Living the history of the waterways - the easy way

In the previous post, we looked at ways to immerse yourself in the lifestyle of the working boaters - for the more trepidacious, there are easier ways, as you'll see below.

Whilst I can wholly commend those who get out there and experience the lifestyle of the working boaters of yesteryear, dressing the part and even living the spartan existence of those men and women who traversed the country’s waterways to earn a living - there are a few easier ways to get a glimpse into historic canal culture.

How to get the family involved

While pursuing a working boater lifestyle may suit the solo boater, it’s not the most practical with a family in tow. That being said, there are plenty of ways to find out more and experience some aspects of traditional canal culture that the whole family can enjoy.

Visit a museum

We’re fortunate that there are a good number of canal centric attractions across the network that give excellent insight into the cargo-carrying era. While several visitor centres focus their exhibits on the engineering details of the waterways (such as those at Foxton, Standedge Tunnel and the Anderton Boat Lift), we’ve highlighted some of the museums that …