Shiver me timbers! Pirate fun at Cheshire's Anderton Boat Lift and National Waterways Museum

Shiver me timbers! Pirates are poised to jump aboard two Cheshire waterway attractions in June for wild weekends of high seas shenanigans at Ellesmere Port’s National Waterways Museum (7/8 June) and Anderton Boat Lift, near Northwich (21/22 June).

Hosted by the Canal & River Trust charity, the Conwy Pirates will swing into action for two thrilling events devoted to high jinks on the high seas, featuring cannon and pistol firing, treasure hunts, pirate costume parades, tug-o-war tussles, games and live music.

Visitors are invited to dress up in their favourite pirate costume and test their pirate skills to win an official pirate certificate! Mermaid Aurora will also be joining in the fun by entertaining guests with delightful songs and stories of the oceans.

Ani Sutton, destination and attraction manager with the Trust, said: “Polish your cutlasses and come aboard! The Conwy Pirates stormed both our wonderful canal attractions last year and were such a huge success with visitors, we’ve invited them back to invade Cheshire’s inland waterways for a second year running.

“The sun is shining on the start of an amazing season of special events and activities at both venues, including the extra special 150th anniversary celebrations at Anderton Boat Lift this year, which reach a climax the last weekend in July with a fantastic Victorian Fair.”

Both the Waterways Museum and Anderton Boat Lift are open throughout the summer season offering a fantastic insight into our national canal boating history.

At Anderton, the Edwin Clark trip boat, named after the Lift’s designer, offers four fabulous tours a day along the River Weaver Navigation to Northwich, giving a visitors a unique view of the stunning 1875 Victorian structure, the world’s first major commercial boat lift, and the area’s intriguing local industrial history of salt mining and land subsidence.”

Admission to the weekend pirate 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. The centre will be open from 10am – 4.30pm on both days. For more information about visiting the boat lift, check out the Canal & River Trust website or call 01606 786777.

The Waterways Museum is open five days a week (Wednesday – Sunday) and an adult ticket costs £13.25. Throughout the season, special themed Sundays will feature a range of attractions from Steampunk and the British Organ Grinders to Living History and period Canal Town. For more information about visiting and to book discounted tickets, visit the museum website