Derby Riverboat

23/09/2026

So it seems you can’t dig beside the Museum of Making without Derby deciding to give you a history lesson!

I met Chris, Chair of Derby Riverboat, to catch up on progress with the new pontoon planned for outside the museum.

The idea is simple: create a new stop so people can travel along the Derwent and hop off right outside the Museum of Making.

Back in Ferbruary, I helped bring the Canal Trust and National Grid together to sort out underground cables that were in the way. Then, once the digging started, they found an old millstone. That's what you get for having a city whose industrial heritage is as strong as ours!
A slight detour, but a very fitting one. The millstone will now be displayed inside the museum.

The pontoon is still moving forward, and I’m really looking forward to the day we see boats pulling up here.

26/08/2026

23/08/2026

18/08/2026

Our chairman, Chris, discussing progress on the pontoon with Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson. She was very helpful in pushing forward the relocation of the high powered cable under the potential mooring point. Chris was explaining exactly where it will be installed.

09/08/2026

The end is in sight! National Grid are sorting out the cables outside the Museum of Making, then we will be able to install the pontoon 🤗🤗

27/05/2026

We are so pleased to say that the first boat trips start this weekend with temporary access arrangements- details on the website. Exciting times!

16/05/2026

Thanks to Dave, Roger and Chris for a busy day today painting the inside and outside of the riverboat. Our volunteers have also made a new access route while waiting for the pontoon and are ready to roll! Watch this space ...

05/05/2026

Plenty of people hoping for the riverboat to sail again soon 🤞🤞

27/04/2026

Essential cleaning and maintenance work on the riverboat on Saturday. It will be ready to go as soon as we have a safe place for passengers to embark 🤞🤞