The Falkirk Wheel

About this place

Unique rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

This unique rotating boat lift connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, lifting boats the height of an eight-storey building in a matter of minutes using a mechanism that uses roughly the same energy as boiling eight household kettles, thanks to a clever counterbalancing design. Boat trips through the wheel let visitors experience the lift in action rather than just watching from the ground, and it's a genuinely striking piece of modern engineering that tends to fascinate children as much as adults. A visitor centre and play areas round out the site for those not taking a boat trip. There's a charge for boat trips, with the visitor centre and grounds free to explore, and the site is fully accessible.

Make a day of it — within 5km