All Aboard for Santa Boat Cruises on Cheshire’s Waterways at Anderton Boat Lift and Ellesmere Port Museum

Father Christmas and his elves are joining with the Canal & River Trust charity to give families fantastic festive fun on Santa boat cruises next month at Cheshire’s leading waterway attractions - the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port, and the Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich.

On all four December weekends leading up to Christmas, the Trust will be decking the halls with holly for a fabulous trip to Santa’s grotto.

At Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre, on each Saturday and Sunday, there will be three boat trips a day at 12.30, 1.30 and 2.30pm, when families can enjoy favourite Christmas songs and stories as the boat glides along the River Weaver towards Northwich. Every family will have the chance to pose with Santa for photos and each child over 12 months will receive a special gift to take home.

A delicious pre-Santa Cruise cooked breakfast will also be served in the café from 10am on each Saturday and Sunday through December and joint tickets are available for £20 each or £12 (adult)/£15 (child) for the cruise only.

At the National Waterways Museum, the Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust will again be running regular festive boat cruises along the Shropshire Union Canal. Families are promised an exciting, fun-packed 45-minute trip, full of carols, games, stories and a treasure trail to help track down Santa’s missing presents, before children are shown into Santa’s magical grotto to share their own Christmas wishes and choose a special present to take home. The full experience costs £11.50 or for £8, children can enjoy the Santa’s Grotto Experience only. Tickets also include access to the waterways museum, historic boats, cafe and playground for the day.

Ani Sutton, Canal & River Trust destination and attraction manager, said: “Christmas is a special time at both our wonderful heritage museum and boat lift visitor centre. Our brilliant team of elves really go to town with the festivities, giving families a magical experience and a perfect start to the Christmas celebrations.

“At Anderton Boat Lift, there has been a special pre-Christmas gift for all of us with the competition of the Soot Hill roadworks and the re-opening of the road which connects the lift attraction site to Northwich Town Centre. This will make the journey to visit the Boat Lift Visitor Centre massively easier for local families. It’s great to have this important route restored in time for the start of the popular Santa Cruise season.”

To book tickets for the Ellesmere Port National Waterways Museum Festive Boat Trip and Santa’s Grotto Experience, please go to https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/events/canal-events-canal-festivals/2023-12-02-national-waterways-museum-festive-boat-trip-and-santas-grotto-experience

To reserve a seat on the Santa Cruise at the Anderton Boat Lift visitor centre, near Northwich, please follow the link: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/events/canal-events-canal-festivals/2023-12-02-santa-cruise