Canal Experience

Experience the latest technology of the 19th century! Travel in style on a new-fangled narrowboat through the longest canal tunnel in London. Hear about the ice trade. See the exhibits at the London Canal Museum

London’s canals have a fascinating story and as you tour the museum you can see inside a narrowboat cabin, learn about the history of London’s canals, about the cargoes carried, the people who lived and worked on the waterways and the horses that pulled their boats.

The building that now houses the London Canal Museum was originally constructed in the 19th century as an ice warehouse. You can peer down into the unique heritage of the huge Victorian ice well that stored ice imported from Norway.

On this visit you will:

• Have an introduction to the museum by one of its most experienced guides
• Be taken on Long Tom, the museum’s narrowboat, for a ride through the Islington tunnel (the longest canal tunnel in London). The boat guide will describe how the tunnel was constructed and point out some interesting features. Tea or coffee and a scone will be served. This trip lasts about 50 minutes
• Hear a talk on the history of the ice trade
• Take a self-guided tour of the museum

Event Timing

The museum is open from 10:00 to 16:30 and your ticket will give you entry between 10:00 and 16:00.

There are two sessions for the organised activities described above:
The morning session runs from 10:30 to 13:00.
The afternoon session runs from 13:30 to 16:00.

Each session will be divided into two groups. One group will take the canal trip while the other group will explore the museum and hear about the ice trade. Then the groups will swap over and have either the museum visit or the canal trip.

Event Timing

Timing	Long Tom Trip	Museum Exhibits
10:30	Morning session arrives
10:45	Introduction by museum guide
11:00 – 12:00	Group M1	Group M2
12:00 – 13:00	Group M2	Group M1
13:00	End of the morning’s organised activities
13:30	Afternoon session arrives
13:45	Introduction by museum guide
14:00 – 15:00	Group A1	Group A2
15:00 – 16:00	Group A2	Group A1
16:00	End of organised activities. The museum remains open until 16:30

Information Sheet

The Info Sheet provides: directions to the museum from King’s Cross station; a selection of local restaurants; and a summary of other local attractions that you may wish to visit.

Additional Booking Information Required

Please answer the Additional Booking Information question on your application form as follows:

• If you have a strong preference for a particular session then enter either morning or afternoon.
• If you have no strong preference then enter no preference.

Concessionary Ticket Limitation

The tickets offered for this event are restricted to those aged 65 and over.

Mobility Considerations

The museum is accessible to wheelchair users, although one of the exhibits (a section of the narrowboat Coronis) is not. Long Tom is also inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Event Booking

Please note that all bookings are subject to our Event Booking Rules.
The standard, printable event booking sheet is downloadable here.
Note: For this event there is a downloadable information sheet. 

Online Booking

Online booking help is here.  Please provide the following information: Please select a valid form.