London Canal Museum, London

Name: London Canal Museum
Address: 12-13 New Wharf Rd, London, N1 9RT, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7713 0836

#120 among attractions in London

Museum, History museum

Gallery (6)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 2.0 / James Petts / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Sergio Andres Segovia / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Sergio Andres Segovia / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Sergio Andres Segovia / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of London's vibrant King's Cross area, the London Canal Museum offers visitors a unique glimpse into the rich history of the city's waterways. Housed in a former ice warehouse built around 1862 for Carlo Gatti, the famous ice cream maker, this charming museum is dedicated to illustrating the fascinating story of London's canals, their people, and the trade that flowed through them.

Upon entering the museum, visitors are transported into the bygone era of the capital's bustling canals. The museum's exhibits cover a range of topics, from the lives of the workers who navigated the narrowboats to the cargoes they carried, providing a comprehensive overview of the canal network that once served as a vital transportation artery for London.

One of the highlights of the London Canal Museum is its focus on the ice trade, which was central to Gatti's business and the original purpose of the building. The museum features a preserved Victorian ice well, where ice imported from Norway was once stored. This rare feature provides an icy window into the past and the pre-refrigeration era of food preservation.

The museum also showcases a variety of canal craft, including a narrowboat that visitors can board to experience the living conditions of the families who worked on the waterways. Interactive displays and historical artifacts, such as traditional boating equipment, painted canalware, and photographs, enrich the visitor experience.

Educational programs and temporary exhibitions often take place at the London Canal Museum, ensuring that there is always something new to discover. The museum also organizes guided walks and canal boat trips, allowing visitors to experience the canal environment firsthand.

The London Canal Museum is not only a haven for history enthusiasts but also an engaging attraction for families and anyone interested in London's industrial heritage. It is easily accessible by public transport, located within walking distance from King's Cross and St Pancras International stations.

Alternative names: Established: 1992 (32 years ago)Visitors per year: 16 thous.Coordinates: 51°32'3"N, 0°7'13"W

Address

12-13 New Wharf RdIslington (Caledonian)London N1 9RT United Kingdom

Contact

+44 20 7713 0836

Website

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London

Day trips

London Canal Museum – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Egg London, Francis Crick Institute, Shaw Theatre, Newton.

0.6 miNW
Nightlife, Dancing
Egg London, London
15 min walk • Egg London is a dynamic and vibrant nightclub nestled in the heart of the United Kingdom's bustling capital. Renowned for its electric atmosphere and cutting-edge music, the venue has established itself as a staple in London's nightlife scene.
~1990 ftSW
Museum
Francis Crick Institute, London
10 min walk • The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical research centre in London, which was established in 2010 and opened in 2016. The institute is a partnership between Cancer Research UK, Imperial College London, King's College London, the Medical Research Council, University College London and the Wellcome Trust.
0.5 miSW
Theater
Shaw Theatre, London
13 min walk • The Shaw Theatre is a theatre in Somers Town, in the London Borough of Camden. It is a part of the Pullman London St Pancras hotel, located off Euston Road.
0.5 miSW
Monuments and statues
Newton, London
13 min walk • Newton, sometimes known as Newton after Blake, is a 1995 work by the sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi. The large bronze sculpture is displayed on a high plinth in the piazza outside the British Library in London.
0.4 miSE
Nightlife
The Lexington, London
11 min walk • The Lexington is a pub and music venue on Pentonville Road in Islington, London that opened in 2008. The bar specialises in bourbon, as well as American craft beer. The building it is in was built over 1875 to 1876 and was originally known as The Belvidere.
0.4 miW
Church
St Pancras Old Church, London
12 min walk • St Pancras Old Church is a Church of England parish church in Somers Town, Central London. It is dedicated to the Roman martyr Saint Pancras, and is believed by many to be one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England.
0.4 miSW
City hall
Camden Town Hall, London
11 min walk • Camden Town Hall, known as St Pancras Town Hall until 1965, is the headquarters of Camden London Borough Council. The main entrance is in Judd street with its northern elevation extending along Euston Road, opposite the main front of St Pancras railway station.
0.5 miE
Shopping, Street, Market
Chapel Market, London
13 min walk • Chapel Market is a daily street market in London. The market is located on a street of the same name near Angel, and sells fruit, vegetables and fish, as well as bargain household goods and cheap clothes.
~1880 ftNW
Canal
St Pancras Lock, London
10 min walk • St Pancras Lock is a lock on the Regent's Canal, in the London Borough of Camden, England. The St Pancras Basin is nearby.
~1660 ftW
Street
Camley Street Natural Park, London
9 min walk • Camley Street is a street in the London Borough of Camden in London, England. It lies in St Pancras and King's Cross: stretching over a kilometre from St Pancras railway station in the south, over the Regent's Canal, and to Agar Grove in the north.
~430 ftNW
Music venue
Kings Place, London
3 min walk • Kings Place is a building in London’s Kings Cross area, providing music and visual arts venues combined with seven floors of office space. It has housed the editorial offices of The Guardian newspaper since December 2008 and is the former headquarters of Network Rail and CGI.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is London Canal Museum open?

London Canal Museum is open:

Monday closed
Tuesday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Friday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday 10 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday 10 am - 4:30 pm

Which popular attractions are close to London Canal Museum?

Nearby attractions include Kings Place, London (3 min walk), Kings Cross, London (4 min walk), House of Illustration, London (5 min walk), All Visual Arts, London (5 min walk).

How to get to London Canal Museum by public transport?

The nearest stations to London Canal Museum:

Train

London King's Cross (5 min walk)
London St. Pancras International (9 min walk)

Bus

King's Cross Road • Lines: 30 (6 min walk)
Penton Rise • Lines: 30 (8 min walk)

Metro

King's Cross St Pancras • Lines: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria (10 min walk)
Angel • Lines: Northern (17 min walk)