A free guided walk tracing Banbury’s working canal heritage departs from Tooley’s Boatyard on Saturday, 1 August 2026. Organised by the Canal & River Trust, the 90-minute stroll starts at 12:30pm and follows the Oxford Canal past former industrial sites that shaped the town’s growth as an industrial centre.
Led by volunteer walk leaders described as “full of interesting information about the local area”, the event is open to adults and children aged seven and over. Booking is mandatory, as walk‑ins cannot be accepted. Dogs on leads are welcome, but anyone taking part should expect uneven towpath sections. The group returns to the boatyard afterwards, where the free museum will be open and trip boat cruises can be booked.
Tooley’s Boatyard itself began building and repairing wooden narrow boats in 1778, using a dry dock that has remained in continuous use ever since. The Oxford Canal reached Banbury on 30 March that year, and a company making boats to carry goods across the network started on the boatyard site. The broader canal was authorised in 1769 with James Brindley as engineer; the first meeting of proprietors took place at the Three Tuns Inn, where the Whately Hall Hotel now stands.
After decades of decline caused by rail and road competition, Tooley’s was immortalised in Tom Rolt’s 1944 book ‘Narrowboat’. The boatyard continued operating until 1995, when the Castle Quay development threatened its future. A campaign by the Inland Waterways Association saved the site, which was incorporated into the new Banbury Museum and underwent major restoration during the 1990s. Today it serves as a free visitor attraction with a working forge from 1778.
The walk is part of the Let’s Walk – South Oxford Canal collection, funded by money raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Parking is available in paid car parks near Lidl on Spiceball Park Road. Tickets can be reserved via Eventbrite.
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