Ice weekend 20th and 21st July 2024. For some years we have offered a one-day opportunity
to visit the underground ice wells during the Festival of Archaeology each July. This year we also
have activities on the Saturday (no ice well visits). There will be a showing of rare film of ice
harvesting, ice cream making demonstrations, and talks about the ice trade.
Both days - Saturday and Sunday
- 1000 Doors open
- Ice Trail available all day
- 1100 Victorian ice-cream-making demonstration
- 1200 Building history guided tour (1 hour)
- 1400 Ice trade history gallery talk
- 1500 Victorian ice-cream-making demonstration
- Ice-gathering archive film all day
- 1630 Close
Saturday only
Short boat trips to/from St. Pancras, lasting 20-25 minutes. Book in advance on our boat trips page.
Sunday only
- Ice well visits at 1015 and every 30 minutes until 1615. Book in advance on this page
- Tunnel boat trips 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600 (one-way). Book in advance on our boat trips page
The Ice Trail
On both days take an ice trail around the museum, a quiz helping
you discover more about the way Victorian London was supplied with ice. Collect a trail sheet at reception and get exploring
Building tour
Our building has many interesting features that may not be noticed at a glance. In the brickwork you can identify signs
of the changes that have taken place over the years, and see clues about the past uses of the building. Your guide Malcolm
has studied the building for many years and is an expert on its features. 1200 on Saturday and on Sunday. Duration: 1 hour.
Ice-cream-making demonstrations
You can see an original in a display case but we use a replica of Mrs Agnes Bertha Marshall's patented ice-cream maker for
our demonstrations of how the Victorians made ice cream. A mixture of ice and salt falls below zero degrees celcius, and this
freezing mixture surrounds a container in which the cream mixture is stirred to keep it smooth and evenly frozen. Operating the
rotating handle for several minutes can be a tiring job. The Victorians made ice-cream in flavours that are rare today and
ice-cream had to be eaten quickly because storage was almost impossible before freezers were invented. Samples may sometimes
be tasted. Lasts up to an hour. Seats provided.
Boat trips
On Saturday short boat trips will be available every half-hour. These don't go through a lock or tunnel and there is no guide
or refreshments on board. On Sunday our usual Sunday programme of guided tunnel trips will operate with a guide on board and
tea/coffee included on board. Boat trip seats are expected to sell out therefore please book in advance.
Book an ice well visit
Tickets are limited and should be booked in advance
Prices are £11.50 for adults and £10 for concessions. Museum entry is included. Concessions are Seniors (aged 65 and over), Students (with ID),
children 14-16, and unwaged (with evidence). This is not suitable for young children.Please book in advance.
Booking both a tunnel boat trip and an ice well visit on Sunday
There are tunnel boat trips available on 21st July. If you have ALREADY booked a tunnel boat trip you can use your ticket number as a
discount code to get £6 off (£5 concessions) an ice well visit when you book your ice well visit. Note you MUST book the boat trip first.
Points to remember are:
- Boat and ice well tickets need to be the same type e.g. concession or full price
- Remember that boats can be delayed by other canal traffic so please do not book an ice well visit that is any sooner than an hour and
a quarter after your boat departure time.
- When you make your ice well descent booking you will see a box called "Promotional code" when you are about to check out. This is
where you put the ticket number of your booking for the boat trip to get the discount
- The ice well visit is intended for adults. Child boat tickets do not qualify for a discount on ice well visits
Important Information - essential reading
- If you have a problem with your booking or difficulty making a booking please contact us for help using this
Booking Support Form. Do not telephone
- Please be aware that these bookings are not refundable
There are important restrictions regarding visits down into the ice well
These are:
- To go down, you must be fit enough to climb ladders confidently and without difficulty
We will refuse descent to anyone who is in our opinion insufficiently fit.
- Luggage cannot be taken down. Staff will look after it above ground. You can take a handbag or camera or small rucksack down
so long as both your hands are free to hold on to the ladders.
- Minimum age 14. This is not a children's event.
- No loose footwear allowed. Your shoes must be of a type that cannot fall off. No sandals are allowed.
- You may get dirty. Leave your best clothes at home!
- If you have a medical condition that could potentially come on suddenly whilst you are underground, do not descend.
- You will be required to wear a bump cap, which we will supply
