ANDERTON BOAT LIFT HOSTS free steam festival in May.
More than 30 historic steamboats, traction engines, tractors and steam rollers are travelling from all over the country to congregate at Anderton Boat Lift, on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May, for a free ‘Steam at the Lift’ Festival.
Wide range of activities
Hosted by the Canal & River Trusty, the event will feature a wide range of family-friendly activities, from traction engine and steamboat demonstrations to face painting and behind-the-scenes ‘Walking the Lift’ tours. The Daniel Adamson art deco steamship ‘The Danny’ will be hosting an onboard craft beer festival and tours; there will be live music, barbecues, and Cheshire Live Steamers will be showing off their wonderful miniature traction engines at the top of the lift.
For a small fee, visitors can buy tickets for a guided river cruise in the Edwin Clark trip boat along the Weaver Navigation, offering a unique insight into the stunning 1875 Victorian structure, the world’s first major commercial boat lift, and Northwich’s salt industry history.
Firm favourite
Jannette Warrener, the trust’s national destination and attractions manager, explains:
“The fantastic steam festival has become a firm favourite in the annual event calendar at Anderton Boat Lift. With live demonstrations and interactive exhibits, it’s bursting with old-world charm. The Lift is a Scheduled Monument and one of the seven ‘Wonders of the Waterways’, so this festival provides a great opportunity to showcase its fascinating history and enjoy some glorious heritage steam engines.
“We’re very grateful to all the passionate owners, many of whom have travelled long distances to be with us. All the ships, steam engines and lorries will be operated and demonstrated by volunteer enthusiasts, offering visitors a wonderful insight into their mechanical history and heritage.
“Sadly the 150-year-old lift structure, which moves boats between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the river remains closed for major repairs, following a broken lift gate. Trust engineers are currently working hard to install a new, more robust and modern gate-lifting system and we are anticipating it will be operational again by early 2027.
“In the meantime, the Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre, Edwin Clark trip boat and grounds are very much open for business, with visitors able to enjoy a café, shop, exhibits, maze, children’s playground and regular, guided boat cruises along the Weaver.”
Need to be booked in advance
Admission to the weekend festival event and the Anderton Boat Lift visitor centre is free but some activities, such as boat trips, incur a charge and need to be booked in advance. Festival opening times are Saturday and Sunday (9.30am to 4.30pm).
For the rest of the 2026 summer season, Anderton Boat Lift and visitor centre will be open six days a week (closed Thursdays), 9.30am – 4.30pm, offering four boat trips a day.
This summer, car fans will find a new, enthusiastic welcome at Anderton with the Boat Lift’s own special Car Show on Sunday 31st May, plus different days devoted to specific classic models, from Volvo (June 7th), Lotus (July 5th) and Jaguar (July 11th & 12th) to Westfield Sports cars (May 17th) and British 1960s Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger sports cars (May 24th).