Last London Duck Tour as capital bids farewell to iconic tourist attraction

Mellow yellow: the amphibious vehicles have taken almost two million people on trips on the Thames since 2002
PA
Jonathan Mitchell16 September 2017

London’s iconic yellow Duck Tours make their final journeys on the River Thames this weekend, with the popular tourist attraction set to disappear from the capital.

The last tours are set to take place on Sunday before owners shut up shop, with the operators having lost access to the Albert Embankment slipway.

The slipway was used by the amphibious tourist vehicles, which are half boat and half truck, to drive into the Thames, but the ramp is needed for part of Thames Water's £4.2 billion ‘super sewer’ scheme.

Construction is not expected to finish until 2024.

The Duck Tours have become an iconic part of London’s tourist scene, with nearly two million passengers having used the amphibious trucks since the company started in 2002.

Managing Director John Bigos told the Standard last month: “The 18th of September will be a very sad day for the company, which was going from strength to strength, but it was vital not to delay construction of this much needed infrastructure project.

“Tourists worldwide and Londoners will surely miss our iconic bright yellow DUKWs travelling around town. They have become a landmark in their own right.”

During the Duck Tours, passengers are treated to unique views of London’s most iconic sights, as well as special James Bond and Pirate-themed tours

Thames Water has already begun working on its so-called ‘super-sewer’ system, which is designed to stop 39 million tonnes of raw sewage spilling from London’s Victorian sewers into the Thames every year.

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