Ice weekend 22nd and 23rd July 2023. Fors some years we have offered a one-day opportunity
to visit the underground ice wells during the Festival of Archaeology each July. This year we also
have activities on the Saturday (no ice well visits). There will be a showing of rare film of ice
harvesting, ice cream making demonstrations, and talks about the ice trade. On Saturday we have
performances by Camden Town Community Choir who have selected songs for us related to ice!
Saturday 22nd July 2023
- 1000 Doors open
- 1000-1630 Ice Trail available all day
- 1015-1035 Camden Town Community Choir
- 1045-1115 "Mrs Marshall" ice cream making demonstration
- 1130-1150 Camden Town Community Choir
- 1300-1345 Tour of the building above ground with building historian Malcolm Tucker
- 1400-1420 Camden Town Community Choir
- 1430-1500 "Mrs Marshall" ice cream making demonstration
- 1515-1605 Camden Town Community Choir
- 1630 Close
Sunday 23rd July 2023
- 10.00 Doors open
- 10.00-16.30 Ice Trail
- 10.30-16.00 Ice Wells Tours
- 10.45-11.15 Mrs Marshall ice cream making demonstration
- 11.45-12.15 “ice” talk Brian
- 1300-1345 Tour of the building above ground with building historian Malcolm Tucker
- 14.30-15.00 Mrs Marshall ice cream making demonstration
- 15.15 “ice” talk by Brian Johnson
- 16.30 Close
The Ice Trail
On both days take an ice trail around the museum, a quiz helping
you discover more about the way Victorian London was supplied with ice. Colect a trail sheet at reception and get exploring
Building tour
Our building has many interesting features that may not be noticed at a glance. In the brickwork you can identify signs
of the changes that have taken place over the years, and see clues about the past uses of the building. Your guide Malcolm
has studied the building for many years and is an expert on its features. 1300 on Saturday and on Sunday.
Book an ice well visit
Tickets are limited and should be booked in advance
Prices are £10 for adults and £9 for concessions. Museum entry is included. Concessions are Seniors (aged 65 and over), Students (with ID), children 14-16, and unwaged (with evidence). This is not suitable for young children.
There are also tunnel boat trips available on 23rd July. If you have ALREADY booked a tunnel boat trip you can use the discount code "ICE23" to get £5 off an ice well visit. Note you MUST book the boat trip first. Please ensure
that you book both with the same email address and name. Any bookings that are made at a discount where there is not a boat trip booking by the same person using the same email address will be cancelled. To book a tunnel boat trip
please go to https://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson/tunnel-trip.htm and then come back here to make another booking for the ice well visit. Try to leave a gap between the two activities in case there is any delay on the first.
Please be aware that these bookings are not refundable
There are important restrictions regarding visits down into the ice well
These are:
- To go down, you must be fit enough to climb ladders confidently and without difficulty
- Minimum age 14
- No loose footwear allowed. Your shoes must be of a type that cannot fall off. No sandals allowed
- You may get dirty. Leave your best clothes at home
- If you have a medical condition that could potentially come on suddenly whilst you are underground, do not descend.
- You will be required to wear a bump cap, which we will supply
Note that the Gatti Music Hall event is in September, not July. Why not book both?
