Manchester City Centre
The restoration of Manchester’s canals to many people began with an advert for beer featuring the waterways of the city, where famously “Gladys Althorpe never buys her own [pint of] bitter!” The canals of Manchester nowadays form part of the vibrant heart of the centre of the city. Passing through the Mills developed into high end apartments at Ancoats, New Islington Marina, the always lively Gay Village by Canal Street, clubs at Deansgate Locks just around the corner from the Beetham Tower which dominates the sky line of the city. Then through to Castlefield Basin which, has several high end bars and restaurants. Not to mention that the canal passes by two minor provincial football clubs’ stadiums, known as Manchester United FC and Manchester City FC. Manchester city centre is one of the UK’s liveliest and interesting citys to visit on your holiday, and you can do so by boat with us!
Introduction
Manchester by water
Manchester is the home to many of the country’s best and brightest. From LS Lowry to Oasis, Premier League teams Manchester United and Manchester City. Amazing history and architecture including the old and new such as Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Central, The Canals themself and a myriad of Mills that have been converted into offices, hotels, apartments and leisure uses.
The city is vibrant and lively with venues such as the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford Football Ground, Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester Arena, O2 Apollo, Manchester Central, Castlefield Bowl & O2 Ritz.
Theatres including; Royal Exchange, Palace Theatre, Opera House, Bridgewater Hall, The Lowry, Home & Manchester Academy.
Museums in Manchester; Manchester Museum, People’s History Museum, National Football Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Imperial War Museum.
Art Galleries such as; Manchester Art Gallery, Home , The Lowry, Whitworth Art Gallery, John Rylands Library, Castlefield Gallery, Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art.
As you can see above there is so much to see and do across the city that we haven’t been able to include everything!
Forget the image of old shopping trolleys, the canals have been reborn via a quiet revolution that has been spreading through the city.
Engineers, who only 20 years before had been filling in urban canals, like the Rochdale Canal, suddenly found themselves digging them out again.
Developers have also been quick to take advantage of the canal renaissance. Property by an attractive canal can add up to 20% in value. Two trans-Pennine canals, the Huddersfield Narrow and the Rochdale canals were restored to operation and in their wake have arrived some impressive urban villages like New Islington and Piccadilly Village.
Instead of turning their backs on our once maligned canals, bars and restaurants like Dukes 92, the Rain Bar and the Bridgewater Hall in central Manchester now embrace their waterside setting as an attractive selling point. Dukes 92, between the Rochdale Canal and Bridgewater Canal, in Castlefield, is one of many Manchester bars to make its canalside setting a selling point.
Introduction
Manchester by water
Manchester is the home to many of the country’s best and brightest. From LS Lowry to Oasis, Premier League teams Manchester United and Manchester City. Amazing history and architecture including the old and new such as Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Central, The Canals themself and a myriad of Mills that have been converted into offices, hotels, apartments and leisure uses.
The city is vibrant and lively with venues such as the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford Football Ground, Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester Arena, O2 Apollo, Manchester Central, Castlefield Bowl & O2 Ritz.
Theatres including; Royal Exchange, Palace Theatre, Opera House, Bridgewater Hall, The Lowry, Home & Manchester Academy.
Museums in Manchester; Manchester Museum, People’s History Museum, National Football Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Imperial War Museum.
Art Galleries such as; Manchester Art Gallery, Home , The Lowry, Whitworth Art Gallery, John Rylands Library, Castlefield Gallery, Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art.
As you can see above there is so much to see and do across the city that we haven’t been able to include everything!
Forget the image of old shopping trolleys, the canals have been reborn via a quiet revolution that has been spreading through the city.
Engineers, who only 20 years before had been filling in urban canals, like the Rochdale Canal, suddenly found themselves digging them out again.
Developers have also been quick to take advantage of the canal renaissance. Property by an attractive canal can add up to 20% in value. Two trans-Pennine canals, the Huddersfield Narrow and the Rochdale canals were restored to operation and in their wake have arrived some impressive urban villages like New Islington and Piccadilly Village.
Instead of turning their backs on our once maligned canals, bars and restaurants like Dukes 92, the Rain Bar and the Bridgewater Hall in central Manchester now embrace their waterside setting as an attractive selling point. Dukes 92, between the Rochdale Canal and Bridgewater Canal, in Castlefield, is one of many Manchester bars to make its canalside setting a selling point.
Route to Manchester City Centre
This is a trip of 61 miles, 5 furlongs and 2 locks from Anderton Boat Lift Holding Moorings (Trent and Mersey) to Castlefield Junction then returning to Anderton Boat Lift Holding Moorings (Trent and Mersey).
This will take 21 hours and 46 minutes which is 3 days, 46 minutes at 7 hours per day.
From Anderton you will leave the Boat Lift and travel north after some pleasant countryside there are the Barnton and Saltersford Tunnels, further countryside ensues across the Cheshire plains until you reach Preston Brook stop lock and Tunnel which exit onto the Bridgewater Canal.
After travelling underneath the M56 Motorway you proceed into serene countryside once more before traversing the affluent suburbs of South Manchester skirting Dunham Massey National Park, and the towns of Lymm and Altrincham before proceeding through Sale and Stretford as well as going past the home of Manchester United FC, Old Trafford Stadium before emerging at Castlefield Junction in the heart of Manchester City Centre.
NAVIGATION NOTES
- Barnton Road Bridge
The bridge is on a blind bend – care should be taken when approaching from either side. - Saltersford Tunnel
Tunnel entry is as follows:
Northbound (Saltersford Tunnel to Preston Brook) – Entry on the hour until 20 minutes past the hour.
Southbound (Saltersford Tunnel to Barnton) – Entry 30 minutes past the hour until 10 minutes to the hour. - Preston Brook Tunnel
Tunnel times are as follows:
Northbound: open on the hour, and remains open until 10 past the hour.
Southbound: open at half past the hour, and remain opens until 20 to the hour. - Preston Brook & Castlefield Junction
Information for Canal & River Trust Licence Holders visiting the Bridgewater CanalAll C&RT craft are subject to the terms and conditions of the Bridgewater Canal whilst they remain on our waterway.C&RT licence holders may remain on the Bridgewater Canal for periods not exceeding seven consecutive days.C&RT craft wishing to extend beyond the 7 day reciprocal arrangement period must obtain a temporary short term Bridgewater Canal Licence at a cost of £40 for 7 consecutive days. If you wish to obtain a temporary short term Bridgewater Canal licence please contact the Bridgewater Canal Company on telephone 0161 629 8266.
Detailed Route:
From Anderton Boat Lift Holding Moorings (Trent and Mersey)  (Only for boats using the boat lift) to: |
|||
| Anderton Lift Junction (Trent and Mersey) | ¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Barnton Road Bridge [see navigational note 1 below] | 6½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Barnton Tunnel (eastern entrance) | ¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Barnton Tunnel (western entrance) Having passed through Barnton Tunnel (572 yards long) | 2½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Saltersford Tunnel (eastern entrance) | 2¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Saltersford Tunnel (western entrance) Having passed through Saltersford Tunnel (424 yards long) [see navigational note 2 below] | 2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Acton Bridge No 209 | 1 mile, 6¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Dutton Wharf Bridge No 212 | 1 mile, 2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook Tunnel (southern entrance) | 1 mile, 1¼ furlongs, 1 lock | ||
| Preston Brook Tunnel (northern entrance)
An extra 35 minutes has been allowed for this passage
Having passed through Preston Brook Tunnel (1239 yards long) [see navigational note 3 below] |
5¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook [see navigational note 4 below]
Junction of Trent and Mersey Canal and Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) – immediately north of Preston Brook Tunnel
|
½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) | |||
| From Preston Brook [see navigational note 4 below] (Junction of Trent and Mersey Canal and Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) – immediately north of Preston Brook Tunnel) to: | |||
| Preston Brook Wharf
Ex Claymoore Holidays base
|
5¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Midland Chandlers (Preston Brook) | ½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook – Waters Meeting
Junction of the Bridgewater Canal (Main Line) with the Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch)
|
½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Bridgewater Canal (Main Line) | |||
| From Preston Brook – Waters Meeting (Junction of the Bridgewater Canal (Main Line) with the Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch)) to: | |||
| Lumb Brook Underbridge
Stockton Heath
|
5 miles, 3¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Lymm Visitor Moorings
Resticted mooring, maximum stay 48 hours, no return in 3 days between Lymm Bridge and Brookfield Bridge. Also known as ‘Lymm’
|
4 miles, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
Golden Fleece PH 
Canalside
|
¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Lymm Bridge No 23
Lymm, footbridge is next to road bridge
|
a few yards, 0 locks | ||
| Ye Olde Number 3 PH
Ye Olde No 3 is a pub which has given its name to the general area.
|
2 miles, 4¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| River Bollin Aqueduct
270yds(247m) of narrow channel across aqueduct
|
5¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Seamon’s Moss Bridge No 29 | 1 mile, 6¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Oldfield Quay | 2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Timperley Bridge No 33 | 1 mile, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Sale Wharf |
1 mile, 4¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Bridge Inn (Sale)
Canalside
|
3¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
Stretford Marina   
Also known as ‘Stretford Marine Services Ltd’, ‘Marland Way Marina’
|
1 mile, 6¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Stretford – Waters Meeting
Junction of Bridgewater Canal Main Line and Stretford and Leigh Branch
|
2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Pomona Lock Branch Junction
Junction of Bridgewater Canal and Branch to Manchester Ship Canal
|
1 mile, 5½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Hulme Locks Branch – Bridgewater Canal Junction
Branch closed
|
5½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Castlefield Junction [see navigational note 5 below]
Junction of Bridgewater and Rochdale Canals
|
2½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Turn round here | |||
| Hulme Locks Branch – Bridgewater Canal Junction
Branch closed
|
2½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Pomona Lock Branch Junction
Junction of Bridgewater Canal and Branch to Manchester Ship Canal
|
5½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Stretford – Waters Meeting
Junction of Bridgewater Canal Main Line and Stretford and Leigh Branch
|
1 mile, 5½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Stretford Marina
Also known as ‘Stretford Marine Services Ltd’, ‘Marland Way Marina’
|
2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Bridge Inn (Sale)
Canalside
|
1 mile, 6¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Sale Wharf |
3¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Timperley Bridge No 33 | 1 mile, 4¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Oldfield Quay | 1 mile, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Seamon’s Moss Bridge No 29 | 2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| River Bollin Aqueduct
270yds(247m) of narrow channel across aqueduct
|
1 mile, 6¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Ye Olde Number 3 PH
Ye Olde No 3 is a pub which has given its name to the general area.
|
5¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Lymm Bridge No 23
Lymm, footbridge is next to road bridge
|
2 miles, 4¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Golden Fleece PH
Canalside
|
a few yards, 0 locks | ||
| Lymm Visitor Moorings
Resticted mooring, maximum stay 48 hours, no return in 3 days between Lymm Bridge and Brookfield Bridge. Also known as ‘Lymm’
|
¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Lumb Brook Underbridge
Stockton Heath
|
4 miles, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook – Waters Meeting
Junction of the Bridgewater Canal (Main Line) with the Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch)
|
5 miles, 3¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) | |||
| From Preston Brook – Waters Meeting (Junction of the Bridgewater Canal (Main Line) with the Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch)) to: | |||
| Midland Chandlers (Preston Brook) | ½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook Wharf
Ex Claymoore Holidays base
|
½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook [see navigational note 4 below]
Junction of Trent and Mersey Canal and Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) – immediately north of Preston Brook Tunnel
|
5¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line – Middlewich to Preston Brook) | |||
| From Preston Brook [see navigational note 4 below] (Junction of Trent and Mersey Canal and Bridgewater Canal (Preston Brook Branch) – immediately north of Preston Brook Tunnel) to: | |||
| Preston Brook Tunnel (northern entrance) | ½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Preston Brook Tunnel (southern entrance)
An extra 35 minutes has been allowed for this passage
Having passed through Preston Brook Tunnel (1239 yards long) [see navigational note 3 below] |
5¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Dutton Wharf Bridge No 212 | 1 mile, 1¼ furlongs, 1 lock | ||
| Acton Bridge No 209 | 1 mile, 2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Saltersford Tunnel (western entrance) | 1 mile, 6¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Saltersford Tunnel (eastern entrance) Having passed through Saltersford Tunnel (424 yards long) [see navigational note 2 below] | 2 furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Barnton Tunnel (western entrance) | 2¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Barnton Tunnel (eastern entrance) Having passed through Barnton Tunnel (572 yards long) | 2½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Barnton Road Bridge [see navigational note 1 below] | ¾ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Anderton Lift Junction (Trent and Mersey) | 6½ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
| Anderton Boat Lift Holding Moorings (Trent and Mersey)
Only for boats using the boat lift
|
¼ furlongs, 0 locks | ||
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Opening Hours
Summer (April - October):
6 days a week (closed Wednesdays)
9am - 5pm
Winter (November - March)
5 days a week (closed weekends)
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Address
Floating Holidays
Middlewich Wharf
Canal Terrace
Middlewich
CW10 9BD