Situated at King’s Cross, The London Canal Museum is a fascinating place where you can learn about the history of London’s canals, about the cargoes carried, the people who lived and worked on the waterways, and the horses that pulled their boats.
This museum is housed in a former ice warehouse built in about 1862-3 for Carlo Gatti, the famous ice cream maker. Find out more at www.canalmuseum.org.uk.
The Canalway Cavalcade usually takes place over the first May bank holiday weekend at Little Venice. This unique waterways festival will be fun for all the family with a boaters’ gathering, a pageant of boats, trade shows and stalls, bands, kids’ activities, competitions, Morris Dancers, a real ale bar, a wide variety of snacks and food. Find out more at www.waterways.org.uk
Heading through Little Venice you’ll come across the Canal Cafe Theatre, a charming little theatre, which features a variety of local shows. www.canalcafetheatre.com
Travelling with kids? Then don’t miss the Puppet Theatre Barge, a theatre in a boat, which travels down the Thames putting on shows. You’ll usually find the theatre moored at either Little Venice or Richmond. The theatre specialises in puppet shows featuring marionettes. It’s perfect for all the family. www.puppetbarge.com
At the Museum of London Docklands you can join long-term local resident Brian Grover for a guided tour of London’s mysteries of the Orient in the docklands and hear about the first settlement of the London Chinese community.
Find out more at www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands.
