National Waterways Museum Gloucester

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Housed in a Victorian grain warehouse in the heart of the Gloucester Docks, the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester tells the fascinating story of the local waterways and the docks. You will discover how the waterways shaped the lives of those who travelled and worked on them though exhibits, films and artworks. As you walk around the museum today it is a calm and quiet place but you can close your eyes and just imagine this vibrant, bustling grain warehouse in the 1800s.

While you are at the museum, take a trip on Queen Boadicea II on a 45-minute cruise along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal (April – October). Discover the history of this Dunkirk Little Ship which started off life as a pleasure cruiser in London in the 1930s, rescued troops at Dunkirk in 1940 and played a part in the Queen’s Coronation Pageant on the River Thames in 1953.

The Museum is one of the attractions on the Canal & River Trust network and helps to preserve the nation’s designated collection of canal, river and waterways history. The work of the Trust involves not only looking after our waterways, but promoting them widely to the eight-million plus people who have waterways on their doorstep, so that many more people benefit from our free, accessible and local source of wellbeing.

Look out for family activities during the school holidays and opportunities to get our on the water from our paddle hub.  There is also a welcoming café selling hot drinks and delicious treats. The museum is dog-friendly throughout.