Visit London Canal Museum

Visitor's Guide

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The museum is a medium sized museum on two floors and there is a wharf outside where you can view our tug Bantam IV and look at the attractive canal basin after reading about its history. We are open every day except Mondays (but open on bank holidays) and we are open all year, with just a short closure at Christmas. It is a building with a great deal of character and interest, and our exhibitions tell two linked stories, the stories of London's canals, and of the ice trade for which the building was built. We are one of the most accessible museums in London.

Come and see

Colourful narrowboat sterm, with arch bridge overhead

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

Download an MP3 Audio Tour

Download a pre-visit introduction and an audio tour to use on your own MP3 player during your visit. These add additional interest, they do not duplicate the exhibitions. There is also a guided towpath walk. You can walk to us from Camden Town, along the canal, as you listen to a historical commentary about your route.

Information

In this visitor information section you will find everything you need to know about visiting the museum from Accessibility to Wi-Fi. Use the pull-down menus above to see a range of useful practical information such as times, charges, travel and mooring your boat if you come to us by water. We could hardly be easier to get to with no fewer than five stations within walking distance, and a large number of bus routes. There are six Underground lines serving King's Cross. You can also enjoy a diffeent view of London by walking to us along the towpath of the Regent's Canal from Camden or Paddington.

Refreshments

A hot drinks vending machine is available offering coffee, tea, chocolate or soup, and visitors can sit beside the rear windows watching boats and wildlife whilst enjoying a hot drink. Drinks from the machine cost 70p. The museum sells canned cold drinks, including bottled water, in the shop, where ice creams are also available. A staffed tea/coffee service can be provided for pre-booked groups of 10 or more visitors, with notice. We don't offer food but there are a large number of food outlets within a 5 minute walk. Local public houses sell meals at lunchtime, and there are several sandwich bars and cafes offering good quality low price hot meals. Some good restaurants are also available nearby and a range of take away fast food outlets is available. On Saturdays and Sundays some sandwich bars and cafes do not open. Museum staff are generally able to give directions to catering establishments.