Boat trips

Take a trip on the world's only rotating boat lift! (Please note that during periods of extreme temperatures our canal network is susceptible to freezing, so we may need to make alterations to our operations and/or schedule) at short notice.

See all activities

Take a look at all the things you can do at The Falkirk Wheel

Further information

Opening Hours

1st November - 31st January
Open Wednesday - Sunday 9.45am - 3.30pm

Please note The Falkirk Wheel will be closed 24th, 25th and 26th of December as well as 1st and 2nd of January 2025.

Prices

Adult
ÂŁ17.50
Concession*
ÂŁ15.50
Child (5-15yrs)
ÂŁ9.50
Child (under 5)
Free
Registered Carers
Free

* 60 years+, students and Blue Light card holders (not valid June - September). Tickets are required for every passenger boarding a boat trip.

Facilities

Cafe
Dog friendly
Gift shop
Family friendly
Venue hire

After a busy season, The Falkirk Wheel Splashzone, Playpark and Mini Golf are now closed for the winter. We look forward to welcoming you back in February 2025. Thank you for a great year and see you again soon!

About The Falkirk Wheel

The world’s only rotating boat lift, The Falkirk Wheel links the Forth & Clyde Canal to the Union Canal 35 metres above, allowing vessels to sail through the sky thanks to a unique fusion of art and engineering – and the same power it would take to boil eight kettles.

Transforming the contaminated site of a former tar works, The Falkirk Wheel opened in 2002 and replaced a flight of 11 locks that once stepped the Union Canal down to the level of the Forth & Clyde, more than 100 feet below. Whereas weary travellers once had a day’s heavy work opening and closing 44 lock gates to complete the journey between the two canals, The Falkirk Wheel allows vessels to transit between the two waterways in just a few minutes.

Now one of Scotland’s busiest tourist attractions, The Falkirk Wheel attracts around 500,000 visitors each year. The Wheel has transformed Falkirk into a key tourism destination, with visitors traveling from all over the world to marvel at the working sculpture which combines modern engineering and technology with ancient principles set out by Archimedes more than 2000 years ago.

When one of the structure’s gondolas is lowered, the opposite one rises, keeping the vast, 1800 tonne boat lift in perfect balance as it carries canal barges 35 metres into the air in a matter of minutes. Incredibly, the structure uses just 1.5kWh for each rotation.

Sustainability spotlight

Solar Power

Solar Power

In May 2023 our solar panels provided us with 9% of the energy we used - a whopping 3,743 kWh!

Green Tourism

Green Tourism

We're proud to have been awarded the Gold standard in Green Tourism.

Sustainability

Sustainability

We're working hard to bring the choice of as many eco-friendly, sustainable and locally-sourced products to our gift shop as we can.

Useful information

Frequently asked questions about visiting The Falkirk Wheel. 

Accessibility

Useful information

Contact us

Call us

0300 373 0868

Find us

The Falkirk Wheel
Lime Road
Falkirk
FK1 4RS

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