Britannia Heritage Shipyards

The Britannia Shipyard is a collection of heritage buildings from Steveston’s maritime history along one of Metro Vancouver’s best walking and cycling trails.

Britannia Shipyards is one of a number of National Historic Sites in the Vancouver region. Others include the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Britannia Mine Museum, and Fort Langley, plus a few more.

Steveston Village Shipyards Historic Site

The Britannia Heritage Shipyards is located at 5180 Westwater Drive in Richmond in Steveston Village.

It’s a bit of a walk to the Shipyards from Steveston Village itself, but one very well worth taking. The pathway that takes you there is part of one of the Lower Mainland’s best level trails for walking and cycling.

One of the reasons the paved trail along the waterfront near Steveston Village is so exceptional is because of the scenery, which includes historic Britannia Shipyard and all its buildings and informational signs.

Hours & Admission

Britannia Heritage Shipyard is an area at Steveston Village that you can walk past and admire from the outside any time of day. Its buildings are usually open to the public seven days a week.

In the fall and winter seasons, between September 5th and December 31st, the historic site is open from Tuesday to Sunday from noon until 4:00 pm.

During the spring season, the site is usually open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 4:00 pm from February 1st until around mid-May.

In the summer season, from mid-May until early September, it’s typically open daily between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Britannia Heritage Shipyard — Britannia Shipyard during the Richmond Maritime Festival

About the Shipyards

A National Historic Site, Britannia Shipyards showcases what the place looked like years ago. The area features a collection of cannery structures, boatyards and personal residences. Some of the buildings date back as far as 1885, which for British Columbia is really old.

Some of the buildings are open to the public at certain times throughout the year. Others have informational signs outside explaining their significance. The best times to visit are on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5:00 pm from October until April, and any day in the rest of the year (but especially sunny ones) from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

Tips and Advice

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your visit to the Britannia Heritage Shipyard.

TIP #1: Bring your bicycle or walking shoes. The pathway from here to Steveston Village is an attractive one, and one of our favourites in Metro Vancouver.

TIP #2: Make a historic day of your outing and visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston Village and London Heritage Farm too, each located not too far away in either direction.