Groups and school visits

We look forward to seeing you at the Anderton Boat Lift and Visitors Centre in Northwich, Cheshire. We hope that this video, although it can't cover the whole site, can provide you with some more information in preparation for your visit.

There is narration to this film that you can silence if you prefer, and key information will be provided throughout the film in bubbles. On arrival, you will find a large car park on your left-hand side. The car park is managed by Cheshire West and Chester and is pay-and-display. It costs £3 for the day and takes cash and card payments. You will find the pay machine in the corner of the car park. To enter the visitor centre, you need to walk down the small hill towards the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Once at the canal, turn left and walk alongside the canal via the towpath for a small distance and you will find the main entrance to the visitor centre on your left-hand side. There is a wide bridge to walk over to the visitor centre. On entry, you will find our visitor toilets on your left-hand side in the foyer. Ahead of you, you will find our friendly team on the welcome desk. Anderton Boat Lift has free entry, but if you would like to book a boat trip or a tour of the lift, you can book this at the desk or online before your visit.

Our friendly team will be able to tell you what time your trip is and where you need to be. Apart from our tours and trips, you are welcome to wander around at your own pace. On your right-hand side, you will walk into our coffee shop. Here, there is a wonderful menu for breakfast and lunches to eat in or take away. On the left are some stairs and a lift. This will take you to the ground floor to explore the site further. Using the stairs or the lift, you travel to the ground floor of the visitor centre.

On the ground floor, there are some vintage arcade machines on your right-hand side. You can get coins to work these from the welcome desk. Some do make noises and play music, and some have mechanical puppet shows. As you walk forward, you will walk through the exhibition space where there is a video playing on your right-hand side on a loop with seating available that provides an overview of this amazing scheduled monument. You can easily walk past this if required and enter the grounds by the double doors in the corner. We also have a children's book corner with colouring and dressing up. On entering the grounds, you will find several pathways guiding you down the slope of the landscaped grounds.

You will pass a viewing platform and if in season smell the flowers our volunteers have planted in the flower beds. In the grounds, there are visitor toilets as well as a play area. Throughout the grounds you'll be able to view the lift and watch it operating in carrying boats to and from the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal. If you would like to take a trip on the Edwin Clark boat, tickets can be bought online or from the welcome desk. The team provide a full commentary throughout the trip. The boat has a toilet and baby changing facilities. Tickets can also be bought for the walking the lift tours from the welcome desk. This is a small group tour and takes you to the very top of the boat lift.

A commentary is provided throughout the tour by the tour guide. It requires full mobility and a good head for heights. Throughout the year and particularly between April and September, we have some special events taking place on site. Visitor information about these events and special days can be found on the website and provide some details about what to expect for your visit. We hope this helps you plan your visit to the Andon Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, and we'll see you soon.