London Canal Museum
12-13 New Wharf Road, Kings Cross, London, Greater London
The London Canal Museum explores the history of the city’s man-made waterways, documenting the vessels, trade, and people of London’s canals. Exhibits also explore the museum building’s past: it was originally used as an ice warehouse by Carlo Gatti, the Swiss entrepreneur credited with introducing ice cream to the British masses.
The London Canal Museum chronicles the history of London’s canal system as well as the city’s Victorian-era ice trade. A standard ticket provides access to the museum’s exhibits, while a combination ticket includes museum access and a guided 1-hour boat trip through the Islington Tunnel—an underground portion of Regent’s Canal that can only be traversed by boat. Some London sightseeing passes include free access to the museum as well as hop-on hop-off bus transportation.
- If you’re doing the tunnel boat trip, dress for the weather: While the boat is covered and the Islington Tunnel provides shelter, you may be exposed to the elements while boarding and disembarking.
- Download a free audio tour of the museum at the London Canal Museum website before you visit.
- The museum building is wheelchair-accessible. The narrowboat cabin exhibit is not wheelchair-accessible, though a virtual tour is available.
The London Canal Museum sits on the waterfront of Regent’s Canal in Islington, London. Take the Tube (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines) to King’s Cross St. Pancras. The museum is less than a 10-minute walk from the station.
The best time to visit is summer, when the weather is mild and suited to canalside walks. Boat trips run every Thursday between May and September, and every second and fourth Sunday between May and October.
Combine a visit to the museum with a scenic stroll along the towpath, from Camden Town to the London Canal Museum. This walk, which takes about an hour to complete, takes travelers along the edge of Regent’s Canal, past historic bridges, locks, narrowboats, and waterside warehouses. Download the audio guide at the London Canal Museum website to listen to commentary on the surroundings.
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