Falkirk Wheel

Overview

The Falkirk Wheel boat lift is an exceptional feat of modern engineering that connects the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals. This unique and elegant mechanical marvel lifts boats by a height of 35 metres to bridge the gap that was originally linked by a flight of 11 locks. At the end of the 20th century, it was decided to reconnect the 2 canals with the innovative wheel as an inspiring symbol for the new Millennium.

Visitors can get the full 'The Falkirk Wheel Experience' by taking one of the special "trip" boats at the site, however, the visitor centre gives a perfect viewpoint from which to watch the Wheel in action.

If you want to go on the Falkirk Wheel, there are 2 boat trip options which you can book online. The "Original Tour" is a boat trip that lasts about 60 minutes, and we think it’s a bit expensive for the experience of sitting in a boat for that length of time, to go up 35 m, travel back and forth for 20 mins, and then go back and down again. The other boat trip option is called the "Revolution Tour" and it last 35 minutes for what is basically a boat ride onto the wheel and then a 360 rotation. 

At time of writing, the "Original Tour" 50-minute Boat Trips are operating. The  "Revolution Tour" boat trip is only available for large group bookings.

Boat Trips should be booked via the website.

Of course, you can just go to the Visitor Centre for free and watch the wheel in motion from canal side, so you don’t need spend money on the boat trip to see the Falkirk Wheel in action.

An impressive piece of engineering, but it is not the most exciting thing you'll see in Scotland and we wouldn't suggest that you make a big detour to visit it.

The Visitor Centre has a nice gift shop with good quality souvenirs.