Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre

Standedge Tunnel and The Watersedge cafeThe Standedge Visitor Centre at Tunnel End, Marsden, tells the history of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the building of the three-and-a-quarter mile long Standedge Tunnel, which is Britain's longest canal tunnel and also the one with deepest and highest elevation.

The Standedge Visitor Centre, MarsdenA free exhibition centre shows the work which went into the opening of the tunnel in 1811 and how goods were propelled through the tunnel by leggers laying on the boat roof and walking on the tunnel sides or roof.

There is also a children's play area and the opportunity to relax at The Watersedge cafe beside the tunnel.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Standedge Visitor Centre, MarsdenHalf-hour boat trips operate into the tunnel and on some days there are 2-hour journeys through the tunnel to the other end in the former West Riding of Yorkshire village of Diggle, which is now within of the Oldham district of Greater Manchester. For details of boat trip prices click on the link to the Canal and River Trust website at the foot of this page.

The centre hosts a variety of events throughout the year.

More information at

Canal and River Trust Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre web page.

Getting there

Nearest station

The centre can be reached by a 10-minute walk of around half a mile along the canal towpath from Marsden railway station at Station Road which has regular services from Huddersfield and stations along the Huddersfield Line to Manchester Piccadilly.

Bus services

Bus 383 from Huddersfield bus station stops in Dirker Drive near the station from where there is the walk along the canal towpath as above. Bus 184 from Huddersfield bus station or from Manchester and Oldham stops in Manchester Road near Ainsley Lane from where there is a six-minute walk along Ainsley Lane.

383 Every day until late

383 at Marsden stationHuddersfield Bus station - Longroyd Bridge - Thornton Lodge Manchester Road - Milnsbridge Manchester Road - Cowlersley Cowlersley Lane - Broad Oak Linthwaite Church - Linthwaite Hoyle House Fold - Slaithwaite Manchester Road - Marsden Village centre, Marsden station Huddersfield line to Manchester and Dirker

Typical journey time: Huddersfield - Marsden Dirker 39min

Timetable at

Metro Timetables at

First Bus

184 Every day until early evening

184 at MarsdenHuddersfield Bus station - Longroyd Bridge - Thornton Lodge Manchester Road - Milnsbridge Manchester Road - Cowlersley Cowlersley Lane - Linthwaite Broad Oak - Linthwaite Church - Causeway Side - Hoyle House Fold - Manchester Road - Slaithwaite Manchester Road - Marsden Manchester Road - Fall Lane - Mount Road (including Hard End) - Uppermill - Oldham

Typical journey time: Huddersfield - Oldham 1hour 22min

Timetable at

Metro
Attempt to find timetable at

Stagecoach, operator for Greater Manchester Bee Network

Road travel

There is a small car park at the visitor centre or it can be reached by parking in the large car park in Marsden near the station and National Trust exhibition centre and walking along the canal towpath as above.

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Marsden Places to go Map