Fishing - fish beyond the locks, as there's lots of boating traffic between Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth Tunnel. 

Places to eat:

Picnic spots:

As well as tables outside the museum, you'll find several down the towpath by the pounds (ponds).

Boat trips:

Walks and trails:

Wildlife spotting:

Look out for swans, herons, ducks, coots and more, but remember not to feed the ducks bread! Download our duck activity guide to find out more.  Spot butterflies on our woodland walk or warblers at the nearby Stoke Bruerne Brick Pits Nature Reserve. And did we mention pond dipping?

Find out how with our nature spotter's guide.

Getting here

By car - follow the brown signs from the A508. We've a small pay and display car park:

  • fee £2.50 for up to 4 hours
  • special parking charges may apply on event days
  • disabled parking - there is a disabled bay between the canal bridge and bus stop on Bridge Road

By rail - Northampton and Milton Keynes are the nearest train stations

By bus - there are new bus routes that will bring you to Stoke Bruerne from Northampton and Milton Keynes

By bike - we’re a very bicycle-friendly here (just remember to share the space of course). You'll find dedicated bicycle parking, free water refills in our café and puncture repair kits in our shop (we hope you won't need to buy one though!)  

By boat - see 'Boating through Stoke Bruerne' for mooring maps, services and other useful details

Children playing in puddles

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Local news & events

There's events for everyone at the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne. From our very popular Village at War event - the highlight of our year - to floating markets, workshops and themed weekends, and lots more...