Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust
Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust has been in operation over 50-years offering guided boat trips deep underground into the abandoned limestone mines and caverns which sit right under the heart of the town.
As a charity we are dedicated to preserving this unique environment and sense of place and engaging all with it. We are committed to being a vibrant part of the community by ensuring we deliver a thought-provoking and inclusive experience and we have invested heavily in the whole to ensure it stays forward looking and has something of value for everyone as we welcome over 100,000 visitors per annum to our site.
A tour through our caverns take you back 428 million years to the Silurian period, a time when tropical sea beds pushed their way up through the earth to deposit mineral rich materials such as limestone and an amazing selection of fossils in the area. We continue through to the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of transport, the extractive industries and mass manufacture, all elements that helped that shaped the world that we know today.
Visitors get to hear about our own efforts in the 1960’s onwards to protect this unique environment and the surrounding canal system by taking part in protest cruises, raising funds and support to digging out the tunnels and canals ourselves, we were determined to preserve a place which is so special.
Guests can put on their hard hats and enjoy sound and light shows, displays and expert commentary on our 45-minute underground trips which run every day. We also offer a fantastic range of special events as well as onsite, exhibitions, art displays and hands on activities for the whole family to enjoy. Throughout the main season we run 2hr, 3hr and 6hr cruises which take you out along the local canal network, through the Dudley and Netherton Tunnel and to local attractions such as the Bumblehole Nature Reserve.
Our Portal Building houses the award-winning Biffa Gallery showcasing the role of the tunnels and canals in this area along with displays on canal life, geology and the local area. We have our community gallery space where local artists can show and sell their work, Tunnel Treasures offering a changing exhibition of canal related displays and a Limestone Trail for all to enjoy.
We offer a range of education workshops and activities for all ages and we host activities and specialised trips for pre-schoolers with our popular Tunnel Tots whilst older children can enjoy our Little Skippers themed activities.
We also have onsite corporate and hospitality options as well as a chance to dine alongside the canal with our Gongoozler Restaurant. We run a dining boat which can be booked for Black Country Picnics, Fish and Chip Suppers and even Gin Tasting Cruises as well as being available for private bookings and tours. We have a large function room as well as evening access to the Gongoozler Restaurant for parties and private functions.
web: www.dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/
