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Free tickets for waterways museum

24th Oct 2005

To celebrate the filming of motion picture Amazing Grace on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, British Waterways and The Waterways Trust are joining together to offer 50 free family tickets to The National Waterways Museum over half term week.

Families will have the chance to explore the fascinating history of Britain’s inland waterways through the exhibits at the National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks. The tickets will admit two adults and up to three children free of charge.

Tickets are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis from the British Waterways reception at Harbour House, on the West Quay of Gloucester Docks. Reception is open from 8.30am – 5pm Monday to Thursday and from 8.30am - 4.30pm on Friday and for the weekend of the filming will be open from 10am – 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be available from Friday 21 October.

Amazing Grace will be shot on Bakers Quay, just outside Gloucester Docks, over a three day period from 29 – 31 October. The film follows the career of William Wilberforce, who spent his life dedicated to ending the slave trade in Britain. Clapham Productions Ltd has chosen Bakers Quay as a major location for the film and with the support of British Waterways is recreating a part of the East India Docks in London circa 1780. At that time the Docks would have been one of the centres for the slave trade.

The film will star Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four, Hornblower) and Albert Finney (Erin Brokovich, Gathering Storm) and will be directed by Michael Apted (Enigma, The World is Not Enough).

Stephanie Peacock, marketing & communications manager for British Waterways South West, commented: “We are delighted that the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Bakers Quay has been chosen as the location for this exciting new film.

"Our waterways have a very interesting history, and we are pleased to be able to offer, in partnership with The Waterways Trust, these free tickets for a great day out for the whole family during half term week.”

In addition to finding out more about our canals and our industrial heritage, the Museum is running a series of Halloween themed workshops, providing an ideal family day out during the half term break.

Last updated: 22/10/2008