Story book boat tours return to Banbury – here is how to get your tickets

After sold-out debut tours last summer, Tooley’s is bringing the Muddy Waters story book boat tours back to Banbury this summer.

Launching on July 2, the same day as the Waterfront development, families are invited down to the canal-side to enjoy the celebrations onboard its very own narrowboat, The Dancing Duck.

There will be six Muddy Waters tours, with two tours departing over three Saturdays (July 2, August 6 and October 1) at 11am and 12:30pm.

Dan Clacher, author of the Muddy Waters children’s books

Onboard, families will enjoy a 40-minute tour of the Oxford Canal, while children listen to tales from the charming ‘Muddy Waters’ story collection read by the author himself, Dan Clacher.

Dan Clacher, author of the Muddy Waters children’s books, said: “I’m honoured to return to Banbury and share the adventures of Muddy the narrowboat, and his friends, with even more families this summer.

"It was this very Boatyard that inspired me to write the Muddy Waters children’s book series and I hope it inspires a love of the waterways with the next generation.”

Tickets cost £10 per adult and £5 per child, and with space for just 12 passengers aboard each trip, pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Tooley’s will continue to run its regular boat tours alongside the special Muddy Waters tours – departing alongside the dry dock every Saturday at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, and 3.30pm until October.

John Madden, chair of Tooley’s Boatyard Trust, said: “It’s an exciting time for Banbury as we also celebrate the launch of The Waterfront Development. We are very proud to be part of a quality heritage and leisure offering in the heart of the town and we hope to see many excited faces over the coming months.”

The Dancing Duck is a 39 ft day boat, purpose-built and launched at Tooley’s in 2007 to allow residents, tourists and boaters alike the opportunity to explore Banbury by waterway.

Visitors are welcome to come along and look around the Boatyard anytime during opening hours – Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 1pm, with ‘Working Museum’ guided tours taking place on Saturdays.

To reserve a seat on the Muddy Waters boat trips, or for more information about Tooley’s, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/tooleys-boatyard-trust or call 01295 272917.