In this work, a highly active Au-Pd/Ti-NT catalyst has been produced by using colloidal synthesis and immobilisation on essentially sodium-free Ti-nanotubes (NTs). The new catalyst has markedly superior catalytic activity (turnover frequency>19 000 h−1) for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol compared with similar catalysts reported in the literature, and to Au-Pd catalysts supported on Ti-NTs prepared by adsorption, as well as conventional Au-Pd/TiO2 prepared by impregnation. The superior catalytic activity of the catalyst is shown to be a result of the high metal dispersion on the external surfaces of Ti-NTs, the narrow particle size distribution and the consistent formation of Au-Pd mixed alloy nanoparticles in close to a 1:1 weight ratio. In repeated use, the Au-Pd/Ti-NT catalyst showed only a modest fall in activity, which is shown by FTIR to be associated mainly with the irreversible adsorption of benzoic acid and benzyl benzoate by the catalyst.