National Waterways Museum at Gloucester

The National Waterways Museum is housed in Llanthony Warehouse on Gloucester Docks on the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal. It was the last great corn store to be opened on the docks in 1873, Gloucester being a centre for the import of foreign grain since 1840.

The seven storey warehouse, along with others on the dock, was redeveloped in the 1980's and now has three floors of museum exhibits. It concentrates on providing interesting and interactive displays covering the whole range of waterways related topics. You enter the museum through a replica lock chamber complete with dripping water and other exhibits make use of computers and videos to get over some of the taste of what it was like to live and work on the waterways.

There is an historic boat collection which includes narrowboats, river barges, a canal tug and a steam powered dredger. There are also a steam crane and heavy oil engines in the setting of a canal repair yard, complete with working machine shop, forge and weighbridge.

There are also Pleasure Learning Courses on subjects such as Blacksmithing, Tug Handling, Fender Making etc.

There's a whole gallery dedicated to Boat Decoration bursting with colour, filled with 'Roses & Castles' and other beautiful boat art and decoration.

There is a tea room, souvenir and craft shops and specialist bookshop.

Canal and River Trips on the museum's two trip boats run daily until October, then weekends only. Queen Boadicea II runs short 45 minute canal trips and King Arthur runs all day trips up the River Severn to Tewkesbury and to Sharpness on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.

Telephone 01452 318054  for more details.
The city of Gloucester is close to the M5 and M4 motorways. Follow signs to Historic Docks.
Gloucester Docks are on the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal close to its upper junction with the River Severn.

(Graphics and information courtesy of The National Waterways Museum)