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The charity making life better by water

Banbury

At the Oxford Canal in Banbury you'll find the oldest working dry dock in Britain. Tooley's Boatyard, now a schedule ancient monument, has been building and repairing narrowboats since 1790.

It's where you can stock up on canal souvenirs, or learn a canal-related crafts like painting roses and castles. Tooley's is also where you can get on the water by taking a boat trip.

A few minutes' stroll from the canal is the centre of this historic market town, and the famous Banbury Cross and Banbury cake. If you're up for a longer walk, you can take the towpath alongside the Oxford Canal to Cropredy, four miles away.

For those who can't resist retail therapy, the shopping centre is a stone's throw away. Also worth a visit is The Mill Arts Centre, a multi arts venue which hosts live music, theatre, family theatre shows, a gallery space, workshop sessions, conference room spaces and a café and bar.

Things to see and do

Planning your visit

  • Address

    The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 5QE

  • Prices

    Once you're parked up, it won't cost you a thing

  • Toilets

    At the nearby shopping centre

Getting here

  • By car

    Castle Quay Car Park in the shopping centre

  • By train

    Banbury Station is just a three minute walk to the canal side

  • By boat

    There are some visitor moorings and a few permanent moorings plus some boat services available (as well as Tooley's of course!)

photo of a location on the canals
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