Gallery Tour & River Lea Boat Cruise

A rare chance to take a boat cruise up the River Lea, the river that inspired the Raw Materials’ project and its exploration into east London’s industrial past. (Limited 10 spaces available). After a short exhibition tour of Raw Materials: Plastics, we will travel the waterway that inspired Raw Materials – the River Lea – seeing and imagining the traces of our industrial history along the way. You will be joined by members of the project steering group who will help you uncover stories of industry along the River Lea as you cruise along.  

12.30pm: Meet at the Nunnery Gallery for exhibition viewing followed by a 20-minute canal walk to Three Mills Lock, Prescott Channel, London E3 3DU.

1.30-3.30pm: All aboard the canal boat for a two-hour boat trip up the beautiful River Lea cruising up as far as Walthamstow and finishing in Hackney Wick (where TFL transport links are available).

Please feel free to bring drinks / packed lunch for the journey. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access to the boat.
Prams can be carried on board.
Limited 10 spaces available (*including children and babies due to the boat insurance policy).  

Tickets £5/10 (concession rate applies to under 18s, students, over 65s and Bow Arts artists. Please include babies as a concession ticket in bookings – due to boat insurance policy babies are included as 1 of the 10 spaces available)

Book tickets here  

Raw Materials explores the forgotten industrial history of plastic in east London around the River Lea. The exhibition reveals the story of east London's central role in the invention and early development of plastics, showcasing some of the very first plastic objects alongside newly commissioned artwork which tell the story of this material’s remarkable journey. Read more about the exhibition here.

Raw Materials: Plastics has been made possible through the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the project’s academic partner UCL.