Canal heritage & architecture

With almost 3,000 designated examples of industrial heritage and engineering feats nationwide, we want even more people to visit their local waterways and discover our fascinating canal architecture.

Our heritage estate currently includes:

2,707 listed buildings
50 Scheduled monuments
304 conservation areas
7 historic parks and gardens
6 historic battlefields
4 World Heritage Sites, one of which is directly managed

Spot the difference

Try your luck with 4 spot the difference games, each a wonderful example of our heritage.

(If viewing on a mobile, you can zoom in)

Soaring aqueducts

We have lots of 'canals in the sky' to visit

Locks

An iconic feature on our well-loved canals

Tunnels

The construction of tunnels was one of the most difficult tasks faced by early canal engineers

Bridges

Man-made canals have only existed for a couple of hundred years, but the challenge of crossing rivers has been around for much longer

Boat lifts

Stately and imposing, our boat lifts are among our most impressive examples of historic waterway architecture

Cottages

Canal cottages once housed the workers who kept our truck routes running

Things to look out for

Mileposts
Once these helped canal companies calculate toll charges
Mileposts
Once these helped canal companies calculate toll charges
Pubs
It's no surprise that boatmen of old were fond of their canalside pubs
Pubs
It's no surprise that boatmen of old were fond of their canalside pubs

Cultural Heritage Advisory Group

Find out more about this group and how it provides specialist advice and guidance

A Statement of Principles for the Waterways Heritage

To make sure that we continue to care for our canals and rivers in the best possible way, we have enlisted the help of our Heritage Advisory Group to draw up a statement of six principles. These reflect our charitable objectives and our responsibilities to all of our heritage assets.

Base our policies and practice on a sound understanding and recognition of the history and significance of the waterways' heritage.
Apply the optimum conservation standards to maintain the integrity and authenticity of our heritage assets.
Accept a presumption in favour of conservation of these heritage assets, while recognising the wider aims, objectives and resources of the Trust.
Work with others to secure the conservation of the wider context and setting of our waterways.
Benchmark and report on our heritage conservation performance at regular intervals.
Maintain a Heritage Advisory Group to advise us on our policies and to monitor performance.

Meet James

Last Edited: 23 July 2026