The building which now houses this museum was previously an ice house, storing tones of ice imported from Norway and brought along the canal to be stored in giant ice wells. You can see one of these on the ground floor of the museum. The first floor would have previously been used as stables for the horses who were used to transport the ice around London, the ramp for the horses is still here. The museum itself is very interesting and covers all aspects of the canals. How they were made, the Network of canals around the country linking the rivers, life for those working the canals & barges, and the story of the decline of the canals as a commercial enterprise before being reborn and restored for leisure activities. Some great early 20th Century black & white film playing on the first floor showing what life was like on the canals.

It’s not the most polished or organised of museums, but therein lies its charm. There's a gift shop, a narrow boat inside the museum, an ice well and information about the ice cream magnate Carlo Gatti. If you’re in the area, take a quick tour, and you might learn something new! It's a short walk from the Kings Cross regenerated

DO NOT MOOR HERE. We came here on their free anniversary museum day to moor overnight. What should have been a magical time for us ended with me fuming and in tears. We are long time narrowboat enthusiasts and first time narrowboat drivers and were very excited to see the museum on their 30th anniversary day for our first time, but were greeted by staff that treated us terribly and all had conflicting information regarding mooring times and protocols. We ended up missing out on seeing the museum entirely despite arriving promptly at 4pm. After mooring up (not an easy task in their space for first time boaters) we were shouted at by the driver of a narrowboat they hired for boat tours on the day to move our boat so he could unload passengers (after being told he would double up with us by four other members of staff). When we went inside after mooring up for the second time and when we asked staff if we could just buy a postcard they said we couldn't because of the staff soiree they were having that evening. It was after closing time at this point but only by a few minutes. I want to note that up until this moment, every single staff member we spoke to about mooring from the moment we arrived all had conflicting information and didn't seem to know what was going on. When we asked for the code for the water and gate (per the booking email) a random member of staff shouted at us (who we hadn't spoken to before) "WHY DO YOU NEED THAT?" We explained for what felt like the 8th time that we paid for mooring and needed the information per the email which said to ask for the codes on the day. He reluctantly told us and we asked for the gate code he then shouted again asking why we would need that information ("to go buy groceries" was our response) and he reluctantly gave us the other code. As we were walking back to our boat feeling incredibly unwelcome a young member of staff (the first person we spoke to) apologized for the confusion and told us to come back to visit the museum in the morning before we left the mooring spot and that we'd have no issues. I wish that was the case. The soiree they had lasted until about midnight and the side of our boat seemed to be the smoking section with people talking loudly and smoking all night by our boat. In the morning when we attempted to visit the museum, we were told we'd have to pay. After explaining to the member of staff (who also spoke to us the day before) that it was the staff's fault that we missed our opportunity to see the museum on the free day and we were told we would have no issues, he just looked at us confused and said "ahh yes but today is today and today the museum isn't free". All I could say is "well shame we won't get to see the museum after all". I still bought my postcards (begrudgingly, but they are one of the only places I've found to buy postcards with narrowboats on them to send back to family abroad) but left incredibly disappointed. The only upside was that a friendly cat came up to us to say hello before we left the mooring spot.

The London Canal Museum is a small but fascinating museum located in King's Cross, London. It tells the story of the canals of London, from their construction in the 18th century to their decline in the 20th century and their recent revival. The museum is housed in a former ice house, which is a unique setting that adds to the atmosphere of the museum. The exhibits are well-presented and informative, and there are plenty of interactive displays that make the museum fun for all ages. One of the highlights of the museum is the outdoor basin, which is home to a number of canal boats. Visitors can board the boats (during certain days & times) and learn about how they were used in the past. There is also a working model of a canal lock, which is a fascinating sight to see. The London Canal Museum is a great place to learn about the history of canals in London. It is also a fun and interactive museum that is great for families ventures and I would recommend it to anyone interested in London's canals or in industrial history in general.

Visited the museum today. A great and detailed insight into the London canal system from its origins, and then right through the ages and how the canals progressed industrially, as well as logistically. Perfect for families and children. The exhibits are well explained with a lot of accompanying literature also. The outside moored barges are being lived on today, and you may even see someone having a cup of tea on the aft end, or working on a computer in the cabin. A nice look back into history and view some great canal barges outside. £6 entry fee for adults. Not a national lottery run museum!

I always wanted to visit this museum. Eventually found it after walking through Coal Drop Yard and across York Way. It is alongside the Canal. I found it amazing! What a terrific lifestyle to be a bargee. It's quite a small museum but represents a bygone age of Britain and London.

This small museum has not only the story of England's canals. There is also the story if ice storage in pre-fridge days, and even a bit about ice-creams. But the canal story is obviously the most important here and there is some history of canal building, of canals as transport routes and the competition from railways and roads, and later canals used for leisure. The information given is clear and avoids the temptation of giving too much details.

A lovely small museum, just 10 minutes walk from King's Cross Station. Sit in the back cabin of a narrow boat, and see how the table and bed stow away! Listen to a Bolinder Engine and see an ice house. Will be back later, when the boat trips start.

I agree this is a charming place, with important history. It’s crying out for investment and needs to be supported. Considering the massive energy and development monies that have poured into the Kings X area recently it’s heartbreaking that the same companies haven’t helped this great museum. With so many more people living and working in the area it’s an asset for them, as well as tourists, and really should be treasured. We had a great time, there are adorable models, a life size boat to go in, 3 excellent old films upstairs, and interactive elements. The boat trips weren’t on when we went (a Sat) but reading other reviews that’s a great offer too. Also note it’s very dark in the entrance and looked shut but wasn’t! Open till 4:30pm in fact on Saturdays.

What an interesting find! I was a little unsure from the outside but glad I went for it, for it's a fine little museum. It tells the comprehensive story of London's and Britain's canals, with interactive displays and things to see, such as a mocked up barge. The old ice pit was very cool, as was the story of ice cream! They sell it in the gift shop too! Upstairs contains an informative gallery with visuals and audios too. My only criticism was that the only video playing was a little lackluster, enjoyable though old grainy footage can be! I think a ten minute introduction film to canals in general would be a great addition. But that's only a minor point, for it's a great place. There's even a little terrace outside by the canal basin, great for some fresh air. All for a fiver, which is terrific value. Definitely worth a visit!

Excellent museum on the history of the English canals and Regent's Canal more specifically. Fascinating for anyone who likes wandering in this London area! Allow 1h30-2h to read everything. Then we did the boat trip, great value for money and very intimate cruise, highly recommend !!!

Fabulous museum - thoughtfully laid out and very interesting, lots of exhibits to touch and interact with (the kids loved poking about in the canal boat) and the nicest staff you could imagine. I highly recommend booking the canal boat trip too - we got to go through the Islington Tunnel on Regent’s Canal and learnt so much from the wonderful guide Daniel, and the kids absolutely loved being taught to open the lock gates. Wish we’d had more time - highly recommend a visit!

Hidden gem in London. A few minutes walk from King's Cross, Granary Square and Coal Drops Yards. As well as the canal mueseum they also offer different canal boat trips on selected days throughout the week. Tickets are only available to book online. Images from the return boat trip to Little Venice. The two skippers let us steer the boat and help with the locks. A fantastic experience.

I attended two fabulous events at the #londoncanalmuseum : a history talk on the Swiss Italian entrepreneur Carlo Gatti & a recreation of a Music Hall performance. 🎶 Gatti owned music halls not just an innovative ice creamery franchise, Parisian style cafes and his famous, lucrative, century old, refrigeration ice block importing and distribution company. A multifaceted Swiss expat businessman who left his mark on London commerce, trade and culture!

This is a good museum tickets are priced at £5 they do have family tickets . Location is good ideally I would recommend organising the day so you can visit a few of the museums on the same day

(Translated by Google) A museum outside the traditional schemes, but no less fascinating and educational than others. Absolutely not to be missed for those who, like me, love to discover and learn the lifestyles of the past, savoring their daily ménage. It is an ethnographic museum that illustrates how long time lived and in London's waterways, a life that was certainly not wealthy, made up of risks, fatigue, sweat and poverty. A cross-section of a "different" London, whose symbol is the "Coronis", an old perfectly restored vessel, emblem of the art of getting by: it seems impossible that in its spaces, striminziti and optimized to improbable, has lived a real family and own. (Original) Un museo fuori dagli schemi tradizionali, ma non per questo meno affascinante ed educativo di altri. Assolutamente da non perdere per chi, come me, ama scoprire ed imparare gli stili di vita del passato, assaporandone il loro ménage quotidiano. E' un museo etnografico che illustra come si viveva un tempo lungo e dentro i corsi d'acqua londinesi, una vita certamente non agiata fatta di rischi, fatica, sudore e povertà. Uno spaccato di una Londra "differente", il cui simbolo è la "Coronis", una vecchia imbarcazione perfettamente restaurata, emblema dell'arte di arrangiarsi: sembra impossibile che nei suoi spazi, striminziti ed ottimizzati all'inverosimile, abbia vissuto una famiglia vera e propria.

Great museum about the history of London's canals, it also covers the ice trade and the wildlife etc along the canals. The displays have plenty of information and there was an old film on show of passing through London in the past on a barge. It also covered in a lot of detail the horses who were used to pull the barges along the canals until small tractors were introduced.

Fine

We did a lovely canal tour through Islington tunnel with Tony - really interesting and enjoyable being on the water. The museum is well curated and staff are very friendly and welcoming. Definitely will go back!

I recently cruised through London, I know typically this city has a bit of a reputation on the waterways, but this was unacceptable. Booked a mooring, found out as I arrived that I was double booked. Staff where running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Blaming each other or me for their mistake. One staff member raised his voice when I asked for the gate code, like he was actually furious. The space was tight and kind of gross, lots of cigarette smokers littering butts right there. If you are looking to cruise through London I suggest finding different moorings. Paddington basin is nicer than here and offers more spaces with nicer pontoons and better access in and out of the space.

If you want to see a museum in London there are plenty of better options. If you want to learn more about the canals, go to the round house in Birmingham or the canal museum in Nottingham. The staff here aren't nice towards boaters. I found the water point was being used as an ashtray, disgusting.

Great place to learn about London waterways. Exhibits are interactive and relays information in just the right way. It is a lot smaller than other London museums but I think that works in its favor. Entrance is ticketed and the reception also accepts contactless / card not present payments as well. Highly recommended. Will definitely visit again.

A small but engaging museum highlighting some of the history of the canal. It would have been nice to see what’s happening with the canal in modern times, but there was nothing talking about that, despite more people than ever living on it. Staff seemed friendly.

Fantastic find. Nice small museum then a leisurely trip on the canal boat. All staff were so friendly. Thank you. Please visit. I suggest you book in advance as all boats on the day we went were full.

Very interesting place not only the info about the canal but also the building and surrounds. Do the islington tunnel trip get a hour in a barge and further interesting facts. Our guide was Dan whose was very interesting and also took time in his break to tell us more interesting facts of the local area great guy. All staff was very friendly and interesting to talk too.

Having spent 3 weeks on barge holidays in the last two years, I thought that it was time to learn a little more about canals. This is a small but very informative museum that is located in a Victorian ice warehouse. Plenty of interesting information here, well worth a visit. I believe that it is only open around weekends, located at King's Cross.

A small museum located a few minutes from Kings Cross station. The canal museum is a double floored museum with a modest display of canal boats and the history. There is also a model interior so visitors can experience what it's like inside a canal boat. Pleasant and a nice activity for an hour or so.

We held our wedding at the London Canal Museum in July 2018 - and what a beautiful, quirky, fascinating and friendly venue it is. Our 80 guests took a 90-minute cruise along the Regents Canal from Camden Lock (booked separately from a private company) before mooring at the museum in time for the ceremony. The museum makes ingenious use of its two floors, as well as the outside patio by the canal, where many guests took their drinks. All our guests loved the "village hall" feel, especially of the upper floor where the ceremony, dinner and dancing took place. Veteran wedding-goers have commented on how distinctive and memorable it all was - in central London but feeling like a world away. Pricing was very reasonable and the set-up is very flexible: you can bring in your own services or use those provided by - or recommended by - the museum. The staff are dedicated and friendly. Throughout the planning stages Martin, who coordinated it all, was extremely quick and helpful in dealing with our questions and could not have been more attentive. We really feel so glad that we chose to marry here!

I found the museum last moment and have enjoyed my visit and it's very informative. The staff are friendly. Well worth a visit

I very much enjoyed my visit to the museum. I thought the entrance fee of £5 was cheap, considering the quality of my visitor experience and the fact that I paid more than that for a pint of beer the night before in a pub nearby. I had a great welcome from a volunteer staff member called Brian. A very friendly chap who is obviously very knowledgeable and passionate about the museum. Thank you Brian and thank you everyone else who is involved in preserving this marvelous building and explaining it's history and that of Englands, and in particular London's canal transportation system.

What a nice little hidden gem of a museum… very friendly and helpful staff. Interesting exhibit with loads of information. And if they offer the boat ride on your day of visit, just add it to your ticket. Perfect hour spent away from all the buzzing of London city :-)

A charming little museum with fascinating exhibits providing an insight into our social history. I would love to give it 5 stars but museum doesn’t accept dogs for no apparent reason and despite spending £40+ on entrance and items in gift shop we were told off by a volunteer who said we should have left the boat mooring immediately after our visit of the museum - we were actually waiting for rain to pass?

Fabulous party at the London Canal Museum!! Couldn't recommend it more highly as a super venue and steeped in canal history. Many thanks to Martin and the team for making the experience so special (a very happy return after our wedding reception on 2001!). Super place to visit with kids too - lots of interesting exhibits (including a walk-through narrow boat). Really handy for Kings Cross with its excellent transport links - what are you waiting for!?

We visited on new years day, Elspeth was very kind and went out of her way to inform us of various things. A lovely personal touch. Also mentioning in the summer, about the canal trips from the museum which sounds fantastic. We will definitely come back in the warmer summer months to give that a try. The museum itself has allot of very useful items and information, highly recommended.

Such an interesting building - part of the rich history that the museum itself describes, with really informative exhibits. Loved seeing the canal tractor and the ribbon and lace plates collected by barge people.

Marvellous experience. Friendly knowledgable staff and volunteers who clearly enjoyed having visitors and spreading their knowledge. Boat trip at the end of the day was A+ superb, which included experiencing the tunnel and going through Islington City lock. Skipper and guide sensible and personable. Great fun! If you're going to video the experience the best position is probably at the front of the boat but do please consider how it'll affect other passengers - they probably don't want to have the view ahead mediated through your phone held high in front of you (especially in the tunnel). Please consider holding the device at a more discreet height to allow others an unadulterated view.

Highly interesting and educational, not just about British canals. The setting -- the first ice cream factory in London! How cool is that! -- is perfect, and the Canal Museum is an idea starting point for walks along the canal. I didn't know the first thing about London's waterways but from now on, I'll make sure to explore much more. London Canal Museum was certainly a nice surprise. Highly recommended!

Great museum for learning London canal knowledges. Entry ticket costs £5. Seven minutes walking distance to London King’s cross station.

Really interesting museum. It makes you realise to what extent canals are linked to London history.

Is so nice museum

😊

Add a few £ and enjoy a very nice boat ride in the tunnel and on the canal. Full of history, with passionate people answering all your questions.

It was very intresting and fun and it made my day.I want to come back soon and it is an intriguing place to go. All of London should go. Felix White

We went as a U3A group and had a great time with charming staff and interesting exhibits. We enjoyed the boat trip through the tunnel learning some more about the Regent's Canal. The talk on the history of ice cream with the demonstration of making ice cream in 6 minutes (it did not take us that long to eat it) was really good and everyone was rivetted. Yes, some of the exhibits are a bit tired and the style may not be the most modern, but there is tons of information if you take the time to read all the boards and turn all the pages.

This is not a big famous museum but worth visiting! The very friendly staff helped me get a boat tour ticket at the door, I saved 💷7!

A great little place to visit

After coming off of staying on a narrowboat, it was great to visit this museum. It was small, but so informative and we were there longer than we anticipated we would be! The staff was welcoming, kind and knowledgeable and we learned so much more about the canal system and the history of canals in the UK. Great place to go especially if you are interested in/fascinated by the canals and tired of the hordes of people at the "well known" museums. This is one of the few museums we would include on our list for next time :)

Full of history and a great place to take the family.

Great spot to visit. Really interesting to watch the video about London canals, barge families and horses. Excellent displays about the iceworks, living conditions on the old barges, improvements on canals to get wildlife back. Booked the 50 minutes return canal boat trip to Islington Tunnel and the tour guide, tea and biscuits all added up to a lovely experience. Highly recommended.

A good hour about here makes you feel proper pirate, fair historical information and interactive learning materials, staff were friendly enough, thanks :)

Good to see!

Although only a short walk from Kings Cross station, this small but perfectly formed museum is off the beaten track. Well worth finding. Something to interest every age (lots of activities for children). Very quiet when we visited (midday, weekday during school holidays). The building is in a very much up and coming area and must now be worth a small fortune. I do hope that the organisation continues and that more people visit. London has a number of these small, eccentric attractions that deserve more attention.

Very interesting exhibition,

A great little surprise of a museum! Informative about canal life and the history of the Canals.

A lovely museum, well staffed by a team of volunteers. We had a talk on the canal's development and its wildlife. Afterwards we had a guided walk along the tow path and finished at the Camley Street Nature Reserve. For a while we were in the countryside and not in nodding distance of Kings Cross!

The staff and employees here were so friendly, they made me feel very welcomed. The museum is modest in its size yet there's opportunity to explore the different areas within. There's a ground and first floor gallery. Outside there's a section of canal too. There's also a small souvenir section toward the entrance. One of the best museums I have visited in London and with affordable prices too :) enjoyable for all audiences including those with less mobility.

We are from Boston, USA, and were in the area of the canal museum. Definitely worth the time and little expense. The museum is not large but is very fascinating about the canal era. The staff was very helpful and professional. And definitely take the one hour canal ride through the tunnel. A memorable experience.

Information rich, lots of boards to read. Lots of photos. Didn't romanticise too much, covered multiple aspects and perspectives.

Fantastic historical place of interest. Well worth a visit on a bright summers day. The industrial revolution made a significant impact on UK life and it's economy. Great photo opportunities at the museum's rear.

Arrived at The Canal Museum by 12. It took 2 hours to go around the whole museum. The entrance fee was decent, got a discounted rate. There was a lot to see and I used an audio guide. It came on in different areas of the museum. Particularly enjoyed looking into the Canal Boat and also down the excavation sore where the ice used to be stored. There was an interesting video on the first floor and lots of information on the canal routes in London. I would visit again, maybe with family or a friend who enjoys museums.

Hidden away behind Kings Cross station in an old ice store, this charming museum details the history behind London's canals. The exhibits are informative. The museum is good for kids as they can explore an old canal boat (inside). You can also see the old ice stores as well which is fascinating.

Disapointed. Only 2 floors and for a family of four this visit which will keep you occupied for all of 25 mins at best will cost in excess of £20. Not worth it I can assure you. For free or at most £4 a ticket my review would have been slightly different.

The canals are a wonderful alternative for commute. They are still through, not only within London, but also to the other areas in England! The museum introduces, explains and provides detailed info on their history, and their current status.

Very interesting insight into canal life.

Enjoyable, for the small out of way little museum

Well until googling we didn't realise that London had a canal museum but so didn't go with any expectation but actually it was really interesting and we speak about an hour there. Nice cheap (£5) bit of culture.

I had a nice time at the London Canal Museum, it was very interesting, and I had a nice intro to the Ice Trade (who knew!) given by Tony, thank you. I would definitely recommend this museum for anyone interested in the Industrial Revolution and how transport was 2-300 years ago. its amazing to think how quickly it has developed really. Thank you and keep up the good work!

This is my sort of museum, as I am not an expert at art, so this the kind of museum I visit. I've been here a while ago, but still want to give my feedback on this place, such an interesting museum where I could learn a bit of history of London canal. The place is not huge, but one can learn a great deal of history of British canals. I really had a good time.

Great place to visit with family and friends.

The staff are really friendly and they look after you by answering any of your questions. They are genuinely interested in the museum and like to share stories that they have. There are sometimes trips on the canal and all of this is at very reasonable prices.

Interesting museum for an hour or so, great location on the basin. Staff are lovely.

I visited museum with my 10 yo son. We both enjoyed it very much! Staff is very nice and knows everything about the subject. We took a tunnel boat ride and we can only recommend it. But better than overprices touristy tours in camdem area!

Fascinating little museum set in an old ice warehouse, a great add-on to our day out on the canal. My 4 and 7 year-olds loved it - plenty of things you can actually touch, as well as a dressing up box and a family trail. Also very informative for adults. We spent about an hour here. Free for under-5s!

Such a great experience from being a canal boat and everything canal associated, this place was brilliant. Just £5 to pay each and such a great experience. Also, the gift shop was very reasonable and the staff very knowledgeable, helpful and polite. Would return again when back in London 😊

Boring

Very interesting visit with knowledgeable staff. Good variety of material covering the history of the canal network and the Regents canal and its environs generally.

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at canal museum. The volunteer lady there was very friendly and knowledgeable. Recommended to visit

Had a very interesting morning with a group of friends at the museum. We particularly enjoyed the films. Only comment would be we did the recommended canal walk in reverse and the info sheet I had downloaded was only in one direction. The website said that there was a leaflet for the reverse direction available at the museum but they had run out. We enjoyed the walk but I think we missed quite a lot as I was trying to follow the directions backwards on my phone. Would it be possible to have both on the website?

(Translated by Google) Successful museum about the history and tradition of English inland navigation with so-called "narrow boats". (Original) Gelungenes Museum über die Geschichte und Tradition der englischen Binnenschifferei mit sog. "Narrow Boats".

Fantastic morning at this great museum. Lots of interesting displays and interactive installations. Informative and fun. Great for youngsters and I would highly recommend a visit and the a walk along the canal side to the new Kings Cross area shops and eateries.

(Translated by Google) AWESOME !! The owner gives you an explanation of the museum, which is really interesting, the museum is very attractive, for £ 5 it is really worth the detour !! (Original) GÉNIAL !! Le propriétaire vous fait une explication du musée, qui est vraiment intéressante, le musée est très attractif, pour 5£ ça vaut vraiment le détour !!

5£for adults great place to learn canal history

(Translated by Google) Not large, but very nice to get detailed information about the history of channels in England. Explained with practical examples and many activities for children. Run by volunteers and a very friendly entrance fee. (Original) Niet groot, maar zeer leuk om detailinformatie op te doen over de historie van kanalen in Engeland. Uitgelegd met praktijkvoorbeelden en veel activiteiten voor kinderen. Gerund door vrijwilligers en een hele vriendelijke toegangsprijs.

Plenty of things you can actually touch, as well as a dressing up box and a family trail. Also very informative for adults.