Anderton Boat Lift & Visitor Centre

The Anderton Boat Lift is a historic iron structure that carries boats 50 feet between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal, and it is one of only two working boat lifts in the country. Families can explore the free visitor centre, which has an immersive exhibition on the lift's history, interactive displays and a cinematic presentation, with a vintage arcade area on the ground floor. Outside, the landscaped grounds have a children's play area and a maze built from the lift's original counterweights, and there is space for a picnic. Boat trips on the Edwin Clark run along the river with live commentary, and guided tours take visitors to the top of the lift. A coffee shop and gift shop are on site, and dogs are welcome in the grounds and visitor centre. At the time of writing the lift itself is closed to boats while gate repairs are carried out, but the visitor centre and grounds remain open.