Canal & River Trust – Standedge Tunnel

What will students see and do?

Situated in the beautiful Pennine countryside, Standedge Tunnel runs between Marsden and Diggle. It is also the highest, longest and deepest canal tunnel in Britain.

A class trip to Standedge Tunnel begins at the Marsden end of the tunnel with a scenic walk from your train or coach along the canal towpath. Students get a lesson in water safety along the way.

At the visitor centre, you will see treasured artefacts and learn the story of the tunnel and its history. The tunnel operated between 1811 and 1944, allowing boats to travel beneath the great moors from Huddersfield to Oldham. This incredible engineering feat took 17 years to build and exacted a tremendous cost, both in terms of money and, sadly, lives lost. Students will learn all about its design and construction, and what life was like along the canal 200 years ago.

A glass-topped boat will take you and your students into the tunnel for a 30-minute guided tour, and you can retrace the steps of Thomas Bourne, the tunnels’ first traffic control operator, on the Standedge Admiral’s trail.

Trips can include waterside, museum and/or clubhouse visits, as well as water safety education and assemblies. There’s also an outdoor play area and sensory garden.

They also offer a unique opportunity to explore the history, legacy and importance of the waterways and canals in Yorkshire, and the chance to learn more about the local rivers, wildlife, geography, history and economy of Northern England.



Teaching resources provided

Standedge Tunnel displays its LOtC Quality Badge proudly. The national accreditation from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom recognises the Tunnel’s combined educational and safety merits for all activities offered.

Standedge Tunnel offers a free pre-visit to school teachers. This should help you in planning your class trip.

In addition, Standedge Tunnel offers numerous educational resources and supplemental materials. You can use some materials in the classroom ahead of your class trip. Use others during your visit. It’s even created resources to take back to your classroom.

These resources include lesson plans, teachers’ notes, worksheet and activity sheets for individual and group work, and downloadable posters and whiteboard pictures for class discussion.

It also offers special themed activities, STEM workshops, virtual workshops and classroom outreach.


Minimum and maximum group size

To be eligible for group pricing, the minimum group size is 15, and there must be one adult for every eight students for boat trips.


Details of risk assessment

Standedge Tunnel offers school teachers assistance in preparing risk assessments, including an example risk assessment to use in conjunction with your school’s guidelines when completing your own.

Its guidelines stress the most important water safety rule with the acronym SAFE: Stay Away From the Edge. There are downloadable water safety guidelines provided, as well as the Waterside Safety Challenge, a series of games and activities to help you teach water safety to your students ahead of the trip.

Standedge Tunnel officials encourage you to brief all accompanying adults about the risks, safety measures and other details before the visit, and to designate an adult to handle first aid, if necessary.

It also stresses the importance, for both students and adults, of wearing suitable clothing and footwear for your activities.

Although there’s no signal/reception inside the tunnel, it is recommended that at least one adult in your group carries a mobile phone. That person should know who to contact in an emergency, as well as the location of the emergency (the postcode and/or name of the nearest access road).

PLANNING

Don't miss our downloadable A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment

icon for A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment

Facilities on-site

The Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre includes a museum, workshop spaces and restrooms. There’s also a café offering indoor and outdoor seating, which serves breakfast, lunch and snacks.

There are also picnic areas on the grounds.


Opening times

The visitors centre is open 10am-3pm daily. Additional times may be arranged for class trips.

The Watersedge Café opens 9am-5pm daily.

SHARE THIS

Pricing

All classroom trips to Standedge Tunnel include a boat trip and your choice of a free workshop on local history, habitats or rivers.

Group pricing is available for groups of 15 or more children. Under group pricing, admission is £4 per child, with one free adult admission for each group of eight children.


Travel arrangements

By train: Marsden Station is on the Huddersfield line. You can also reach it via the TransPennine Express. From the station, it’s a 15-minute walk along the picturesque Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath to the visitor centre.

By car or coach: the postcode HD7 6DH will take you to Marsden Station, where parking is free (there’s also additional parking at lock 42 near the station). Coach drop-off is only allowed at Marsden Station. From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk along the towpath. Disabled parking is available at the visitor centre.

By bus: use bus route 184 Oldham-Huddersfield. It drops off and picks up on the A62 in Marsden village. From the bus stop, follow the canal towpath to the visitor centre.

Address

Waters Road , Marsden, Huddersfield, Kirklees
HD7 6NQ


Enquire Now

Book your school trip to Canal & River Trust – Standedge Tunnel

For information on booking your school trip to this venue, click below.

Book your school trip to Canal & River Trust – Standedge Tunnel

For information on booking your school trip to this venue, click below.

Teachers also looked at...

View All

Explore by Region

View all
image of East England
East England 54 trips available
image of International
International 46 trips available
image of London
London 59 trips available
image of North West England
North West England 55 trips available
image of South East England
South East England 45 trips available
image of Wales
Wales 46 trips available
image of West Midlands
West Midlands 50 trips available
image of Yorkshire & the Humber
Yorkshire & the Humber 34 trips available

Explore by Type

View all