Waterways

We’re ramping up works to repair a stretch of embankment on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, between Mossley and Stalybridge, which slipped following heavy rain earlier this year. Rockbags on River Tame The works We’ve secured agreements with several third-party landowners and installed and upgraded over 1,000m of track to access the remote location of the…

We’ve today announced the appointment of Fay Jones-Poole as the new chair of the advisory board that oversees our charitable activity across Wales. At the same time we have published our first-ever Our Work in Wales report, shining a spotlight on the significant contribution Wales’s historic canals make to the nation’s economy, communities, heritage and environment. About…

We’re carrying out dredging at Gloucester Docks as part of the charity’s vital work to manage Britain’s most inland port. We’ve spent £3 million in the last three years on dredging the Docks to allow boats and tall vessels to freely navigate and moor in the heart of Gloucester. The dredging programme will remove around…

Projects help improve access and encourage more people to get active. We’re undertaking £3 million of towpath improvements along two canals in the Huddersfield area. Keeping canals alive and open Still navigated by boats as they have been for hundreds of years, and today used by more than 10 million people a fortnight, our historic…

Much-loved Finnish characters the Moomins bring their special messages of kindness, sharing and friendship to the National Waterways Museum Gloucester this month. Canoeing at Gloucester Quays It’s 80 years since author Tove Jansson introduced her mythical Moomins to the world. Their stories look at friendship, acceptance, and community. Which makes them perfect ambassadors for Refugee…

We’re carrying out work to repair the Macclesfield Canal, near Bosley Locks, following a breach in March. As the site is a remote, rural location, contractors have built a 400m-long metal track and created ramps to the canal bed to allow vehicles and machinery to safely gain access and start work. Excavation works to the…

The PolyboatGlobal Challenge is now in its second successful year. Visit the website polyboatglobal.com to discover the variety of voyages you can make with your electric boats. Take your pets and keep a cruise logbook and by April 2026 you may have made a variety of cruises on the inland waterways or the coasts long…

A colourful boat parade will pass through Foxton Locks during a festival celebrating the key role Leicestershire’s waterways played in reviving the canal network 75 years ago. The flotilla of boats will be heading to Union Wharf in Market Harborough, scene of the 1950 Festival of Boats & Arts which was pivotal in the campaign…

Nearly 25,000 people visited the 25th Crick Boat Show, the UK’s largest inland waterways festival. The festival took place at Crick Marina near Daventry, across the Bank Holiday weekend 23-26 May 2025. A focal point of the year The event, which is sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston, and organised by Waterways World in partnership with us…

We’ve announced the appointment of Ben Cottam as the director for our historic canals spanning Wales & South West of England. Ben will be joining us on 11 August. About Ben Ben joins us from the Federation of Small Businesses where he is currently head of Wales. As Wales largest business membership body, Ben has…