London Canal Museum Museums

At the London Canal Museum you can see inside a narrowboat cabin, learn about the history of London's canals, about the cargoes carried, the people who lived and worked on the waterways, and the horses that pulled their boats. The museum is an attraction housed in a former ice warehouse built in about 1862-3 for Carlo Gatti, the famous ice cream maker, and features the history of the ice trade and ice cream as well as the canals.

We introduce you to the context in which London's canals were built, telling the background story on how canals came to provide a great network of water highways in the late 18th Century and early 19th Century. Life was hard for the boatmen and their families. First go inside his floating home and be astonished at the cramped conditions in which generations of canal families lived until around 1960. Sit at their dining table and listen to the family having supper and discussing their lives.

The Museum shop offers a wide selection of books about canals and inland waterways. In addition we sell a range of gifts with a canal flavour, including replica "Measham" pottery.

Opening Hours

1000 - 1630 Tuesdays to Sundays plus bank holiday Mondays (public holidays). CLOSED on all other Mondays.

Last admission is at 1545. Special openings can be arranged for larger groups of visitors

Admission Charges

Adult £3.00

Senior Citizen (60 or over), Students (with identity), Unwaged (with proof) £2.00

Child aged 8-15 inclusive £1.50

Child aged 7 or younger Free