Private Cambridge Punt Tours

"The time has come," the Walrus said,

To talk of many things:

Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —

Of cabbages — and kings —"

From The Walrus and Carpenter (Lewis Carroll)

Our 45-minute private College Backs punt tour offers the ideal introduction to Cambridge’s long and eventful history. Discover how the city has evolved from a medieval market town to a world-class centre of learning whilst enjoying breath-taking views from the river.

No one showcases Cambridge like us. Each season we handpick and train a group of river tour guides who have a passion for history and a talent for sharing it with our customers. From the gothic splendour of King’s College Chapel to the classical elegance of the Wren Library, your guide will ensure that you don’t miss a thing.

Providing a more personalised experience, a private tour offers you the exclusivity of your own traditional punt, reserved for your preferred time. With the punt chauffeur all yours, you can decide how much of the commentary you wish to hear and ask as many questions as you like.

feature-img Private tours from £120

feature-img Flexible online bookings

Guaranteed entry time

Details:

Private College Backs Punt Tour

45-minute private chauffeured punt tour of Cambridge.

Highlights:

- See the Mathematical Bridge
- Pass by the world famous King's College Chapel
- Admire the Wren Library
- Punt under the Bridge of Sighs
- Go under the “Cam Bridge” at Magdalene College

Know before you buy ▾

COVID-19 Safety ▾

Getting here ▾

Private tours can be booked daily from our Mill Lane or Quayside Punting Stations. For any special requests, please call our Bookings Team directly on 01223 359750.
Aim to arrive 15 minutes before your booking reservation to allow time for checking in.
You can easily reschedule your booking up to 1 hour before departure by following the link in your booking confirmation. Changes to guest numbers can be made up to 48 hours in advance by calling our Bookings Team on 01223 359750.
Paid bookings, cancelled up to 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund minus £50 administration fee or credit note for the full amount of the booking. We are unable to offer refunds less than 48 hours in advance of the booking except in cases of dangerous conditions.
Bookings are valid for the date and time purchased and are not refundable less than 48 hours before departure. Don’t worry, you can easily rearrange your trip without paying an exchange fee up to 1 hour before departure by following the link in your confirmation. You’ll only pay the difference in ticket price, where applicable.
Bookings are subject to our Terms & Conditions.

Please call us on 01223 359750 if you have any questions about your purchase.

What we’re doing differently

Requiring visitors to book in advance to avoid crowding and limiting numbers on each punt.
Thoroughly sanitising all equipment (boat, cushions, pole and paddle) before and after each use.
Implementing designated pedestrian route layouts and signage on site, along with dedicated members of staff to monitor the flow of people.
Conducting briefings and hire handover procedures from 2 metres away.

What we ask of you

Each boat can hold up to 4 households. You can either punt with 2 households where the first household must be no more than 6 people and the second one no more than 4 or you can have up to 4 households while observing the rule of 6.
Bring your own hand sanitiser (and other PPE if you want to of course).
Be confidently mobile as we have had to adapt how we hold the boat to get you on and off and are unable to offer you a supporting hand or arm.
NOT to participate if you / anyone in your household have been infected or displayed any coronavirus symptoms, or have been in contact with anyone that has the virus, within the last 14 days.

During your visit

In order to maintain social distancing and process your booking, please arrive 15 minutes before your hire. Sadly, if you're more than 15 minutes late, we won’t be able to guarantee you entry. Your entry will be at the discretion of the Duty Manager, who will base their decision on visitor numbers and the ability to maintain social distancing.
Have your booking confirmation ready to show the Scudamore’s staff member at the front entrance, preferably on your mobile device, to minimise contact.
To help keep everyone safe, please follow social distancing, and government guidance throughout your visit. Please look out for our staff and any signs around the site, taking care to follow their guidance.
Be aware that, as a safety precaution, we are currently unable to provide any customers with personal floatation devices.
You are encouraged to clean or sanitise your hands immediately before and after your trip. Hand sanitiser will be available on site for the use of any customers who don’t have their own.

Before your visit, please check which punting station you are booked from; your confirmation letter will state this.

We have two locations in the city centre which you can book from:

Mill Lane Punting Station

Granta Place
Mill Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1RS

Quayside Punting Station

Magdalene Bridge
Cambridge
CB5 8AB

Parking and Public Transport

More information on Cambridge parking and public transport to our locations can be found here.

2. Select pricing:

On weekdays enjoy the river at its quietest. At weekends don't miss your chance to go punting and book yourself a guaranteed entry.

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Have a question?

How many people can each boat hold?

Chauffeured Tours can either hold up to 12 passengers and up to 4 households/support bubbles with the benches full. Or up to 8 passengers and households with a gap in the middle of each bench. Online bookings can be made for 1 boat maximum. If you're looking to book more than 12 people please contact our Bookings Team on 01223 359750 or at enquires@scudamores.com.

What is the start and endpoint of the tour?

You can choose between our two departure points when you book: Mill Lane or Quayside. Your tour will finish at the same place you started from.

Can I move or reschedule my booking?

Yes, just follow the link in your email booking confirmation. You can easily rearrange your trip without paying an exchange fee up to 1 hour before departure. You’ll only pay the difference in ticket price, where applicable.

Can I make changes to the number of guests?

You're able to amend guest numbers up to 48 hours in advance. To do so please get in touch with our Bookings Team on 01223 359750 or at enquires@scudamores.com.

What if the weather changes on the day?

All of our tours run as normal unless the river conditions are dangerous and we have to stop operating. We recommend bringing an umbrella in case the weather changes. For safety reasons, we're currently not providing our standard umbrellas and blankets.

Can I punt with members from a different household?

Yes. You can either punt with 2 households where the first household must be no more than 6 people and the second one no more than 4 or you can have up to 4 households while observing the rule of 6.

Any other questions?

If you have any other queries or special requests please do get in touch.
Email: enquiries@scudamores.com
Phone: 01223 359750

College Backs Map

Download our College Backs map before you go.