What's on - May to July 2026

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A wide view of the canal at Little Venice during golden hour. Numerous narrowboats are moored closely together, heavily decorated with Union Jack bunting and colourful flags. In the background, white Regency-style buildings and a modern high-rise.

Welcome to London Canal Museum News

May to July 2026

Hello Thomas

Summer is when the museum really comes alive. This edition covers a packed few months, starting with a canal boat festival in Little Venice right now, through to our biggest annual event: the one day of the year you can descend into the Victorian ice wells beneath the building. There are also two Family Fun Days, three canal festivals and regular boat trips.

IWA Canalway Cavalcade — still time to join us

The Bantam IV tug in a lock on its way to Canal Cavalcade 2026. A sign attached to the front reads: Bantam IV Major overhaul completed 2025

The IWA Canalway Cavalcade is underway at Little Venice this bank holiday weekend, and there are still two days to catch it. More than 100 boats are moored up across the basin, with live music, food and artisan stalls throughout. Tonight, Sunday 3 May, brings the highlight: a Procession of Illuminated Boats at 9 pm. Monday runs from 10 am to 5 pm.

You will find our historic tug Bantam IV moored up among the boats, returning after a year away having a major engine overhaul — come and say hello, and find out more about the museum and London's waterway history. Free for all visitors.

Find out more about Canalway Cavalcade

Boat trips on the Regent's Canal

A dark blue canal boat moves through calm green water toward a wooden lock gate. Two people wearing sun hats and life jackets stand at the stern. A large, lush weeping willow hangs over the water on the right

Our 2026 boat trip season is now in full swing. All trips depart from the museum's quay on Battlebridge Basin and include museum admission.

Our popular Islington Tunnel trips last around 50 minutes, passing through London's longest canal tunnel with a guide on board and complimentary tea and coffee. For something longer, our trips to Little Venice, Victoria Park and the Camden Locks Explorer take in more of the Regent's Canal. Cream tea cruises run on Thursdays and selected Wednesdays, and the historic boat Tarporley operates on alternate Wednesdays from 15 April through to 28 October.

Explore and book boat trips

Family Fun Days

Four smiling children stand in a museum gallery. Three wear green paper crowns decorated with leaves, while one boy wears a flat cap and waistcoat. They hold a large green card cutout featuring autumn leaves and a drawing of a canal lock.

Family Fun Day: Nature Crowns

Tuesday 26 May 2026

Half term? Come and join us. Board our narrowboat Long Tom for a trip along the Regent's Canal with a wildlife spotters bag - what will you see on the water as spring is in full bloom? Back at the museum, take part in our craft workshop: create images, cut, colour, and stick to build your very own nature crown to take home.

The Family Fun Day includes a boat trip on Long Tom, a supervised craft workshop, an interactive family trail around the museum, and plenty of chances to dress up. Book in advance, tickets include museum admission.

Family Fun Day: Canal Boat Makers

Tuesday 28 July 2026

The summer holidays start with a Canal Boat Makers Family Fun Day. First, board Long Tom for a trip along the Regent's Canal. Then head upstairs to fold, colour, and decorate your very own paper canal boat, and give it a suitably watery name.

Includes a boat trip on Long Tom, a craft workshop, the family trail, and museum admission. Book in advance.

Book your Family Fun Day tickets

Free tours and highlights - direct to your phone

A person holding a phone displaying the museum's free guide on Bloomberg Connects

Did you know, we have a free digital guide?

The guide features highlights from our collections, including a 'Top ten things to see' tour and a 'Family fun' tour.

Dive deeper into stories from across the museum - open the guide at any time - in the museum or in your home.

Open the guide

Festivals

Brentford Canal Festival

Saturday 20 June 2026

Brentford's free annual festival celebrates the waterways of west London with a full day of activities at Brentford Gauging Lock on the Grand Union Canal. Expect free sightseeing boat trips, kayaking taster sessions, six stages of live music, a floating market, international dance, arts and crafts workshops, and artisan stalls. Running 12 pm–6 pm.

We will be there with a stand and volunteers on hand to chat about the museum, London's waterways, and the history of the Victorian ice trade. Come and find us on the day.

Find out more about the Brentford Canal Festival

Cally Festival

Sunday 5 July 2026

We are taking our stand at the Cally Festival, the popular community festival on Caledonian Road, with volunteers on hand to chat about the museum, London's waterways, and the history of the Victorian ice trade. If you haven't visited us before, the museum is just a 5-10 minute walk away in King's Cross, an easy add-on to your festival day.

Find out more about the Cally Festival

Ice Weekend

A group of twelve visitors in casual clothes and yellow safety helmets stand in a semi-circle inside a dimly lit, vast subterranean chamber. They are listening to a guide, seen from behind, who stands in the centre of the dirt floor. The curved walls are

Once a year, we host a weekend celebrating the ice trade, and our ice wells - the reason our building was built.

Saturday 25 July — Ice Saturday
A full day of family activities, with boat trips available to book throughout the day.

Sunday 26 July — Ice Sunday (booking essential)

The wells beneath this building held up to 1,500 tonnes of imported Norwegian ice at a time, cut from frozen lakes, packed in ships, and brought here by Carlo Gatti to supply Victorian London. They survive intact under our feet. The chance to see them for yourself comes once a year.

Tours run from 10:20, in small managed groups, guided down a two-stage ladder. You must be aged 12 or over, fully fit to use a ladder confidently, and wearing enclosed shoes. Also on Sunday: Victorian ice cream making demonstrations, and rare archive film of the ice harvesting trade.

Spaces in each tour slot are limited - book early to avoid disappointment.

Book ice well visits

Book recommendation

This edition, our book recommendation is from our volunteer Charlie - The Regent's Canal: London's Hidden Waterway, by Alan Faulkner.

Alan Faulkner’s ‘The Regent’s Canal’ is the book of record if you want the facts behind the canal’s planning, construction and operation.

Charlie, a man with grey hair and glasses, wearing a light pink shirt. He stands by a towpath, holding a copy of the book 'The Regent’s Canal'. In the background, a dark brick bridge arches over the still water of the canal

Published in 2005, its subtitle, ‘London’s Hidden Waterway’, implies its focus on the canal as a commercial carrier.

Don’t expect the far-from-hidden regeneration story. The quality and range of the 100 or so illustrations enhance Faulkner’s meticulous detailing. This is the gold standard, with so many of the classic views brought together. Pick the detail or absorb the pictures - you’ll get the story.

You can find The Regent's Canal in our shop at the heart of King's Cross, in Gatti's historic icehouse.

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Where to find us:

The London Canal Museum

12-13 New Wharf Road,

London,

N1 9RT

Canal Museum Website

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