London Canal Museum

Regent's Canal

It’s great fun at the canal!

Museum education is a vital part of a museum's work, and we have a range of educational visits and resources at the London Canal Museum for schools, children, teachers, and parents. Explore online learning resources and information about educational visits.

What is there to do?

Most visitors take between one and two hours to visit. There is plenty to see. The exhibitions cover the following themes:

• Background to canals in England
• Life on the canals
• Canal painting and decorative pottery
• Lifting and handling
• Carlo Gatti, the Ice Trade, and Ice Cream
• Horse Power
• Water and Locks
• The Regent's Canal (including archive film)
• Canal Craft
• London Waterways Map

Want to know more?

Visit the London Canal Museum's Websitefor more information on visiting

There are many waterway educational resources and visits in the rest of London. Call the British Waterways Learning Services officer to find out more: Elaine Stanley 020 7985 7218 or email elaine.stanley@britishwaterways.co.uk

Why note check out the London Canals Places to Visit to access all the WOW resources for London’s Canals.

Waterscape

Families

Children love boats and the museum is a great place to bring them, that will be both interesting and educational. They will love exploring the narrowboat cabin, and they will love the horse!

We recommend the museum for children aged six and over. Younger children are welcome but are probably not old enough to enjoy museum visits. Children under 14 years must visit accompanied by an adult.

The Activity Zone is a small area on the ground floor for our youngest visitors. There, they can build a bridge, using the materials provided, and there is a whiteboard with magnetic letters and canal related images to be used to create artistic effects! There are childrens' books, and things to colour in. Cut-out model boats to make are available free from reception. We are open every day except Mondays (but open on bank holidays) and we are open all year.

What about schools and groups?

London Canal Museum is the only London museum of inland waterways. Your class will take a step back in time and bring the past to life when they go inside a beautifully restored narrow boat cabin and see how people lived and carried cargos on board. Peer down into our Victorian ice well and see how the horses were kept in our Victorian stables. The museum tells the story of London's canals, from the early days as important trade routes in the 19th and 20th centuries, to today's leisure uses. We not only cover the origins of canals and the economic impact of their construction but also the social history of the people who lived and worked on them and the trade they carried

The museum aims to provide rich and engaging learning opportunities for everyone. Our Education Officer is available for to help you get themost out of your visit with an interactive workshop linking to the QCA schemes of work.

Example Workshop: Building Bridges This lesson builds on what children already know about bridges. It begins by classifying the different types of bridges by structure - block, arch and framework - and then gives children the opportunity to try building their own out of a variety of different materials.

National Curriculum Links + KS2 Mathematics Ma3 Shape, Space & Measure: Understanding Properties of Shape 2b + KS2 Science Sc3 Materials and Their Properties: Grouping & Classifying Materials 1a

There are many other workshops for schools to take part in. We offer a free preliminary planning visit for teachers. You can also discuss your visit with our education officer. Please contact the museum direct to plan and book a visit.