Let's explore!

The vibrant heart of Liverpool's historic waterfront, Albert Dock's the place to play, to see, to eat, drink and stay. Blending old and new, it's contemporary, yet cultured; fun, and friendly and is the perfect spot for groups.

You'll find museums, galleries and a huge range of venues to eat and drink in amid the lofty colonnades of this architectural splendour. From culture and comedy to Beatles, boats, galleries and gigs, it's the place for food, fun, family: to eat, drink and dance. Night and day

More information coming soon ...

Today the Weaver Navigation follows the route of the 1810-built Weston Canal past the Sutton Weaver swing bridge (1) opened in 1926. The Danny berths at what was once the Aston Estate's Wharf, between the road and rail bridges. The navigation continues under the M56 viaduct to join the Manchester Ship Canal at Weston Marsh lock (2) where the Danny is turned to return up-river.

The original river flows over Frodsham weir (3) and through Frodsham (4) where the wharf is now only accessible from the Ship Canal. The railway viaduct (5) opened in 1850, carries the Chester-Warrington line. The derelict Frodsham lock (6) dates from 1781, and if restored, would allow small vessels direct access to Frodsham from the Weaver under the stone arched bridge (4).

Ellesmere Port docks were originally established on the south bank of the Mersey to allow transfer of cargo between sea-going ships and narrow boats on the Shropshire Union Canal. The lighthouse (1) still stands, although the later construction of the Manchester Ship Canal (2) made it redundant.

The eastern part of the site now forms the National Waterways Museum and includes the locks between the Inner Dock (3) and the Shropshire Union canal (4). The Museum entrance is via the Visitor Centre (5) opposite the large car park.

The western part of the site where many of the old warehouses stood has now been redeveloped. The Danny (6) berths on the ship canal frontage opposite the apartments on Telford's Quay.

Acton Swing Bridge (1) was opened in 1934 and carries the A49 over the Weaver. It replaced an older bridge (4) just upstream which carried traffic onto the island and over the stone bridge (3). The road then continued past the front of the Leigh Arms (5). Nowadays the island and moorings are used by the Acton Bridge Cruising Club. The Danny uses the Quay (2) below the bridge, where there is also space for her to turn.

When the river was modernised in the 19th century there were locks (1) near the site of the swing bridge but these were removed when the larger locks were built in the 1870s. The recesses where the lock gates used to be can still be seen.

The Anderton Lift (1) was completed in 1875 and enables pleasure craft to transfer between the Trent & Mersey Canal (2) and the Weaver – although its original purpose was entirely industrial. Previously salt brought by canal boats had to be tipped down chutes into boats waiting below. The lift is now a major attraction with its own Visitor Centre (3) from which the lift is controlled. Passengers to and from the Danny reach her berth (4) via the Visitor Centre (3)

The inland port of Anderton (5) where small sea-going coasters could berth was sold off in 1987 and has subsequently been redeveloped. Downstream (6) the river goes to the left with the navigation keeping right past Winnington Turn bridge (7) and into the Barnton Cut to Saltersford Locks, below which the two re-unite.

Downstream from Dutton Viaduct (1) Pickerings Wharf (2) was the tidal limit for river navigation until Frodsham Lock was opened in 1781. Salt was carried by packhorse to load into barges. Pickerings lock (4) and cut, today the main channel, were opened in 1758, but the lock had to be rebuilt after failing in 1761. Later doubled, the locks were removed in 1879 after the new larger locks were built at Dutton.

Some of the stonework from the locks, and a later footbridge, remain visible but the only substantial part remaining are the lock-keepers houses (3) built in the 1850s and now privately occupied.

The present Dutton Locks (1) were opened in 1880 on a new cut across a bend in the river. The sluices (2), which release excess water, followed in 1881. The flow below the sluices joins the original river course at (4) and flows under the white “Horse Bridge” (3), so named because horses were used to tow barges on the river. This dates from 1916 and is one of the oldest surviving laminated timber structures in UK.

The original lock of the 1730's was in the fields off to the right, the old course is now mostly filled in. The 1760 'new cut' took the river round the back of the “lock island”, by-passing the 1730's lock. Traces can also be seen of the upper end of Pickering's cut (5) where it ran under Dutton Railway viaduct (6), built in 1836 and now part of the West Coast Main Line. Today the Weaver Navigation continues under the left hand end of the viaduct (just off the photograph).

Saltersford Locks (1) were opened in 1877, replacing a pair of older locks (2) one of which is now a sluice to release excess water. The old river (3) which had been by-passed by the 1830's built Barnton Cut (5) rejoins the main navigation channel just downstream from the current locks. Excess water from the channel can also flow over the weir (4) to by-pass the locks.

Between Saltersford Locks and Anderton, the Weaver Navigation and the Trent and Mersey Canal (6) run close together, although, being higher the canal is not visible from the Danny. The canal runs from the basin into Saltersford tunnel, which is beneath the two parallel hedges crossing the ploughed field.

Looking upstream is Winnington turn bridge (1) constructed in 1909, to replace one built in 1901. It carries the A533 across the Weaver Navigation with the adjacent old stone bridge (behind trees - 2) carrying the road across the old river. To the right (3) is the waste water course dug in 1874, which re-joins the navigation below Saltersford Lock. Wallerscote Island (4) was the site of a major facility for loading soda ash into coasters and barges. The quay remains but the whole area is now being redeveloped for housing.

Beyond the bridge is Tata Chemicals' Winnington Works (5), producing mainly bicarbonate of soda. The top of the Anderton Boat lift (6) is just visible over the white roofs.