London Canal Museum
@canalmuseum.bsky.social
One of the most-visited waterways museums in the UK, located in central London. On two floors we tell the story of London's canals, their people, arts and crafts, boats, horses and engineering. We offer a programme of regular boat trips from the museum.
There's still time to get tickets for our night of laughter, music and nostalgia at our Gatti's Music Hall event, tomorrow evening 🎭
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment - for more details, and to book: http://lcm.me.uk/mh
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment - for more details, and to book: http://lcm.me.uk/mh
November 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM
There's still time to get tickets for our night of laughter, music and nostalgia at our Gatti's Music Hall event, tomorrow evening 🎭
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment - for more details, and to book: http://lcm.me.uk/mh
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment - for more details, and to book: http://lcm.me.uk/mh
Join us next Saturday (8 November) for a night of laughter, music and nostalgia at our Gatti's Music Hall event 🎭
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment with The New Players' Theatre Company. Enjoy a step back in time with an evening of fun entertainment.
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Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment with The New Players' Theatre Company. Enjoy a step back in time with an evening of fun entertainment.
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November 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Join us next Saturday (8 November) for a night of laughter, music and nostalgia at our Gatti's Music Hall event 🎭
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment with The New Players' Theatre Company. Enjoy a step back in time with an evening of fun entertainment.
🧵1/2
Experience the magic of Victorian-era entertainment with The New Players' Theatre Company. Enjoy a step back in time with an evening of fun entertainment.
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Our book recommendation this month comes from our volunteer Alison - Boater: A Life on England’s Waterways by Jo Bell
As a former archaeologist and canal laureate, Jo Bell's book Boater makes for a fantastic read.
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As a former archaeologist and canal laureate, Jo Bell's book Boater makes for a fantastic read.
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November 1, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Our book recommendation this month comes from our volunteer Alison - Boater: A Life on England’s Waterways by Jo Bell
As a former archaeologist and canal laureate, Jo Bell's book Boater makes for a fantastic read.
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As a former archaeologist and canal laureate, Jo Bell's book Boater makes for a fantastic read.
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We've had such fun celebrating Halloween this year, thanks to all who visited us this week.
We asked our visitors to draw the scariest monster, and we've been blown away by the creativity - here are some of our favourites!
We asked our visitors to draw the scariest monster, and we've been blown away by the creativity - here are some of our favourites!
October 31, 2025 at 4:04 PM
We've had such fun celebrating Halloween this year, thanks to all who visited us this week.
We asked our visitors to draw the scariest monster, and we've been blown away by the creativity - here are some of our favourites!
We asked our visitors to draw the scariest monster, and we've been blown away by the creativity - here are some of our favourites!
Join us for a ’Scream Tea’ trip through the Islington Tunnel - listen to tall tales as you devour your scones, pale cream and blood-dripping jam!
For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
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For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
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October 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Join us for a ’Scream Tea’ trip through the Islington Tunnel - listen to tall tales as you devour your scones, pale cream and blood-dripping jam!
For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
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For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
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If you are joining us today, tomorrow or Friday, we're bringing some Halloween fun to the museum 👻
Board our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
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Board our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
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October 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
If you are joining us today, tomorrow or Friday, we're bringing some Halloween fun to the museum 👻
Board our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
🧵1/3
Board our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
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If you are joining us today, 29 Oct 2025, be aware that we'll be taking some photos to promote our Halloween events. No interviews are due, but your likeness may appear in our photos. We'll use the photos online and potentially in print. Please speak to a staff member if you have any questions.
October 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM
If you are joining us today, 29 Oct 2025, be aware that we'll be taking some photos to promote our Halloween events. No interviews are due, but your likeness may appear in our photos. We'll use the photos online and potentially in print. Please speak to a staff member if you have any questions.
Join us for a ’Scream Tea’ trip through the Islington Tunnel - listen to tall tales as you devour your scones, pale cream and blood-dripping jam!
For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
🧵2/3
For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
🧵2/3
October 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Join us for a ’Scream Tea’ trip through the Islington Tunnel - listen to tall tales as you devour your scones, pale cream and blood-dripping jam!
For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
🧵2/3
For our younger visitors, our popular Top Ten Trail has a ghostly twist this season! Can you uncover all the spooky surprises hidden along the way?
🧵2/3
From Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 October, we bring a little Halloween fun to the museum and the Regent’s Canal 👻
Join our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
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Join our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
🧵1/3
October 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
From Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 October, we bring a little Halloween fun to the museum and the Regent’s Canal 👻
Join our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
🧵1/3
Join our narrowboat ‘Long Tom’ for a trip through the Islington Tunnel, with scary stories and Halloween lights, served up with ghoulishly hot drinks and a spooky cookie.
🧵1/3
In 1946, the hall reopened as the Players Theatre, presenting Victorian-style music hall and was very popular.
In 1987, the theatre had to close for building work above the station, but reopened in a different set of arches a short distance up Villiers Street.
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In 1987, the theatre had to close for building work above the station, but reopened in a different set of arches a short distance up Villiers Street.
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October 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
In 1946, the hall reopened as the Players Theatre, presenting Victorian-style music hall and was very popular.
In 1987, the theatre had to close for building work above the station, but reopened in a different set of arches a short distance up Villiers Street.
🧵3/4
In 1987, the theatre had to close for building work above the station, but reopened in a different set of arches a short distance up Villiers Street.
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It's our third and final part of our short history of Gatti's music halls.
What happened to the Charing Cross Music Hall?
The hall changed names a few times, to Hungerford Music Hall, Gatti’s Under the Arches, and Gatti’s Charing Cross Music Hall.🧵1/4
What happened to the Charing Cross Music Hall?
The hall changed names a few times, to Hungerford Music Hall, Gatti’s Under the Arches, and Gatti’s Charing Cross Music Hall.🧵1/4
October 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
It's our third and final part of our short history of Gatti's music halls.
What happened to the Charing Cross Music Hall?
The hall changed names a few times, to Hungerford Music Hall, Gatti’s Under the Arches, and Gatti’s Charing Cross Music Hall.🧵1/4
What happened to the Charing Cross Music Hall?
The hall changed names a few times, to Hungerford Music Hall, Gatti’s Under the Arches, and Gatti’s Charing Cross Music Hall.🧵1/4
The Palace continued until 1924, when it was converted into a full-time cinema and named ‘Gatti’s Cinema’.
The Cinema was damaged by bombing in 1940 and never reopened. It was demolished in 1950 to make way for a road extension.
Check back tomorrow for our final instalment
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The Cinema was damaged by bombing in 1940 and never reopened. It was demolished in 1950 to make way for a road extension.
Check back tomorrow for our final instalment
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October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The Palace continued until 1924, when it was converted into a full-time cinema and named ‘Gatti’s Cinema’.
The Cinema was damaged by bombing in 1940 and never reopened. It was demolished in 1950 to make way for a road extension.
Check back tomorrow for our final instalment
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The Cinema was damaged by bombing in 1940 and never reopened. It was demolished in 1950 to make way for a road extension.
Check back tomorrow for our final instalment
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To diversify the offering, Gatti’s became a home of early cinema in 1897 with the introduction of short films among the regular music hall acts. These short films became a huge hit with the audience and included footage of clowns, snowball fights, steamboats and more.
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October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
To diversify the offering, Gatti’s became a home of early cinema in 1897 with the introduction of short films among the regular music hall acts. These short films became a huge hit with the audience and included footage of clowns, snowball fights, steamboats and more.
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What happened to the Palace of Varieties?
The Palace was opposite the Canterbury, the first purpose-built music hall.
By 1875, there were 375 music halls in London, so competition was strong.
The Palace and the Canterbury were upgraded multiple times throughout the 1800s.
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The Palace was opposite the Canterbury, the first purpose-built music hall.
By 1875, there were 375 music halls in London, so competition was strong.
The Palace and the Canterbury were upgraded multiple times throughout the 1800s.
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October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
What happened to the Palace of Varieties?
The Palace was opposite the Canterbury, the first purpose-built music hall.
By 1875, there were 375 music halls in London, so competition was strong.
The Palace and the Canterbury were upgraded multiple times throughout the 1800s.
🧵4/7
The Palace was opposite the Canterbury, the first purpose-built music hall.
By 1875, there were 375 music halls in London, so competition was strong.
The Palace and the Canterbury were upgraded multiple times throughout the 1800s.
🧵4/7
Katie Lawrence was a regular at Gatti’s. She was enormously popular in the 1890s due to the success of her song ‘Daisy Bell’. Walter Sickert, the eccentric painter, painted a controversial and unflattering painting of Katie performing. The painting had an awful reception.
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October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Katie Lawrence was a regular at Gatti’s. She was enormously popular in the 1890s due to the success of her song ‘Daisy Bell’. Walter Sickert, the eccentric painter, painted a controversial and unflattering painting of Katie performing. The painting had an awful reception.
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The music hall was known as ‘Gatti’s in the Arches’ and the cafe next to it was the ‘Grand Café-Restaurant de la Confederation Suisse’ with the largest billiard saloon in the world, offering 30 full-sized tables.
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October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The music hall was known as ‘Gatti’s in the Arches’ and the cafe next to it was the ‘Grand Café-Restaurant de la Confederation Suisse’ with the largest billiard saloon in the world, offering 30 full-sized tables.
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Welcome to our second of three lunchtime posts on Gatti's music halls.
In 1867, Gatti returned to the City of London and applied for a license to turn two arches in Villiers Street, under Charing Cross Station, into a billiard room, restaurant and double-height music hall.
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In 1867, Gatti returned to the City of London and applied for a license to turn two arches in Villiers Street, under Charing Cross Station, into a billiard room, restaurant and double-height music hall.
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October 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Welcome to our second of three lunchtime posts on Gatti's music halls.
In 1867, Gatti returned to the City of London and applied for a license to turn two arches in Villiers Street, under Charing Cross Station, into a billiard room, restaurant and double-height music hall.
🧵1/7
In 1867, Gatti returned to the City of London and applied for a license to turn two arches in Villiers Street, under Charing Cross Station, into a billiard room, restaurant and double-height music hall.
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At one point in his later career, Harry was the highest-paid performer in the world, and he was the first British artist to sell a million records.
He was knighted for entertaining troops during World War I.
Check back tomorrow lunchtime for more on Gatti's music halls.
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He was knighted for entertaining troops during World War I.
Check back tomorrow lunchtime for more on Gatti's music halls.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
At one point in his later career, Harry was the highest-paid performer in the world, and he was the first British artist to sell a million records.
He was knighted for entertaining troops during World War I.
Check back tomorrow lunchtime for more on Gatti's music halls.
🧵7/7
He was knighted for entertaining troops during World War I.
Check back tomorrow lunchtime for more on Gatti's music halls.
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Harry Lauder was perhaps the most famous performer at the Palace of Varieties.
Harry was a Scottish singer and comedian whose first show in London was at Gatti’s. He usually performed in full Highland regalia and a twisted walking stick.
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Harry was a Scottish singer and comedian whose first show in London was at Gatti’s. He usually performed in full Highland regalia and a twisted walking stick.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Harry Lauder was perhaps the most famous performer at the Palace of Varieties.
Harry was a Scottish singer and comedian whose first show in London was at Gatti’s. He usually performed in full Highland regalia and a twisted walking stick.
🧵6/7
Harry was a Scottish singer and comedian whose first show in London was at Gatti’s. He usually performed in full Highland regalia and a twisted walking stick.
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Gatti opened his first music hall at the same venue, the Palace of Varieties, also known as ‘Gatti’s Over the Water’.
The Palace was richly decorated with granite and intricate ironwork outside, and marble, mosaics, gold and musical statues inside.
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The Palace was richly decorated with granite and intricate ironwork outside, and marble, mosaics, gold and musical statues inside.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Gatti opened his first music hall at the same venue, the Palace of Varieties, also known as ‘Gatti’s Over the Water’.
The Palace was richly decorated with granite and intricate ironwork outside, and marble, mosaics, gold and musical statues inside.
🧵5/7
The Palace was richly decorated with granite and intricate ironwork outside, and marble, mosaics, gold and musical statues inside.
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In 1862, Gatti purchased property in Westminster Bridge Road and opened a restaurant.
Music halls were becoming popular at the time - these were typically large halls where you could eat, drink, and smoke while watching a variety of entertainment acts.
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Music halls were becoming popular at the time - these were typically large halls where you could eat, drink, and smoke while watching a variety of entertainment acts.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
In 1862, Gatti purchased property in Westminster Bridge Road and opened a restaurant.
Music halls were becoming popular at the time - these were typically large halls where you could eat, drink, and smoke while watching a variety of entertainment acts.
🧵4/7
Music halls were becoming popular at the time - these were typically large halls where you could eat, drink, and smoke while watching a variety of entertainment acts.
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Gatti co-owned a family-friendly continental-style cafe in Hungerford Market, where guests could have dinner with a string quartet. He sold his businesses in Hungerford Market so it could be developed into Charing Cross station.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Gatti co-owned a family-friendly continental-style cafe in Hungerford Market, where guests could have dinner with a string quartet. He sold his businesses in Hungerford Market so it could be developed into Charing Cross station.
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The Carlo Gatti, a Swiss immigrant to London, played a pivotal role in shaping London's entertainment scene.
The Gatti family contributions to music halls, restaurants and ice cream left a lasting legacy.
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The Gatti family contributions to music halls, restaurants and ice cream left a lasting legacy.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The Carlo Gatti, a Swiss immigrant to London, played a pivotal role in shaping London's entertainment scene.
The Gatti family contributions to music halls, restaurants and ice cream left a lasting legacy.
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The Gatti family contributions to music halls, restaurants and ice cream left a lasting legacy.
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In preparation for a special evening of music hall entertainment at the museum on 8 Nov (tickets and booking info here: https://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson/music-hall.htm), join us as we share a short history of music hall.
Follow along over the next few days.
Today's thread starts here👇
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Follow along over the next few days.
Today's thread starts here👇
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October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
In preparation for a special evening of music hall entertainment at the museum on 8 Nov (tickets and booking info here: https://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson/music-hall.htm), join us as we share a short history of music hall.
Follow along over the next few days.
Today's thread starts here👇
🧵1/7
Follow along over the next few days.
Today's thread starts here👇
🧵1/7
We are saddened to share that Mrs Dinah Hutchinson, the founder of the London Canal Museum, passed away earlier this month, aged 90.
Read more about her story, and the opening of the museum: https://www.tumblr.com/canalmuseum/797906457664323584/remembering-dinah-hutchinson-19352025-founder
Read more about her story, and the opening of the museum: https://www.tumblr.com/canalmuseum/797906457664323584/remembering-dinah-hutchinson-19352025-founder
October 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
We are saddened to share that Mrs Dinah Hutchinson, the founder of the London Canal Museum, passed away earlier this month, aged 90.
Read more about her story, and the opening of the museum: https://www.tumblr.com/canalmuseum/797906457664323584/remembering-dinah-hutchinson-19352025-founder
Read more about her story, and the opening of the museum: https://www.tumblr.com/canalmuseum/797906457664323584/remembering-dinah-hutchinson-19352025-founder